Page 46 of Tangled Hearts
“Well, we have quite a few yellow things, so step this way and I’ll show you everything. Do you know her sizes?” she asked as she led him to a chair.
“Shit, I know her shoe size and the rest, I’ll pray about,” he joked, ready to blow a bag on his favorite girl.
The sales lady went to town showing him all kinds of stuff she thought his special lady would like. They made small talk and laughed, not keeping up with the time.
“Damn, I was looking for you,” Briana walked up with an attitude.
The sales lady tried to hide some of the pieces he said he was getting, thinking Briana was the recipient. “Hello,” she said pleasantly.
Briana only threw her hand up while she stood over Hov. If looks could kill, he would’ve been dead right there. “Why didn’t you answer your fuckin’ phone?”
Hov was so unbothered. “My bad, I was in here and didn’t hear that shit ringing. I’m ’bout to leave in a minute, you found everything you needed?” His eyes went back over to the woman. “Aye, let me just get all that shit, and the stuff for me too.”
The woman nodded brightly before heading over to ring him up and bag it all up.
Smoke came from her ears. “What is your fuckin’ problem? Like, we came here together, and you left me in the store when you said you was going to wait for me?”
“I said, my bad. The fuck else you want me to do? Get on my knees and beg for your forgiveness?” He looked her upside the head. His patience was running thin.
“No, I want you to act like you’re a decent human being,” she snapped back.
“Who said I was one, though? Look, Briana, I don’t know what you want from me. I ain't looking for what you’re looking for. You cool and shit, and that’s all it is right now. I ain't saying in the future it can't be more, but right now, it can't be much of anything. I was coming to the mall, you asked to ride. That’s it.” Even as nonchalant as he was, he was still the sexiest man to her.
Finally looking around the store, she asked, “what you buy?”
“Too fuckin’ much.” He chuckled at how calm she’d become so quickly. She was submitting to him when he wasn’t worthy of her submission. Women often did that, even when they knew the man wasn’t shit.
“Quameek,” the sales associate called Hov by his government name, which gained her a nasty look from Briana.
Standing up, he pulled his jeans up and swaggered his way over to the counter to pay for everything. The woman had boxed it up so nicely, and he was extremely appreciative. For the first time in his life, he’d spent a bag and wasn’t fazed by it.
“Do you know her?” Briana asked, her face scrunched up, looking at the young woman like she smelled bad.
She extended her hand out. “Yes, I am his luxury personal shopper, Jae, and you are?” She’d already put two and two together and realized Briana was not the special lady.
Briana whipped her neck towards Hov. “You ready?”
Putting extra sauce on her voice, Jae smiled wide. “Let me know if you need anything else. She is going to love this.”
Hov was no fool and knew exactly what Jae was doing. He rocked with it, though. “I really appreciate it. Write your number on the receipt so I can hit you up when I need to get some new shit.”
Jae gladly obliged his request, knowing she was getting up under Briana’s skin. One thing she didn’t play about was being disrespected. She couldn’t go off like she wanted too because she was at work. Plus, her job paid too well for her to potentially lose it. “You two have a nice day.”
Briana scoffed and stomped out the store behind Hov. She was livid and couldn’t wait to get to the car. “Who did you buy that stuff for?”
“Why?” he asked, not paying her much attention.
“Because I asked.”
“Just because you asked doesn’t mean I have to answer you.”
She stopped walking and grabbed his arm. “What is your problem?” Her tenor was starting to gain unwanted attention from onlookers.
Rage poisoned his veins. “What the fuck isyourproblem? Don’t put your damn hands on me. If I was a fucked up ass nigga, I’d make you find another way home because I don’t play these kinds of games. You are someone I know and deal with on a level below friendship, so I’m not understanding what you want from me, Briana.”
Hot tears clouded her eyes. “Below friends? You’re trying to play in my face, because we’re at least on a friendship level, or I wouldn’t be here with you. We’ve kicked it and even talk on the phone from time to time, so I know we’re at least friendly.”
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just come on because I don’t have time to try to explain this to your simple thinking ass.”
