Page 31 of Loving a Libra
We ended the call just as I turned into the driveway of my new home. I’d been here a few times since the closing, and every time, I felt giddy. I went inside and stood in the middle of the living room, visualizing how the furniture would be arranged. My ringing phone pulled me from my thoughts, and I smiled when I saw Tariq’s face.
“Hey, handsome!”
“How are you, beautiful? Are you at the house?”
“I’m good, and yes. I’ve been here for a few minutes. I thought you had a meeting. It looks like you’re still at the condo.”
“I’m headed there shortly. I had a visitor who held me up.”
“Oh yeah? Who?”
“Your boy.”
“If you’re talking about Maurice, he’s your boy. You’ve known him longer.”
“Nah. I’m cool on his ass. He came over to complain about how you’ve been moving.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. We exchanged a few words before I left. Even though I haven’t officially ended things, he should know me well enough to know I’m done with his ass. I haven’t so much as kissed him since I heard him fucking that other woman.”
“Good, because those lips belong to me.”
“Both sets, baby.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Anyway, he mentioned spending more time at home, so I wanted to give you a heads up.”
“Damn it! That’s the last thing I need. I can’t pack my shit with him around.”
“I already told you if you have to leave everything, I got you.”
“That would be a waste of money.”
“Nothing concerning you is a waste, baby, but I’ll see if I can find a way to keep him occupied. He’s always down for a quick trip to Vegas.”
“Tariq, that would be perfect. All I need is two days to make it look like I never lived there.”
“I’ll mention it to him and let you know. My father is on his way to assist with the furniture.”
“Really? He doesn’t have to do that. Ginae is on her way too.”
“Nah. People are crazy these days. My father is coming with his tool belt and his gun, in case there are any problems.”
“Hopefully, everything will go well, and he won’t have to shoot anyone.”
We shared a laugh before exchanging a few more words and ending the call, just as Ginae, Mr. Vince, and the delivery truck drivers pulled up. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
I stepped out of the bathroom after a nice, long shower, with a towel wrapped around my body and my head. When my eyes landed on Maurice lying across the bed with his outside clothes on, I had to refrain from groaning in disgust.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Last time I checked, this was where I lived.”
I sensed he wanted to go back and forth, but he wouldn’t get what he wanted from me. I stood in front of my pajama drawer and removed the towel from my body. After drying off a little more, I grabbed my jar of body butter.
“I can do that for you.”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“You used to like it when I rubbed you down.”
