Page 2 of Our Promise
“I’m not doing this with you, Tara. I’ll pay you for the grocery and throw in a little extra for your time.”
He watched her take her shoe off, so when she threw it, he easily ducked it.
“Fuck you, Benny! Now you want to treat me like I’m nothing!” she yelled.
Tara ran up, swinging.
“Aye, aye, aye. Stop!” He caught her wild arms and clamped them to her sides. “We never did this and we’re not about to start. Just get your stuff and leave, please.”
He watched her face change from anger to sorrow. “Okay, okay.” She wiggled her arms, and he released her. She reached up slowly to grip his face. “I’m sorry. Baby, please. I love you so much. You know how much courage it took me to come to you,begging for a second chance? We can work this out. I know we can.”
Benny removed her hands from his face. He looked into her watery, red eyes and said, “We’re done.”
And he knew they were really done, because he didn’t feel an ounce of regret when those words left his mouth.
“You know what…” Tara started but stopped.
Benny could tell she wanted to stand her ground, but he hoped she realized there was no foundation for her to stand on. She had destroyed it. No matter how much she tried to validate her reason for cheating, she was the one who broke them up and ruined their relationship.
Tara ran to grab her coat and purse, then she raced to the door. He heard her whimpers as she went to collect her things, and he still felt nothing until she left.
Relief washed over Benny. He went to the front door, locking it. He checked the window and saw Tara reversing out of his driveway.
He released a heavy sigh. He walked to the dining room and began to clean when another text came through on his phone.
Brother G: Aye, are you busy with the cheater? I know you see my text. Let me know something. I’m not in the city. I only ask cause Jo don’t want Trey to pick them up but if that’s her only option… Oh well. Let me know.
Benny sucked his teeth at the first sentence of Gavin’s text. He had something for him the next time he saw him. However, he would focus on the second part of his text. Apparently, his sister needed “rescuing.”
Spoiled ass.
Joann was the oldest out of him and his younger brother, Gavin, but she was the most spoiled since she was the only girl. Their coffee shop, Cup of Jo, was named after her andtheir mother. Though his mother rarely dealt with the place and Jo only helped occasionally. Other than his father, no one was as dedicated as him to his family’s business. So, when Benny finished college, he went straight to work, building the coffee brand and the shops to the successful corporation they were today. He currently had two locations. One in Charlotte, where he lived. It was also where his distribution center was located. His newest location was in Raleigh.
Benny typed a quick response to Gavin before he went down the hall to change. He would add on some layers to fight the January chill. Once he had on his undergarments, he covered them with dark gray sweats and a white long-sleeved shirt. He slid his feet into a pair of white sneakers, then slipped into his coat.
Back in the kitchen, he grabbed his wallet and keys. He couldn’t help but look at the mess in his kitchen and shake his head.
He should have made Tara clean up before she left.
Benny pulledup to Cheers Bar and Grill, parking in the loading zone.
“What’s up, Benny?” Joseph greeted him when he came through the door. Benny met him at Cheers on his twenty-first birthday, and they had been cool ever since.
“Not much. Where my sister and her big head ass friend?”
Joseph laughed. “In the back. Tonight is Crunk and Karaoke. I’ll take you back there.” He came from behind the bar, leading him around the room. “I’ve been keeping an eye on them. I told Jo to call one of y’all to come get them. It’s only about to get crazier as the night goes on.”
Benny grabbed his wallet, pulling out a few hundred-dollar bills and handing them to Joseph. “Thanks for looking out.”
“Always, man.” He slipped the money in his pocket. “Jo’s got my girl in a chokehold, so I’m sure you’ll be getting this right back. She won’t go anywhere else for coffee.”
Benny wore a cocky smile. He loved reviews like this. “That’s what we like to hear.” He looked around when they arrived around the corner from the bar. In the back, close to the stage, he spotted Jo and Lorielle almost immediately. They were next in line for karaoke. “I got it from here, Joseph. Thanks again.”
Benny was almost at the stage when his sister spotted him.
“Benny!” Jo screamed as she climbed up on the stage, waving at him. She swayed a little as she claimed the mic from the host.
He grabbed Lorielle as she was going up the stairs and walked her ass right back down them. He pulled her along as he turned his attention to his sister.
