Page 52 of Defending the Post
Me
Make life hard for Noah.
Ivey
Cool, I was bored, anyway.
I gave Ivey Noah’s number. Lifting my head, Malcolm gave me an approving smile.
“Erin, let’s go, we’re running behind,” I said in my usual calm tone.
Chapter Nine
First Everything
Erin
My system was in overdrive as I listened to Marquise curse out Noah. Mentally, I screamed for him to stop but none of the words left my mouth until I heardbitch. I side-eyed Jhae, but she stood stunned.
Malcolm’s cackling pulled me out of the zone. He curled over the table in laughter. I searched the space for something to toss at Marquise. Settling on the fruit, I moved to the counter, retrieved an apple, and threw it at his head. He dodged me with ease.
“This ain’t the carnival. Weirdo, we got shit to do,” he said.
Air trapped in my chest as rage consumed me. I let the party slide, but this caused me to tremble. Marquise strolled toward me, but my anger wouldn’t allow me to move. He snapped his fingers in my face, and I threw punches at his chest.
“What the hell is wrong with youuuu?” I screamed with each punch.
The fact he didn’t block any of my punches angered me more. He caught my hands before any more could land on his body.
“Did you get that out of your system? You see what he thought about you? He called you a bitch. I’m watching out for you,” he said.
My face expanded as my eyes widened at his comment. “Youcalled and picked a fight with Noah and you want me to thank you?” I screamed.
“If I was Jhae, you wouldn’t give a damn. Because I’m a man, you’re mad. You are not about to be sleeping with me every night and entertaining other dudes,” he said.
Using his gender to justify his reasoning required multiple levels of audacity. When my body elevated, it took me several minutes to figure out what was happening.
“We out. It’s Saturday. Are we having a family dinner?” Marquise asked as my head dangled, leaving his back as my view.
“Yea, I can handle dinner,” Malcolm said.
Marquise turned, and the space between Jhae and I grew.
“Jhae!” I yelled, and she shrugged.
“Put me down now!” I yelled as he shut the door.
“You gon’ behave?” he asked.
I counted to ten to regain control of the words trying to leave my mouth. “I’m twenty-six years old, not twelve. Put me the fuck down,” I demanded.
Marquise lowered me to the ground, and I tried side-stepping him, but he turned me around. The elevator doors opened, and he nudged me inside.
“I can’t believe you called him,” I said.
Marquise didn’t say anything, instead, he watched the numbers descend to the lower level. The doors opened, and I speed walked to the hellcat. With each step, I imagined myself stomping on his head.
“We’re not taking the hellcat today,” Marquise yelled, standing next to his black Infiniti QX truck.
