Page 55 of Cause When You Love Someone
“Chaz, we aren’t together, and the only reason I pressed you about fucking your baby mama is because you did it when we were supposed to be making money together. You can’t understand that?”
“I don’t understand shit!”
I pretended to be unfazed by the knife and stepped over to the couch to remove my heels. As if he wasn’t built like a linebacker, Chaz slammed me on the couch. The liquor on his breath and the fire in his eyes pissed me off.
“Chaz, let me go!”
“Fuck no! You think shit is a game.”
The same spot Ishmael christened with a kiss only minutes earlier, Chaz damaged with a knife. A stream of what I assumed was blood flowed from the cut to behind my ears.
“Chaz. You have a daughter. Don’t do this. Just leave.”
A deep scowl cut past his face before a trail of spit leaked from his lip and dropped between my eyes. Humiliated, I wasmore hurt by the spit than by his putting a blade through my skin.
“I told you I won’t live without you, and I meant that.” He stumbled to his feet, knocking over furniture in the process. “I got something for yo’ ass. Your name won’t be the only one in lights when this shit is all over!”
Chapter 9
Ishmael
Bodyguard
“Ish! Don’t forget to bring me something back from your trip.”
I grinned, hearing Izzy’s hyper tone boom through my speakers.
“How many times do I have to tell you, I’m going on a work trip, not a vacation.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she chanted. “I would believe you if you weren’t going to another state with your girlfriend.”
“That’s another thing I keep reminding you. Clarke isn’t my girlfriend. If I’m being honest, I’m not sure where we stand right now,” I revealed without recalling who I was speaking to. “Anyway, what are you and Essen getting into while I’m gone?”
“Stop being dramatic. You’ll only be gone for a few days.” She snickered. “Essen asked if I wanted to have a spa day and visit Ruth’s Bookstore. I’ll probably take her up on her offer.”
An abrupt quiet spell took over the line.
“What’s on your mind, Izzy?”
She sighed. “It’s nothing bad. I decided to take you up on your offer. I want to move in with you. I’m coo’ with going to Winston Academy next year.”
Excited, I slapped the steering wheel. I cleared my throat and tried to sound normal when asking, “What made you change your mind?”
“Hearing you talk about going back to school at fifty made me realize how much freedom you have. Most people can’t afford to do that, and I know you’re able to because you worked hard at a young age. I want to have a fair shot at living my dreams like you instead of surviving in hell like Mom.”
“And you know I’m going to make that happen, right? You trust me?”
“Always.” She released a short whistle. “I don’t know how Mama is going to take it, but?—”
“Don’t worry about her. You’ve done that long enough. I’ll deal with whatever backlash comes our way.”
“Tuh! You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“I bet. I’ll call you and Essen when I land.”
On my way to Mrs. Rose’s house, I prayed the vibes between Clarke and me would be better on the trip to Vegas than they had been over the last two weeks. After our date at the ballet, Clarke had been distant. I wouldn’t say we were back to acting like Martin and Pam. We damn sure weren’t moving in the direction I thought.
A few nights, I lay awake trying to figure out if there was something I said or did to make Clarke go from using my name and the word love in the same sentence to not wanting to stay on the phone for too long. Never one to wrack my brain when I could ask for the answer, I pressed her about it, but she dismissed my accusation. Part of me believed she was back with Chaz, but that was the question I couldn’t bring myself to ask. We had sex for the first time over a month ago, and the idea that she shared a moment like that with a nigga who didn’t respect her sent an achy tremble down my spine.
