Page 5 of Tell Me You Love Me Again

“Baby, just be a little more patient with me. Okay? I promise it’ll be worth it in the end.” After placing the eggs on a dish, I turned around and faced him.

“I think we need to go on a trip.”

“A trip? When?” he asked.

“Now. I can make the arrangements and we can leave within the next week.” I watched as he rubbed the back of his neck before swiping his hands down his face.

“Now is not a good time, Snook. I’m only home for a week, and I still have things to do at the site with Gary,” he replied. Anger wasn’t even the emotion that I felt right now. I wanted to knock him right on his ass, but that wouldn’t do shit.

“Really, Gabe? You didn’t think I would want to spend some time with my husband at all? You’ve already been gone for three weeks, and it was a month before that. The fuck do you take me for? A dumb bitch?” I was seething mad, and wanted nothing more than to bash his gah damn face in for playing with me right now.

“Aye, take allat out ya voice, and watch how the fuck you talk to me, Chiara. I wasn’t fuckin’ cursing at you, so I expect the same fuckin’ respect! The fuck you want me to do, huh? Quit work and go back in the streets? That’s what you want? You want me home 24/7, but baby, that ain’t happening. You knew I was a hustler when you met me. Regardless of what my hustle is, that’s something that’s not going to change. I’m not out here with no bitch either, because I know that’s what you’re thinking. I’m grinding, Snook. For us. I told you about the hit I took before I went to prison. I’m just trying to make sure we can live comfortably and be able to give you everything that your heart desires. Just be a little more patient with me, baby. That’s all I ask. Can you do that for Daddy?” He softened his voice and had my chin in his grasp. I heard what he said, but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I just wish he would see where I was coming from. Removing myself from his embrace, I side-steeped him and went into the cabinets to get a plate.

After fixing his food, I left him downstairs to eat alone. Was it petty? Hell yeah, but now he could get a dose of how I felt.

Gabe

I sat at the table and watched Chiara walk out of the kitchen, leaving me to eat alone. I was used to her being in her feelings about me working, but she has taken it up a notch. I don’t know how much longer I can have her walking around here hating a nigga, when all I’m trying to do is make sure we’re good. I ate my food and cleaned the kitchen so she wouldn’t have to worry about doing it later. My first set of clothes was done, so I took them out of the washer and put them into the dryer before starting the second load. When I was done with that, I went upstairs to find my wife. When I got into our bedroom, she was coming out of the bathroom, now fully dressed.

“Where you going? I asked just to make some kind of conversation.

“Out,” she replied with an attitude. Blowing out a staggered breath, I let her have it because I knew she was upset. Instead of arguing with her, I let her have it. Knowing her, she was only going to hang out with her sister. I continued to watch her getready in silence, like I wasn’t even in the room. When I saw her pick up her keys and attempt to leave the house, saying nothing to me was when I spoke up.

“I know you’re upset, but you know better than to leave here without kissing me.” I pulled her body into mine and placed my lips on hers. She didn’t reciprocate, but I didn’t expect her to.

“I love you.”

“Love you, too,” she mumbled, breaking free from me, and leaving. The way she slammed the garage door, I knew she was pissed, but I knew she would see why soon.

Soon as Chi left, I did my workout and hopped in the shower. I had to meet Gary at the office to go over a few things before I went to go check in on my other project.

An hour later, I was showered, dressed, and headed out the door. Hopping into my burgundy 2021 Chevy Tahoe, I headed to our site office to meet Gary. This truck was the last big purchase that I bought for myself. I still had my pickup truck, but I used that mostly for work. Every dime I made, I utilized it for my wife and her happiness. I just hope she appreciates it in the long run. I still remember our first date like it was yesterday. I had just started making money again with my brother, so I was able to take her somewhere nice. I did my best and worked with what I had. I wasn’t broke then, but I refused to be out here splurging and had to go back into the streets. I picked her up from her apartment and we went to have dinner at this restaurant calledStoney River.It wasn’t too over the top and not too bougie where either of us would feel out of place and it wouldn’t break my pockets too bad.

I remember pulling up to her apartment with a bouquet of yellow roses in my hand as I knocked on the door. When she opened it, I was at a loss for words at how beautiful she was. Her locs weren’t as long as they are now, probably falling a fewinches past her shoulders, but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world to me.

“Hey, beautiful. These are for you.” I extended the roses to her, and she blushed as she took them.

“Thank you. They’re beautiful. Come in while I put these in water.” I followed her inside and watched as she went into her kitchen and got an empty vase for the flowers. I was able to see her every move because she had an open floor plan, so when she turned to see if I was watching, I winked my eye at her. When she came back into reach, I grabbed her hand and asked, “you ready to go?” Nodding, she grabbed her purse and keys, and we left her apartment. Once we got to my truck, I chuckled because I saw the distorted look on her face. She was probably figuring out how she was going to get inside, but she didn’t have to worry about that. I was more than happy to assist her.

“I see the look on your face, but I got you.” Being the gentleman I was, I helped her inside of the truck before rounding it and joining her inside, and pulling off.

“You have a preference on what you want to listen to?” I asked politely.

“Not really. I listen to pretty much any and everything,” she responded. Pressing play on the radios screen, Jay-Z’s “Run This Town” started playing through the speakers. I glanced over and she was bobbing her head to the beat. That caused me to smirk, because I loved a chick that had a lil’ hood in her. This chick that I was dealing with was as bougie as they came, so one that had similar tastes as I did was a plus.

“So, how was your week?” I probed as I maneuvered through traffic.

“It was…interesting. We had a woman come in to get checked because she thought her boyfriend gave her a disease, and guess what?” She paused, turning to face me.

“What?”

“He came in with another woman, but that ain’t all. The other girl was pregnant. Good thing they were already in Urgent Care because ol’ girl beat his ass all up and through that hospital.” She laughed.

“Damn. I bet homie was all fucked up after that,” I snorted.

“He was.”

When we were talking on the phone, she let me know she was a triage nurse at Bishop Memorial. I thought that was dope as hell. I could’ve definitely used her if I were still in the streets. We continued the rest of the ride to the restaurant, having a casual conversation. It felt good holding a conversation with someone who had more to talk about than just themselves. If I were with Moniece, all she would be talking about is herself and what she wanted to spend my fuckin’ money on.

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