Page 34 of Obsessive Love

“Yeah, that works; I’ll come by the arena to look at the area you want to use,” she said.

“Bet,” I said, and then we hung up. I set the phone back on the island. “Make me a list of all the equipment you need.”

“Pyrite-”

I stepped around the island and closed the space between us. Fable stepped back until her back hit the wall, and she looked up at me, surprised. “I’m not asking you, Fable; I’m telling you to tell me what you need so that I can take care of it.” I wrapped my hand around her throat and tilted her head up. “Don’t question me when it comes to handling business. When you need shit done, I’ll get it handled. I trust very few, and when I put my money on the table, the people who collect it from me are worth their price tag.”

“I don’t need-”

“Don’t tell me what you don’t need, Fable,” I said, shaking my head. It was taking everything in me not to shut her up by kissing her. “Just let me handle it. You understand?”

“Yes,” she answered with a quick nod of her head. “Yes.”

“Thank you,” I said. I kissed her forehead, needing some connection to her, then stepped back. “Talk with Mama; I’ll be back shortly.”

“Why are you here?” Xoey stood on the other side of the door with a mug on her face.

“I need to see Javien,” I requested, and she shook her head. “What do you mean no?”

“That’s not how this works,” she said as she crossed her arms. Seeing Xoey not dolled up or using one of her personas always made me double-take. She was beautiful, with her golden skin, a face full of freckles, full lips, a button nose, dark eyes, shoulder-length locs, and square glasses. I asked her once why she hid who she was from the world, and she said there were very few people who’d never hurt her enough to make her feel the need to hide. I was one of the few and never took her vulnerability for granted. “When you handed Javien to me, there were no takebacks.”

“I don’t want to kill him,” I sighed.

“I know,” she said with a shrug. “That was never a thought I had.”

“Then let me talk to him.”

“No,” she said. “Handle your woman, don’t bring your ass over here for her brother.”

“I just want to talk to the nigga, Xoe!” I was getting frustrated, but I knew that Xoey didn’t care. “Damn, let me talk to the nigga.”

“First off, don’t yell at me,” Xoey said, stepping back. Her hands dropped, and I noticed that her left arm went behind her back. There was no doubt in my mind that her hand was wrapped around her gun right now. “And my answer remains no.”

“That’s on me, I apologize.” I put my hand to my heart and patted my chest twice. Xoey grilled me before she nodded. “Now, can you tell me why?”

“Because when I do, and you hear what he has to say, you’re going to kill him,” she answered, and my stomach dropped into my ass.

“Why?” I asked. Xoey sighed, pinched the bridge of her nose, and then shook her head like she was fighting internally with what she wanted me to know. “Xoey man, just tell me why; I swear I won’t snap.”

“You’ve never been a liar; don’t start now,” she laughed softly. “Especially since you don’t know what I know.”

“Then just tell me,” I said.

“Pyrite, you trust me, right?” she questioned, and I nodded. I trusted Xoey with my life. I had her riding shotgun a few times to prove it. “Then let me handle this, okay? This shit with Javien Jr. is on me. Just go back home and keep falling in love with my bestie.”

“Man, I ain’t falling in love with her ass,” I denied, shaking my head. Shit was true, too, because I was already in love with Fable, and had been since the moment I saw her.

Xoey laughed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, okay, if you say so.” She moved her arm from behind her back and put her hands on her hips. “When are you going to take her out on a date?”

“Date?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Take her somewhere nice, let her dress up, feel pretty. Having her locked in the basement and your room ain’t it, friend.”

“I gotta do better,” I agreed as I nodded. “Cool, I can do that.”

“I know you can.” She reached up and put her hand on my shoulder. “Now go, spoil my bestie; let her out of that damnhouse. Show her off.” She moved her hand from my shoulder. “I got this shit with Javien under control.”

“Alright, Xoey,” I said, nodding. “I’m going to let you handle this for now.”

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