Page 10 of Through Treacherous Weather
“That’s what’s up.” He nodded in approval while Orlando whispered in the ear of a blushing Heiress. “You single?”
“Um no. I’ve been with someone for the past five years.” She had no clue why she lied like that, but she would have told whatever lie was necessary for Broskie to kill any notion of him having a chance with her.
“You been with a man for five years, and you aren’t even engaged? Stop letting that man waste your time.”
Fatima smiled wide. “I have to go to the bathroom. Please excuse me.”
The moment her back was turned; Fatima rolled her eyes. There weren’t enough words in the English dictionary to accurately describe just how interested she wasn’t. If Broskie was the last man on earth, he still couldn’t get it. Heiress rushed into the bathroom as Fatima was washing her hands.
“Baby, tell me Orlando isn’t fine.”
“He’s fine for sure.” Fatima grabbed a paper towel.
“I know Broskie isn’t the most appealing to look at, but friend they have money. Like money, money. This shit isn’t a game. I’m all in with Orlando.”
“I love that for you, but Broskie doesn’t have anything I want. My house and car are paid for, and I have not one but two goodjobs. I’m not talking to someone that I find hideous just to get tricked on a little bit.”
“I wish I was a big baller like you that could afford to turn big fish down, but I can’t. I have goals, and I feel like Orlando is a man that can make that happen.”
Fatima’s shoulders hiked into a passive shrug. “There’s no judgement here. You have to do what works for you, but I can one hundred percent with confidence tell you that it will forever be a no with Broskie.”
Heiress doubled over in a fit of laughter that had Fatima laughing too. “He’ll be alright. I’m definitely chilling with Orlando when I get off. I don’t have that much longer in town, and I need to start working on that now.” Heiress eyed her reflection in the mirror.
The ladies exited the bathroom still giggling lightly. Fatima loved being around her family, but day in and day out, she was reminded that everyone else had love and she didn’t. Her Aunt Trinity was single too, but Fatima knew her aunt, and she was sure that Trinity had plenty of motion. It wasn’t like Fatima couldn’t get a man, but she wanted one that was worth having. She’d lived her best life in college casually dating, hanging out almost every weekend, chilling with various men. It was cool. But she was ready for something different. Talking to men just to get money didn’t even appeal to her because she had her own.
Fatima wasn’t trying to walk down the aisle or have a man’s baby, but something real would be nice. Having the father and uncle that she did and seeing how heartbreak made her mother act over the years made Fatima move cautiously when it came to love. Her own father rammed it into her head not to trust these niggas. The way he treated her mother also contributed to years of bitterness and misery on Alexa’s part. She spent way too much time questioning her daughter about what Wise was doing and who he was dealing with. It didn’t seem that her mother wantedlove. It seemed to Fatima that her mother spent years chasing men in an effort to out do Wise and Eva, which was Winter’s mother. When in actuality, Fatima was willing to bet money that Wise and Eva weren’t even checking for her mother and couldn’t care less about what she was doing.
It used to puzzle Fatima that her father would tell her often to never let a man disrespect her, and then he would turn around and disrespect women. Wise used to be a character for sure but thank God for growth. Fatima never actually witnessed him being the cruel asshole that some women accused him of being, but she’d heard many women crying and telling him off only for Wise to act unfazed and unbothered. Having men in her life to put her up on game had been a huge blessing but there were somethings not even they could prepare her for. Like being robbed by two young niggas.
Heiress got back to work, and Fatima left the club. She was more than ready to curl up in bed and get some sleep. On the drive home, Fatima kept thinking about how she was officially grown and entering the next phase of her life. Yes, she was still young and had time to figure things out, but it seemed like it was just yesterday that she was young, carefree, and living her best life on Wise’s dime. She graduated college and had the career. So what was next? Marriage? Kids? Just waiting around for Mr. Right to fall in her lap? Only time would tell.
Grey’s fingers moved swiftly as he texted a reply to someone. When he was done, he placed his phone on the table and locked eyes with Trinity. “Sorry about that. I try hard not to be on my phone when I’m with someone. I lowkey think it’s rude, but that was important.”
“It’s no problem,” Trinity smiled before placing a piece of salmon into her mouth. She’d never been one to bite her tongue, but she was racking her brain trying to find the right words to use. Trinity wanted badly to ask Grey where he lived, if he lived alone, and how many other women he was dating.
Those were pretty common questions to ask a person that she’d been intimate with, but Trinity found herself hesitating. For one, if she found out he was actually seriously involved with someone, she’d be pissed. She didn’t do liars. No matter how fine they were or how good the sex was. She also didn’t do side chick. The second reason she was hesitant was because if she found out he didn’t have his own place, she’d be turned off. Trinity was too damn old to be dealing with men that couldn’t afford their own place even if it was just a casual fling.
Trinity had breathed a sigh of relief when Grey told her where he made reservations for their date. It was a nice place, and she was impressed with his taste. She still had no plans to really take him serious, but she could appreciate him wanting to feed her and see her outside of the bedroom. Biting the bullet, Trinity took a large sip of wine and decided to speak her mind.
“Do you live alone?” she asked taking in his chiseled jaw line, smooth brown skin, plump lips, and sharp nose. Grey was…everything. His bulging biceps, ability to use his hands, laid back demeanor. Trinity hadn’t yet been able to identify one flaw. Aside from his tax bracket…
Grey chuckled. “Yes. I live alone. Why do you ask?”
“You’ve never invited me to your place. I mean that’s fine I guess but these days you have to be sure that a man isn’t hiding a whole family you know?”
“Yes, I know.” His grin broadened. “I can assure you I’m not hiding a whole family. I’ve lived on my own since I was twenty.”
“And do you have kids?” Something flickered in his eyes that made Trinity hold her breath. She couldn’t quite read hisexpression, but she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like his answer. The man was probably about to tell her he had about five kids with just as many baby mamas. Of course, it didn’t really matter if they were going to keep the relationship entirely physical but still…
“I have a daughter. She’s fifteen months old.”
“Oh.” That was the only answer that Trinity could come up with. One child wasn’t that bad, but she was young. “She’s still a baby. How long have you and her mother been done?”
“We were never really a thing. There was no relationship. Things kind of happened, and when Shai’Ann was born, her mother wasn’t in the position to care for her. So, I took her.”
“Wow. This whole time you’ve been a single father. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You never asked.” Grey cut into his steak. “You’re a beautiful, successful woman. You have your shit all the way together and while I’m no bum, there’s no need to act like the things that I have are on the same level as yours. Most women in your position want to have fun with men like me. Not take us serious. When you kept it surface level so did I.”
