“Thank you,” I managed to mutter without bawling.
When DeMarco pulled up a couple of minutes later, I thanked and tipped him, jumped inside my car, and peeled off. I drove until I reached the parking lot of a music store. They had already closed for the evening, and there was no one in the lot.
I pressed my forehead against the steering wheel, and I broke.
Casimir
Ihad never been a sap-ass nigga, but Giselle’s absence had me ready to sing Luther’s “A House is Not a Home.” Five days had passed since she left me, and she wasn’t taking my calls or texts. As much as I wanted to drive to her job, I wouldn’t put Imani in the uncomfortable position of trying to make excuses for Giselle, and I wouldn’t pressure Giselle while she was at work.
I put the weights down and leaned forward with my elbows on my knees. All the early morning jogging, late nights in the office, and boring reading throughout the night hadn’t helped a thing. I was restless and could not sleep. I wanted my Elle in my bed and my arms, and I wouldn’t be satisfied until she was back where she belonged.
“Aye, you good, G?” Jude asked from the bench beside me.
He had come to work out at our gym. He had a free membership because he was messing around with the woman who owned the building. He sat up and removed his AirPods from his ears.
“Yeah, just thinking about money moves,” I lied.
“Or more likely about honey moves.”
I slanted my gaze his way and rolled my eyes.
“Too soon for that?” Jude asked and chuckled.
“What you think?”
“I think you need to go get your woman back.”
“That’s just it. I have no idea where she is.”
“I’m sure a brilliant and resourceful man like yourself can figure that shit out, homie. You’ve already let it go too far by not checking Beth’s ass, now you’re gonna let another week pass, and before you know it, Giselle will be singing that old ass Jody Whatley song, ‘Looking For A New Love.’”
I scowled at him and asked, “How the hell do you know that old ass song?”
“Same way you do. My mama used to sing that shit all the time when I was a kid.”
“I hear you, and I want to go get her, but if she left, that means that she’s not trying to be with me.”
“That ain’t what that means at all. It means that she wants you to fight for her, protect her, and prove to her that you won’t let anybody ever get that close again. The fact that Beth felt comfortable enough rolling up on that girl’s job and threatening her is fucked up.”
“Yeah, she was wrong with that move.”
“Nah, I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about you.”
“I had nothing to do with what Beth did.”
“I’m saying, nigga, you didn’t impress upon old girl how important Giselle was to you. She didn’t get the memo that you don’t play ’bout that one. If she had, she never would have tried it. She felt too comfortable rolling up there, and that’s all because you never secured your woman. You never put the message out about how you really feel about her and what you would do to anyone who tried to step to her. Beth’s probably looking at that girl like she’s just a random girl you fuck around with.”
“No, she knows me better than that.”
“Or does she? All I’m saying is that it’s time for you to send the message out. Beth’s ass is out of pocket, and she needs to be checked.”
“I hear you.”
“You’d better do more than hear me. You need to handle your shit, big homie.”
“I know. But Giselle is on some ethical shit. I honestly believe it goes past her license. I think she’s worried about how it looks, period. She was my marriage counselor, and now she’s involved with me.”
“It doesn’t matter what it looks like. Sometimes, you can’t help the way you feel about a person, and yes, it might be messed up, but that’s how it happened. She’s who you fell in love with, and you’re who she fell in love with. You can’t always base your heart’s desires on what society says that you should do. You can only be the best that you can be and follow your heart. I personally think the two of you are a good look for each other.”