Page 27 of Intentional Foul
He pinched his lips together as he shook his head no. “Jhae, I recognize you are upset, but we can’t discuss it while you’re standing and screaming. Please have a seat and we can explore the new terms of our marriage,” he said.
Mad and enraged tears escalated down my face. My head throbbed with pain and worry for what could happen if this got out.
“No, Anissa will fix this. She fixes everything,” I said.
Phone in hand, I bolted to the bathroom and locked myself inside. I stared at myself in the mirror as I pushed the call button.
“Hey, Jhae,” Anissa said.
Before I could take the plunge, a text message from Malcolm hit my phone.
Malcolm
Mom can’t make me do shit. I’m grown, Wifey. Who has the upper hand with Anissa? Me or you?
“Hello, Jhae. Are you okay?” she screamed into the phone.
As much as I didn’t want to admit it, Malcolm was right. Anissa was a momma bear when it came to her twin boys. It took Khalil coming into the picture before she would allow them to grow up.
“I-I,” I stammered over my words.
Two taps on the door sent my body into a panic as I jumped. “Tell Mom I said hi,” Malcolm said through the door.
“Ugggghhhhh!”I yelled and kicked the bathroom door and immediately regretted it. “Ouch. Ouch. Ouch,” I said and reached for my big toe.
“Jhae, are you okay?” Malcolm asked as I hopped on one foot.
“Jhae, what the hell is going on? Why does it sound as if Malcolm was in the room with you?” Anissa asked.
My heart trembled at her hearing Malcolm’s voice, my head throbbed from this new relation. Now, my damn toe could be broken.
“Sorry. I was calling for something and I forgot and now I hit my foot on the bathroom door. I’ll call you later,” I said and hung up.
I wiggled my big toe before resting it on the cold bathroom floor.
“Let me help you, Jhae,” Malcolm said as he twisted the doorknob.
“Go away,” I screamed, but I knew he wouldn’t. He was vested in this sham of a marriage. The determination in his eyes shook me to my core.
“I’m a patient man. I’ll wait,” he said, and I cringed with angst.
Forty-five minutes later, I leaned my back against the mirror as I sat on the vanity.
Malcolm, being true to his word, remained by the door, occasionally tapping, trying to lure me out.Ivey,I thought to myself, and I dialed her number.
“Ivey,” I said.
“Yes, Sister-in-law?” she said, and my stomach flipped twice.
I could hear Anissa playing with Khaira in the background, running my blood cold.
“Please keep your voice down,” I whispered, and she giggled. “Name your price and I will pay you for the video,” I said.
“What video?”
A knock on the door drew my attention. “I ordered you food, Wifey,” Malcolm said and my eyes twitched.
“You know what video I’m talking about. How much for a copy and you destroy the backup?” I inquired.
