Page 11 of Business Casual

Chapter 3

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Avery announced as he entered the garage on Sixth Street. “I had a customer with loan issues.”

I stood as he approached me. “You’re only ten minutes late. I say we call this a win.”

He opened his arms for a hug, and I leaned in briefly. But when I tried to pull away, he wouldn’t let me. “I miss you, Imani.”

“Get off of me.” I pushed his muscular chest, forcing myself out of the embrace. “You saw me over the weekend.”

“Yeah, but we didn’t get to spend any quality time together. It’s been too long.”

I looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “That’s what happens when people break up.”

“I don’t think we should’ve broken up,” he told me as he walked backward. His eyes were pinned to me as he moved toward the counter. “We should talk about getting back together.”

Before I could respond, my godfather Jimmy came out and greeted Avery. As they exchanged pleasantries, I eyeballed my ex-boyfriend.

He was good-looking.

With his mahogany complexion, long beard, and thickly built frame, he was undeniably good-looking. He had a decent job, made good money and he had game. For those reasons, he thought he was God’s gift to women. And because he was smooth, it wasn’t hard for women to be duped by his charm.

And unfortunately, I knew from first-hand experience.

“Imani, every time I see you, you get prettier and prettier, you know that?” Jimmy remarked as I met them at the register. “You look just like your mama when she was your age.”

“Thank you,” I said, folding my arms over my chest. “What’s the damage, Jimmy? You only try to sweet talk me when you’re about to deliver some bad news.”

The older man chuckled. “She’s a firecracker,” he told Avery as if I weren’t standing right in front of him.

“I know,” Avery agreed, handing over his credit card to put on file.“I miss it. I miss her. But she won’t take me back.”

Jimmy’s brows furrowed and his weathered face twisted into a slight frown. “Then maybe you should’ve done right by her when you had her.” He swiped the card and then handed it back to him. “Consequences.”

I snickered in agreement as my ex stood there at a loss for words. “Exactly.”

“I’m not the same man I was back then. I’ve grown since we broke up,” Avery argued in his own defense. “Sir, I know you’re like a father to her, so just know that when I finally get her back, I will do right by her.”

The older man turned his focus back to me. “Anyway, Imani, it’s going to take me a week to finish with your car, darling. I’ve already ordered the paint, but we need to get that big gash out of the side of it before we can do anything. What the hell happened?”

“Avery’s little girlfriend got jealous and keyed it,” I informed him.

“Come on now, youngblood. What the hell you got going on?” Jimmy fussed, shaking his head. “You just said you were trying to get Imani back, but you got a lady at home?” He shook his head. “Boy…”

“Well, that’s why I’m here to pay for her car to get fixed,” Avery called out defensively. When Jimmy turned around, he continued. “Because like I said, I’m a changed man.”

I pursed my lips and rolled my eyes. “Here we go,” I muttered under my breath.

Jimmy handed Avery a printout of his assessment of my car. “Imani, be careful with this one.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” I assured him. “He is in the past. He will remain in the past.”

“I’m a changed man. I’ll prove it to you. I’ll prove it to the both of you,” Avery insisted with that cunning smile of his.

Ignoring him, Jimmy continued. “Do you want to borrow one of my cars for the next week or are you okay?”

“I’ll be okay.” I put my hands to my chest. “Thank you.”

My godfather gave me a firm nod and a smile. “You got it.” He shifted his gaze to Avery. “I hear you talking…” He took a step back and eyed him warily. “But you can’t bullshit a bullshitter, youngblood.”

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