Page 55 of A Trial of the Heart
“Nah, Lauryn. It’s not even like that. I have a lot going on right now.” I stepped back.
“Tell me what it is. Maybe I can relieve ya stress.” She grasped the hem of my shirt.
This was the perfect time; Lauryn had walked right into it. Forcing the saddest face on my features, I dropped my eyes to my feet, staring long enough for them to pool with water before I raised them back to hers.
“I um...” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know how, but I got some shit that happened, and I have multiple charges against me. It’s so bad I may lose my center.”
I allowed the fake tears to fall. I needed to make it all believable. I hadn’t mentioned it earlier since I was feeling her out, but now that she was attempting to come on to me, I felt the time was right.
“Oh my gosh, Rashad.” Lauryn cupped her hands over her mouth. “What are the charges?”
I almost told her to mind her fucking business, but I needed her, so I didn’t speak my thoughts. “It’s a lot, but I really don’t want to get into that.”
“Is there something I can do?” she spoke in a flirtatious manner.
“I mean, maybe you can help me with who would do something like this?”
Lauryn’s overly arched brows hiked further. “What do you mean? I have no ties in law to help you with that.”
“That’s not what I was implying.”
“Oh.” She nervously giggled. “Well tell me what I can do.” Once again, Lauryn reached her hand to me. This time, her fingers trailed the tattoo on my forearm.
“Yeah… um…” I scratched behind my ear. “I’ma head out. Get home safe.”
I wanted to take my pops’ advice, but being nice to Lauryn wasn’t going to work when she wanted other things.
“Wait, Rashad. You don’t wanna go back to my place and…” Her words trailed off when she stepped a little closer. Her small hand dropped to the crotch of my pants. “I can do that thing you always like.” She seductively licked her lips.
She wanted sex and sex only. That thing she was referring to wasn’t something I liked per se, but she managed it well. “Lauryn, I have a lot going on, and going in reverse is not a part of it.”
The disappointment quickly took over her features. “So, why the hell did you ask me out? I was content not being around you.”
“Look, I apologize if me asking you out gave you the misconception that things between us would change. This was just a friendly get together… nothing more.”
“You know what, Rashad? Fuck you.” She hissed, snatching her car door open.
After starting her car, Lauryn rolled her window down. “The next time you think it’s a good idea to hit me up, whether it be a friendly meal or even sex… don’t,” Lauryn uttered before placing the car in drive and speeding away. She had driven so recklessly that I had to jump back so she wouldn’t run over my feet. Since I didn’t get much from Lauryn, I had to find another way.
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Shiloh:
“Girl, I woulda stole on his ass and dragged that hoe by her hair let her had been all over my man.” LeeAnn rolled her neck and popped her lips. LeeAnn didn’t even have a man. Hell, she didn’t even like them. We were in the ninth grade when LeeAnn had come out as a lesbian, and she had been standing ten toes down on it since.
“Going after either of them wouldn’t have changed the outcome that he was sleeping with the both of us.”
“Tuh. Maybe not, but you sure may have felt better afterward. Shoulda knocked her ass clean out.”
I never got the logic of going after the female when that was not who owed you loyalty. The only time I could see going after the female would be if she knew about the relationship and disrespected. Even then, I still would be hesitant because the person I was in a relationship with should have respected me enough not to cheat. I made peace with the fact I’d been played, but I couldn’t lie that in such a short time I’d been hurt. I was drawn to Rashad, and I thought the feeling was mutual, so it sucked to know I’d only been a game to him.
“Have you talked to him?”
It had been two days since I saw Rashad with the other woman, and I had managed to avoid him since. He’d called multiple times, along with sending many texts each of which I pretended I didn’t see. I probably should have given him an explanation and even ended things properly, but my ego wouldn’t allow me to. Not only that, I felt like because he was the one that had wronged me, there was no need in me going to him.
“No desire to.”
