Page 115 of Zimyra

“How did you tell her? Did you explain yourself to her like you’re explaining all of this to me?”

“No. I haven’t had a chance to explain myself to her yet.”

“Then how did she find out about it?”

“She found one of my business cards in my luggage the weekend we were in Hilton Head together.”

He raises a brow. “You spent a weekend alone with my sister in Hilton Head?”

“I did, and don’t give me that big brother act, man. It’s admirable, but Zimyra is a grown woman who makes grown woman decisions. She for sure made this one,” I tell him, holding up my left hand.

“Is that what I think it is?”

“It is. She’s my wife, and I’m not going to let her go without a fight. I don’t care if that’s you, your cousins—whoever. I’m here to get my girl back.”

He grins and says, “Ain’t nobody trying to fight you, man. Besides, you’ll have enough of a fight with her. Everybody in the family thinksI’mthe stubborn one. My sister has a mean, stubborn streak that’ll make you tap out, and you know what? You deserve every bit of it.” He walks away from me, leaving me to my thoughts.

I drop my head because I know he’s right. I’ve witnessed that stubborn streak of hers firsthand, but she hasn’t really witnessed the determined man that I am. She knows the somewhat well-mannered maintenance man. She has yet to meet the tenacious, determined businessman. This evening, she will.

I head to the bathroom in the lobby and pace the floor. While I know what I have to do, it’s still nerve-racking to present to her my true identity – who I really am as a person. She probably won’t like that person. Most people don’t.

I return to the ballroom. I see Mauricio with a woman, who I assume is his girlfriend or wife. I see other people I know from the complex – Mr. Alton, Mrs. Phillips and Ms. Hernandez. I see others I recognize, but don’t necessarily know their names.

“Hey, Axel.”

I turn around and see Nykendy.

“Hey.”

“How are you this evening?” she asks.

“I’m good.”

“You look good. I like that suit. That’s pretty sharp. You clean up nice.”

“Thanks.” I check my watch. “Hey, have you seen Zimyra?”

“Yeah. She just stepped outside for a minute…said she needed some air.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I scan the place for the exits and see one across the room. I head that way, hoping this is the door she exited out of and when I open the door, I’m grateful to see that it is. She’s standing there, staring off into the distance. Her hair is free and full of spiral curls. She has on a black sequin dress that contours to her curves. She’s breathtaking, but when she turns to look at me, she actually does take my breath away. I have to force myself to breathe. I want so badly to walk up to her, touch her, kiss her lips, and tell her how sorry I am for what I did. Instead, I take a breath and say, “Good evening.”

Her eyes sweep over me from my head to my shoes. She’s never seen me in a suit. This is new for her – a new, upgraded version of the one she knew.

I say, “I owe you an apology, so I want to get that out of the way first.”

“Get it out of the way,like it’s going to be that easy. You’re so full of yourself.”

She turns back around so that her back is to me. The gown is backless, and again, I want to touch her glistening, moisturized skin. I want to caress her, pull her into my arms, and make this right…make her forgive me.

I say, “I didn’t come here to argue with you, Zimyra.”

“Then you may as well go back inside because I have nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, inside of me that won’t come out as an argument.”

“I’m not going back inside, and I’m going to do what I came here to do.”

“What’s that? Lie some more? You’re pretty good at it. Had me fooled.”

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