Page 16 of Terrez and Shalene
“Y-you’re leaving? You just got here.”
“Says the person who asked why I was here so late,” I chuckled.
“Would you like some hot chocolate? It’s been helping me sleep since I’ve been here.”
“Just say you want me to stay. You don’t have to lure me in, baby.”
When Shalene pulled away from me, I lightly pulled her back and placed a kiss on her forehead. As she said she would, she went into the kitchen and started to prepare the hot chocolate. I sat on the couch and tried to keep myself from falling asleep.
“Here you go,” she said as she set the steaming mug on the table in front of me.
“What’s your work schedule?”
“Monday through Friday I work from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon. It’s only Tuesday and I’m tired as hell,” she expressed.
“Put your feet up here,” I said as I pointed to my lap.
“Oh, you give foot massages?”
“Only for you. I ain’t around here just touching everybody feet. That shit is unsanitary.”
“You say the funniest shit, Terrez. What makes it funny is that I know you’re serious.”
“I get that a lot. I’ve never tried to make people laugh, yet I seem to do it a lot. I’m really not a hard person to get along with. Don’t come around me with no bullshit and we good,” I said honestly.
For another hour, Shalene and I got to know one another a little better. I was hoping things between us would be okay after tonight. I truly wanted to respect her decision to not fuck with me, but I had to try one last time. It wasn’t until she started to doze off that I picked her up bridal style and took her to her bedroom. Once I had her robe off and got her tucked in, I placed a kiss on her cheek and peeked in on baby girl. Seeing the rise and fall of her chest was all I needed and I was out the front door.
Stepping out of her apartment, I sent a text message to one of the lil homies. When he came to the door, I informed him to keep an ear out on Shalene’s door since her top lock wasn’t locked. She was still secure with only the bottom locked and she was also secure in this building. I just wanted to be sure, just in case a nigga felt froggy. That woman was going to be mine and I didn’t care if she thought otherwise.
Chapter 7
Shalene
Letting out a deep breath,I unlocked the door for Brevin and prayed this encounter would be a quick one. He was coming to get Amayah for a few days and insisted on seeing his daughter’s new living conditions. I preferred to meet him in the lobby but decided that maybe he should see how I was living. Before I moved out, he made remarks about me not being able to make it without him and I needed him to see that wasn’t true. I’d be lying if I said the new place along with all the furniture didn’t put a heavy dent in my bank account, but I was still okay. When I ran into Terrez at the store the other day, the money he gave me pretty much covered my entire grocery bill. I wasn’t a person who took help so easily, but being able to keep two hundred of my own dollars had me smiling inwardly.
That was two days ago and the last time I’d seen Terrez’s face. He texted me from time to time, but the conversation wouldn’t last long. I figured he’d made up with the chick he was at the store with. Although the thought of him with another woman didn’t sit well with me, I had to remember that I was indeed the one who cut him off. But after he came over the other night, I was hoping we’d be on better terms.
“Well, it doesn’t look as bad as I thought. I know you’re probably broke now though,” Brevin stated as he walked through the door.
“Hello to you too, Brevin. Keep the insults to yourself please. Amayah is in her room taking a nap. I’ll show you.”
Leading him through my apartment, I could feel him looking around and taking everything in. For some reason, I thought our relationship would change for the better now that I was out of the house. It seemed like that was all he wanted, but I was learning now that things wouldn’t change. I’d only talked to this man once since I’ve been gone. Yet, he still found ways to belittle me. When we got to Amayah’s room, Brevin went toward the bed while I opened her closet to take out a pair of her sandals. My baby was slowly stirring out of her sleep and I hated that she’d be leaving me. Now that it was just the two of us living alone, the noise she made from playing with her toys brought me peace. Going days in the house alone would be something hard for me to get used to.
“We need to work out a schedule. I feel like I haven’t seen her in forever.”
“Well, I told you we could have an arrangement with my dad.”
“I’m not doing that, Shalene. Why would I go through someone else when I can just call you?”
“Because every word you say to me is rude as hell. You put me out of the house I made a home, and even then, you’re still talking shit like I’m the scum of the earth,” I expressed.
“Who was that man that helped you move?”
“Who was the woman you had in the house?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
“The man that helped me move doesn’t concern you either. The only person you should be concerned with is your daughter. Now, please get out my house. I’ll be expecting my baby backbefore dinner on Sunday evening,” I stated before placing a kiss on Amayah’s cheek.
