Page 58 of Only if You Catch Me
“Thank you. The woman that was crying-“
I didn’t even let her finish. “Toya. The woman I got pregnant three times. I haven’t been in contact with her. I don’t even know how she knew about my court date.” I honestly didn’t. I was shocked to see Toya in that courtroom, and I wasn’t mad that she came. I just hoped Persia knew I hadn’t been on no funny shit.
“I believe you.”
“She might have been crying because she saw that big ass rock on your finger. Where that come from?” I was only able toget a glance of the ring, but I was shocked to see that she had one on.
“Tik Tok shop,” Persia giggled. “I want people to think I’m married, so men will leave me alone. I wear it everywhere. Except the shower.” That got a laugh out of me.
“I like that.” And I did like the gesture, but it made my heart heavy. I didn’t want Persia waiting years for me. She had already wasted too many years of her life married to a lame. I didn’t want more years wasted on me. That was another conversation for another day, however.
“They’re finally letting me have visits next week.”
“I know. I’m going to wait for your mom and sister to come and then I’ll visit.” I could hear the sadness in Persia’s voice, but she was trying to keep it together for me.
“Don’t be sitting over there crying every day. Please.” Her being miserable broke my damn heart. There were times I wished I had left her alone. I hounded her so hard about being with me only for it to end up in disaster. That was on me, and I felt like shit for it.
“I don’t. I promise. Of course, I’m sad, but I’m trying to hold everything together. Work is busy. That’s good thing.”
“You being the only broker in charge there, is it too stressful?”
“No, not yet. I’ll let you know if I need help. Kastian, the bank account. That wasn’t necessary. Thank you, but you didn’t have to.”
“I know I didn’t. I’m your man until you say I’m not. And as your man, you’re good whether I can physically be there or not.”
“What do you mean until I say you’re not? You going to do something to make me say that? Because if not, then I’m not going anywhere.”
“We’ll see, babe.” It wasn’t that I didn’t believe her. I wholeheartedly believed that she believed what she was saying.I just couldn’t see her feeling the same in two or three years, but only time would tell.
Persia and I talked for the rest of the allotted time. When the call ended, I called her back, and we spoke for another fifteen minutes. Talking to her made me feel good, but it also made my heart heavy at the same time. All I wanted to do was suck on that pussy then fuck her to sleep. I wanted to go to sleep with my face buried in the crook her neck inhaling her scent. I waited my whole life to meet Persia. That shit was crazy.
I didn’t have high hopes for the outcome of my case, but what I did know was I had to get through it. There was no other choice.
When I ambled into the visitation room a week later and saw Persia a nigga felt soft as baby shit. All I could do was smile at her sexy ass. Contact was supposed to be very limited, but I didn’t care. I was hugging her, and I wasn’t making it quick. There were the regular bullshit CO’s that didn’t care how fine or paid a man was, they weren’t going for it, and they worked overtime to prove their authority. But there were the few that were still human at the end of the day, and when the women were attracted to you, you could always tell. Most of the men hated my guts or any other man’s guts that was on everything on the streets they’d never be. Power or not, they knew how far to take it with me.
I knew all eyes were on Persia because she was bad and looking like money. “Damn I miss you,” I squeezed her tight before pecking her lips. I pulled away before I had to curse a dumb ass officer out.
“I miss you too.”
Once we were seated, I grabbed Persia’s hand and eyed the ring on her finger. I had spent enough money on real diamonds to be able to spot a fake. Of course, I would have known it was fake if she hadn’t told me, but from a distance and to people that didn’t know jewelry like that, they’d assume it was real.
“I like this.”
“Thank you,” she smiled.
I peered into Persia’s face, and my heart began to drum in my chest as I took her in. Her face. Her body. I sat back, and she sat up before shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “Persia.” That was the only word I could get out.
She swallowed hard, but she didn’t respond.
“Tell me what’s good.” My tone was low. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from her full face. I had to be tripping.
“What’s good, is you got me good,” she chuckled with tears glistening in her eyes. “I found out yesterday.”
I placed both hands on my head and stared down at the table. Life knew how to take me through the ringer that was for damn sure. I should have expected it with the way my life had been going. I couldn’t be fully unhappy but the circumstances….fuck! When I finally lifted my head, a lone tear was running down her cheek. Reaching over, I wiped it away with the pad of my thumb.
“Don’t do that.”
“I’m sorry.”
