Page 34 of Cause When You Love Someone
“All right. Give me a second,” she replied before facing me. “When can I invade your world again?”
“Oh. You’re asking for permission this time?” A low laugh tickled my throat. “We’ll figure it out.”
“We? I like the sound of that.”
Clarke skipped from the room, leaving me with my wayward thoughts. I knew I was playing a dangerous game, but I couldn’t see myself staying away after I had crossed the line. I couldn’t say if it was her willingness to be vulnerable in my presence or her being bold enough to show up somewhere on my behalf, but something about the reality star made me thirsty.
“We need to talk.” Mrs. Rose approached me before I could make it outside. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing with Clarke, but let the idea die. Chaz and Clarke have been together for years, and they’ve secured brand deals as a couple. They’re just going through a rough patch.”
“Is that what you call it?” I grimaced, recalling some of the situations Clarke exposed during her drunken rant. “You should want better for your daughter than to spend her life with a nigga with no plan B and no respect for her.”
“As handsome as you are, you can’t be that close-minded. Everyone has issues.”
“The only issue Clarke should have is deciding if she wants to vacation somewhere hot or cold. I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
Her darting tongue stained her lips with moisture. “Oh. You really are a protector. I can see why my daughter is slowly climbing in your lap. Do you have room for two?”
“Mrs. Rose, watch your mouth before I sue you and take more than just your daughter.”
Chapter 6
Clarke
Desperado
I stared at my phone like it was covered in shit after my mom went over plans for the night.
“Mama, this is bogus, and you know it. Doing a club appearance is going to send mixed messages.”
“Clarke, who gives a damn? Jupiter’s Lounge paid you and Chaz twenty thousand dollars to attend their grand opening. You signed a contract, and I’m not getting dragged into court, because you’re acting like a fucking diva.”
Disgust drove my eyes around my head. “Can you stop being my manager, for one second, and act like my mom?”
“No matter what role I play in your life, I would still expect you to do a job you’ve been paid for. Ishmael should be there soon, and I already informed him that Chaz and his friends are a part of your entourage for the night. I won’t be able to make it, so act like I raised you right, and go secure the rest of our bag.”
Sage freed a shaky exhale after I ended the call.
“You could just give the money back,” he suggested.
My head sank into the pillows near the headboard. “I could, but me and Chaz split the deposit down the middle. I’m pretty sure he’s spent his half, and I’m not paying his portion back.”
“I mean, it may not bethatbad. You are only expected to show face in the lounge for two hours.”
“Two hours or two minutes is too long. Any amount of time in the same room with a man I’m trying to break free from is too long,” I whined. “I’ve been doing so good, too. I’m going on four weeks of no contact.”
“After witnessing what you’ve gone through with Chaz, I’m proud of you, Clarke,” Sage professed. “Is Ishmael coming along tonight?”
“Of course.”
“Of course.” Sage playfully mocked me. “What’s going on with you and the bodyguard, Whitney?”
“What do you mean? He works with me.”
Sage’s silence prompted me to sit up on my elbows.
“What?” I squealed playfully. “I don’t know what’s going on between us. Ishmael is … different. He challenges me, but he also makes me feel safe. He checks me about things without making me feel judged. We’ve come a long way in the six weeks we’ve worked together.”
“Look at you, sitting here with rosy cheeks,” Sage teased. “I knew he was something special when you trusted him to pick you up from the club. Usually, you just hang around until Simone is ready to go.”
