Page 24 of His Heaven, Her Hell
“It is, but I wouldn't do that shit to you. I ain't even that type of nigga, and that's why I’m leaving.”
“You leaving because you want to fuck my bitch is crazy work.” He chuckled. “I told you to go ahead. I’m sure she wants to fuck you too. Right, J? That's why you been out with this nigga all day, huh? I ain't fucking stupid. That's why I don’t let yo’ bald-headed ass go nowhere. You want to give that pussy up to the first nigga that shows yo’ ass interest. Go the fuck in the house!”
“That's what I am to you now, Damien? A pass-around? You used to make me feel as if I was everything you’ve ever dreamed of. When did you decide you hated me? After Brittany? Whitney? Or was it Kelly?”
“Go the fuck in the house, bitch!”
“Calm the fuck down! What the fuck is wrong with you?” I pointed at him. “Jela, if you want me to take you somewhere to let this nigga cool off, I got you. You don’t have to stay here. Clearly, his ass is drunk.”
Dame laughed. “Where the fuck she gon’ go? She ain’t got nowhere to run to.”
“Jela…” I said, looking at her.
“She ain’t going nowhere. Get ya ass in the house.”
Jela looked at me, backed away, and turned, hurrying into the house.
I couldn’t get the hurt look on her face out of my mind. I knew she had to think the reason I kissed her or was showing any attraction to her was because Dame gave me permission to fuck her. But that wasn't the case. She didn’t know me, so it was easy to think she was being played. It was childish and petty for him to even put that shit out there in front of her, but I was learning that the brother I hadn't seen in five years and only talked to over FaceTime was a totally different nigga than the one I left behind.
I leaned against my truck and stared at him. “You petty as fuck for that, but I’m starting to see the familiarity in you. You acting just like ya bitch-ass daddy.”
“Fuck you and him.”
“Oh, yeah? It’s fuck me now? Is that how you feel?”
“Just how I feel, nigga. Get yo’ pretty ass away from my house.”
I nodded. “That’s real.”
I pushed from the truck and headed inside to get my shit. I knew it was a bad idea to come here. It’d only been thirty-eight hours, and already, the energy of Damien Senior was looming in the atmosphere. Before I hurt my brother, I was removing myself from his presence.
I hurried to the room to grab my shit. I had already packed what little I had this morning, so it was a quick grab and go. I didn’t do this ghetto, toxic shit. I thought staying with him until my house was done would be cool, even with Jela’s fine, tempting ass. I had missed hanging out with him, but obviously, I came home to a different nigga with a beautiful woman, who I wanted to deliver from whatever hell she was living in.
I grabbed my satchel and suitcase, then left the room. As I walked through the foyer, Dame was standing by the door with a bottle of Ace in his hand, leaning against the wall, watching me.
He smirked at me before saying, “Even though you getting the fuck out, I ain't mad at you, my baby. That offer still stands. It’s my peace offering.”
“Dame, get the fuck outta my face. You don’t want them type of problems, my guy. If I were that type of nigga, I’d have ya ass crying in the fucking corner because she’d be packing her fuckin’ bags, walking outta this door with me, and my niece will be calling me daddy by next week. Move yo’ dumb ass out of my way. And be at Mama’s house Sunday for dinner. She wants to talk to us.”
I pushed past him and headed to my whip. I tossed my shit in, got inside, and started the ignition. I looked up and saw Jela in their bedroom, looking out of the balcony doors. I sighed as I put the truck in reverse and left my brother’s house. I made sure to leave Jela my business card in the guest room. If she needed me, she knew how to find me.
Two Days Later
Saturday
“Mr. Lowes. Welcome,” I acknowledged my client as he approached the dinner table with his wife.
“Mr. Stone. Good to see you,” he replied.
“Mrs. Lowes. I hope the flight was accommodating for you both.”
She smiled. “It was. I can't wait to move here for good.”
“And I can’t wait to make that happen for you. My apologies about the meeting space. I just got into town myself, and the company’s grand opening won’t be until the new year, so I wanted to choose a space where we can be comfortable discussing your plans for your dream home,” I said with a genuine smile.
We were currently in the main restaurant of the Westin, which wasn't too bad, but I would have preferred to meet with them in an office. The Westin’s restaurant wasn't busy and provided a calming ambiance, even though it wasn’t a place I’d have chosen.
“No, this is totally fine. I am super starved after that long flight, so this is perfect,” Mrs. Lowes replied, giving me a soft smile.
