Page 82 of Intentional Foul
I examined Anissa’s brown eyes and the softness of her features, and my heart sank. This was supposed to be easy. The goal was to say it and run. It’s the reason I picked the seat by the window.
“Anissa, you know I love you and I didn’t do this...”
“Ahem,” someone interrupted.
Anissa and I both turned toward the server. I scanned her body, her beautiful chocolate skin, bone-straight hair, and slim figure until I ended at her name tag.
“Are you Anissa Shaw as in Marquise’s mother? You look similar to the picture on his profile,” Brittany asked with questionable confidence.
I sat back in my chair with bunched brows, trying to figure out where this was going.
“Yes, can I help you?” Anissa said.
Fuck. Anissa shifted her mood from let’s talk to defensive. She could turn it on and off without warning. The last thing I needed was her to already have her guard up.
“I-I. Sorry, let me get my nerves together,” she said with shaky hands. “I’m Brittany.”
Anissa peered over at me and then back to Brittany as she re-adjusted in her seat.
“I can’t get a hold of Marquise. We are in love with each other, and he stops answering for me. I think there may be a mix-up. Is he okay?” she asked Anissa.
My lips retreated inside my mouth. Marquise was playing the game in the living room when I left this morning.
“Yes. I spoke with him earlier today,” Anissa said.
Brittany held her chest and exhaled a worried breath as if he was in some kind of danger.
“It’s weird; we were discussing a future, and he fell off the face of the earth. He even let me come over one time. Do you think I should stop by unannounced,” Brittany said. Her voice elevated to almost squealing, showing her excitement.
Shit, Marquise has a stalker, I thought to myself.
“Okayyyy,” Anissa sang with widened eyes. “What future did you two discuss? I do not recommend you stop by unannounced.”
A smile settled on Brittany’s face. “About me being the first woman to stay the night with him and getting to meet you,theAnissa Shaw,” Brittany said with pride.
I chuckled as Anissa turned to me and then back to Brittany. It was clear she was in love with Marquise and we both knew she was a mere number.
“How long ago was this, exactly?” Anissa asked.
“January. Marquise preferred we move at a slower pace. He has a hard time trusting people,” Brittany said.
The glow on her face suggested she would be the one to save him from this pain.
“Shit,” I said, drawing their eyes to me.
“I promise, Mrs. Shaw-Jefferies, I’m a good person. I’m pre-med, no children, and I come from a middle-class home. I work here part time.” Brittany gave her accolades with pride.
The only mistake she made was sleeping with Marquise.
“Brittany, I’m going to give you a hard reality about my son. Marquise blocked you because he hasn’t changed his number. My son enjoys traveling to other people’s beds nightly if possible. You have great things going for you, don’t waste themon my son. Focus on your education and make your parents proud,” Anissa said with no filter or warmth.
Brittany’s face morphed into several emotions as she processed what Anissa said.
“No disrespect, but Marquise is a sweetheart. I don’t believe your assessment is correct,” Brittany countered.
“Girl, Marquise is a hoe. She is trying to tell you in a nice way. He sweet-talked your ass into his bed a few times and blocked you. Use this as fuel to buckle down in your studies,” I said, and Anissa dropped her head.
Brittany sucked her teeth as if I was her enemy and not her heart. She rolled her head in my direction, and I chuckled at her audacity.
