Page 27 of Obsessive Love

“Whatever, I’ll be over to see her and Sloane when I’m done here,” Xoey said, then hung up the phone. “Now, back to you, what are you going to do? Beat his ass or stay put?”

“I-”

The door to the bedroom opened, and Pyrite walked in. He was dressed in ball shorts and a tank with slides with a mug on his face. “Here, it’s time to check in.” He handed me the phone, mugged Xoey, and left the room.

“Hey, best friend’s best friend,” Xoey said, taking the phone out of my hand. “My name is Xoey; what’s your name?”

“Yamari,” she answered with a laugh. “You’re Xoey plus twelve, right?”

“The one and only,” Xoey answered with a smile. “You’re Purpose’s friend, right? The art curator?”

“That’s me,” Yamari replied.

I put my hand out for the phone, and Xoey looked up, confused. “I would like to talk to my best friend,” I said,motioning for her to give me the phone. “You can go talk to your friend.”

“Fine,” Xoey sighed and handed me the phone. She quickly got up, grabbed her purse, and closed the distance between her and Pyrite. “Let me out, big man.” Pyrite stared down at her and lifted his brow. “I won't go through your shit this time.”

“And?” His deep voice rumbled and washed over my skin. Even though he wasn’t trying to be sexy, it came naturally.

“Or eat your food, damn.” Xoey rolled her eyes, and Pyrite nodded. They walked to the door, and Pyrite pressed his thumb onto the scanner and I watched as the door opened. Xoey threw me a quick wave before she left the room.

“I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” Pyrite gave me a final look, then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

“How are you doing, friend?” Yamari said, and I looked down at the phone. “You look tired.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled as I sat on the floor. “I’m over here trying to figure out a plan to save my life, and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is that I look tired. Where is the support?”

“Girl, that man is not going to kill you,” she sighed and waved me off. Yamari was in her home office, at her desk, more than likely researching some old ass painting that was worth more than I could even imagine. “If he were, you’d be dead by now.”

“He could like torture,” I mumbled, which caused her to laugh. “Ain’t shit funny, Yamari!”

“Yes, it is,” she said, nodding. “If you think for one second he would be going out of his way to make sure you’re comfortable, only for him to kill you later, then you’ve lost your mind.”

“I’m kidnapped,” I said slowly. “I am a prisoner in his home, a big ass home, but still, I can’t come and go as I please.”

“You need something to do,” she suggested. “Ask him to let you in the kitchen, and offer to bake him something. You know, as a peace offering.”

“What the fuck do I need a peace offering for? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Are you trying to get out of the room or what?” she questioned with a laugh. “Be nice to the nigga, damn, Fable. Your mean ass has been locked up for a month and haven’t learned shit.”

“It’s been a month?” I yelled. “How the fuck has it been that long already?”

“Because time hasn’t stopped since you’ve been gone,” she replied, and I flipped her off. “Look, all I’m saying is you need to be nice, hold a conversation or two with him, and maybe, just maybe, he will let your ass out of the room and eventually the house.”

“I doubt it,” I mumbled. “He’s more stubborn than I am.”

“I know,” she said, nodding. “We talk every day, damn. He calls me at the same time every day, checks in on me, my job, the bakery, all that shit.”

“Damn, it sounds like y’all are dating,” I said with an attitude. “You like him, Yamari?”

“He’s a nice person,” she answered with a shrug. “But I’m not attracted to him, so get your panties out of your ass and chill with the attitude.”

“I don’t have-”

“Bitch, lie to someone else because I know you just like you know me, and your ass caught a quick little attitude when I mentioned he calls me daily. I don’t want Pyrite Stone’s crazy ass, so don’t worry about it.”

“Whatever,” I said, rolling my eyes. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t feel a particular way about hearing Yamari say Pyrite checked in on her daily, because I did. We had all three mealstogether daily, and he never mentioned that he had spoken to her, but that could also be because we never spoke while eating. He came into the room, handed me my plate, and we sat on the floor to share a meal, then he left. The only words ever spoken were when one of us blessed our meal. “I’ll try to be nice to him.”

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