Page 12 of Bern and Isley
“Yeah. I guess I should be thankful that I didn’t turn to crack,” she joked.
“No, that’s real talk. Some people deal with life’s challenges by turning to drugs or other disastrous routes.”
“This is true,” she agreed.
“Everything your heart desires is going to come to you, Ice. Things can change in an instant. This time next year you could be married with a bun in the oven. I know it’s cliché but you just have to hold on and don’t give up.”
“You’re right.” She exhaled and forced a smile. “Thanks for inviting me out. This is just what I needed. Sorry for being a crybaby.”
“You’re not a crybaby. It’s healthy to get those tears out. I’m glad you feel safe enough with a nigga to shed a couple tears without judgement.”
“Of course.”
We sat and conversed at the food truck lot until it was dark before we headed back to the apartments. When we arrived at the complex, I got out to walk Isley inside of the building. I knew the niggas of DP didn’t play about violence and shit against women, but Isley was my personal assignment. I didn’t leave shit to chance where she was concerned. We cracked jokes in the lobby while we waited for the elevator. When the elevator dinged and opened, a tall, husky man with a frown on his face stepped out.
“Oh so this why you couldn’t answer my calls?” he asked, stepping toward us.
A surprised look covered Isley’s face.
“Nigga, who the fuck are you?” I stepped between them and tapped my finger on his forehead. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
He took a step back. “I’m her man, but this ain’t got shit to do with you,” he responded, then turned his attention to Isley.
“Nigga, if it has anything to do with her, it concerns me. So watch how the fuck you come at her!”
He held his hands up and sighed. “My bad, man. Isley, can I talk to you in private?”
She looked from him to me with wide eyes. She fidgeted with her purse strap as she contemplated.
“Ice, you don’t have to talk to this nigga if you don’t want to,” I told her while keeping my eyes on the lame.
“It’s cool, Bern. Thanks for dinner. I’ll call you later,” she assured me.
I turned to her, staring into her eyes for evidence of any kind of fear. “Are you sure?”
She offered a faint smile. “Yes, it’s all good. I promise.”
“Aight. I better hear from you in the next twenty minutes.”
“Okay, okay,” she agreed.
Reluctantly, I backed off as she and her man took the elevator up to her apartment. My blood was still boiling. It had been one red flag after the other with this dude. And it was pissing me off that Isley was even entertaining that lame ass dude. She deserved better than a simp. She needed a real nigga who was willing to protect and provide for her. One willing to do life behind her if it came down to it. And that nigga was not it.
Chapter 5
Isley
“Girl,I thought you said your car wasn’t going to be ready until tomorrow,” Snow said when I approached the table where she had been waiting on me for a few minutes. She had taken off from work and invited me to lunch at our favorite deli.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, unbeknownst to me, Bern took it upon himself to pay Mr. Bobby Joe to get it repaired a little faster.”
She pursed her lips and frowned at me. “And you mad about it?”
“No… but I told him he didn’t have to do that. I’d been without a car for three months. One more day wasn’t going to make a difference.”
“Girl, fuck that. If Bern wants to spend the money, let him. Especially seeing that your own man didn’t even take the initiative to hook you up.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for it. But I just don’t want to hear Marshall’s mouth about the shit. He’s already accused me of fucking Bern.”
