Page 157 of Captivated By Danger

“Yeah, we spent a week together, but you didn’t find the time to tell me that you were in love.”

“What are you talking about?”

He picked up a bunch of roses and stacked them on top of the pile he’d just made. The only time I’ve bought flowers is when I was in love, and I’ve only been deeply in love once.”

I sat down. “Whatever. So, what are you doing here?”

He sat across from me. “Rozay and Mona called and told me to come and do a wellness check on your ass. You ain’t been to work in a week.”

“I’ve been working every day, what are you talking about? And what aretheytalking about because I’ve been talking to them every day.”

He laughed. “Alright, man.”

He continued to chuckle under his breath.

“What’s funny nigga?”

“That shit hurt, don’t it?”

“What?”

“Diesel. I know you like Greysen. It’s something in that water down there. You don’t have to talk to me about it, but I understand, man.”

“Fuck you.”

Chef Nita brought us our plates.

“So, what is Rachel talking about?”

“Not shit. She showed up here with an ultrasound talking about it was mine. That ain’t my baby.”

“But how you know? You have strict rules.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”

“I ain’t did shit to you for you to have an attitude with me, nigga. I came here to check on my big brother because you ain’t never missed work, especially over a broken heart. You ain’t—”

“I’m sterile.”

He sat back in his seat.

“How you know that?”

“It’s what the doctor told me; every last one I’ve seen.”

“I mean…”

“Don’t try to rationalize it for me, Dymon. I’ve already done that and made my peace with it.”

He kept fixing his mouth trying to find a sentence. That’s why I didn’t want to tell anyone. I wasn’t looking for sympathy then and I wasn’t looking for sympathy now.

“Can I make a joke?” he asked.

“Sure, Dymon.”

“Is that why Greysen beat your ass?”

“That’s the joke?”

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