Page 22 of No Remedy for Love

“Hold that thought handsome, I need to take this call.”

“Alright beautiful, hit me back.”

Remi promised him that she would right before she clicked over to Mav.

“Hey handsome,” Remi cooed into the phone. If flirting was a sport, she would take home the gold.

“Nigga ain’t trying to hear that handsome shit. What’s been up with you, Remedy?”

“Damn, nigga using a bitch real name and shit. But ain’t nothing been up with me, Maverick.” Remi followed suit and called him by his real name too.

“Man, stop always trying to be funny. What nigga is taking up all my time? I ain’t seen your ass in a week. You made sure you stayed in contact with me when you wanted those twelve hundred dollar shoes and fifteen hundred dollar purse though.”

Coincidentally, Remi and Kiva picked out the same shoes once again, and Mav got nervous when it happened a second time. Kiva was always the last one to get her shoes and he thought she was throwing hints that she knew something. He was just being paranoid, and Kiva actually had a few outfits that matched them perfectly. Remi wanted the purse too, but Kiva didn’t really wear them. She’d had some shady clients in the past and she’d had her wallet and money stolen more than once. Now, she put her cards and cash in the back of her phone and it stayed in her pocket or work smock.

“Nah nigga, see, this is what we’re not about to do. You got Apple Pay? Zelle? How do you want me to send your money back to you?” Remi replied, shaking him from his wandering thoughts.

“Seriously Remi? Don’t even try to play me like that.”

“I don’t need no nigga throwing shit up in my face when mad day come. I’ll gladly run you your coins before that happens.”

“Man, fuck that money. You know a nigga be missing your sexy ass.”

“I miss you too, boo, but you know my girl is in town. Me and Ferris have been trying to show her a good time before she leaves.”

“Yeah, I know but I still miss you, love. What you got on?”

“Your favorite outfit, my birthday suit.”

“Damn baby, I’m trying to taste you.”

“And I’m trying to let you.”

“Shit, I’m like twenty minutes away.”

“What? How? You just left work.”

“How you know I just left work?”

“I’m assuming you did. You always leave around this time.” Remi could have kicked her own ass and she knew better. Blaze wasn’t her man or nothing, but she didn’t want to make things weird or uncomfortable.

“Yeah, I did just leave work and got straight on the bridge. I was taking a chance coming to see you but I’m happy as fuck that I did.”

“My girl might be coming back tonight Mav, so you can’t stay.”

Remi was lying, but he didn’t need to know that. Ferris had rented an Airbnb for him and Monique, so she already had a place to stay. Mav was good for sex, but Remi didn’t want much more from him. She wasn’t the same young girl that she was before so her feelings for him weren’t the same. She didn’t want a relationship. She was good being his friend with benefits.

“I know baby. I’ll leave right after, I promise.” Mav wasn’t trying to stay the night anyway. He was trying his best to put in more time at home and he was doing good so far. Kiva was happy and Remi was too. He didn’t know how long it was gonna stay that way but he was gonna try.

Blaze sighed when he pulled up in his assigned parking spot and saw Reanna’s car in hers. She had been staying home a lot more lately, but he didn’t know why. Usually, when she got off of work, his sister’s house was the first place that she went to. Even on her days off, she got up early and was out of the house before him most times. He didn’t really know where she was every time she left home and, if he was being honest with himself, he really didn’t care.

At one time, Blaze loved being married. He loved the way they used to cook together and play like kids. Reanna was his best friend at one time, but things had changed a long time ago. She became superficial and self-absorbed. In her mind, every man wanted her and every female was jealous of her. His sister wasn’t even her real friend. If she was, she would have kept itreal with her girl and told her how fucked up she looked. She could have at least been real with her about her attire. Instead, Blaire hyped her up and made an even bigger fool out of her. He lost count of how many times he overheard his mother and sister saying how crazy she looked in some of the clothes that she wore.

After stalling long enough, Blaze got out of the car and headed inside. He was shocked by the aroma of food wafting through the air because that was rare. Most times, he did all the cooking by his grandmother and he ate there too.

“Hey,” Reanna spoke as soon as he entered the house. She was sitting Indian-style on the sofa watching tv.

“What’s up?” Blaze spoke back as he headed down the hall to the bedroom.

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