Page 27 of Wasn't Supposed To Be Yours
“Tank, I don’t know. I went from telling my sisters that I don’t like you, to them finding out that we went out together, so I was just trying to chill,” she said, and that made me laugh.
“So, you do like me then? That’s what you’re trying to tell me?” I asked, now that we were at a red light, and I could look down at her.
Even though the inside of the car was dark, the lights that were coming from outside gave the inside a little glow, so I had the perfect view of her. I had the best fuckin view right now because I couldn’t express it enough just how beautiful she was. Seeing her with her long hair hanging, in those bouncy curls just did something to me. Not only that, but just like the past few times that I’ve been around her, I couldn’t help but notice how good she smelled. It was the kind of smell that was going to linger, even after she was out of the car.
“That’s what you got from what I just told you?” she asked me.
“Yeah. You do like me though Dionne, and I just don’t get why you trying to run from that shit. I’m not a bad dude. You can ask all kind of people about me, and nobody going to tell you anything bad about me. I have a good heart, and I go into shit with pure intentions. I feel like the only people that will say anything negative about me are women that I’ve dealt with in the past, that were ready for a relationship with me, but I wasn’t ready for one. Even with that, I never led a woman on. I always told them up front the kind of timing that I was on, so that was up to them on if they wanted to leave, or stay,” I was honest, looking her in her eyes as I spoke to her, and she was looking into mine, hanging onto my every word.
She sighed when I finished and folded her hands in her lap.
“I don’t deal with abusive men. Don’t go back and say anything to June because I don’t want him to get mad at my sister for eavesdropping on his conversation. Free told me earlier that she overheard you telling June that you, and the woman that you’re dealing with got into a big argument, and you ended up choking her. That’s a red flag right there,” she voiced,and I nodded, having no choice but to accept where she was coming from.
No lie, I was surprised that she knew about this shit, but at the same time, her and her sisters were close, so if it was something that Free had overheard, I guess it wasn’t too surprising that she would go back and tell Dionne.
“I know all you have is my word Dionne, but I ain’t no abusive ass nigga. My pop- pop is the man in my life that molded me to be the kind of man that I am today. I got a lot of his wisdom. The situation that you’re referring to, I could have handled it a little different. When it comes to self-control, I tend to have a lot of that, but that bitch said some crazy, off the wall shit to me, and I snapped. Before she accused me of what she accused me of, she had already been talking shit, and I was walking away from her, putting my shoes on, so that I could leave her crib,” I started, and I paused for a bit, trying to see if I wanted to go into full detail.
I was going to have to because a nigga was already on thin ice with Dionne, so I had to start sharing before she fully washed her hands with me.
“Because I’m attracted to you, and even though you mean as hell to a nigga, I’ll admit that I want you, and because I want you, I’ll give you the full details. It’s been rumors around Miami that my dad be messing around with young girls. I don’t know shit about that. Me and him aren’t on that level where I can come to him and ask him shit like that. The woman I was dealing with, she tried to make false accusations, saying that the reason why I wouldn’t get into a relationship with her is because I was probably like my dad, wanting young girls too. She said that, and some other shit, so I snapped. I did choke her, and I understand that I’m dead ass wrong for that. I should have been man enough to walk away from that. Prior to that, I’ve never in my life putmy hands on another woman. I swear on that,” I was truthful. I could see it in her eyes that she believed me too.
“How I know we won’t get into it one day, and you won’t snap, and choke me out? I’m not wrapped too tight, Tank. I’ve been through some stuff. Stuff that I don’t talk to people about, so the last thing that I’m going to need in my life is to be dealing with a man that doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself. I’m liable to fuckin kill you,” she expressed, and that last part of her statement made me laugh.
“We can make a bet on it though. If I ever put my hands on you in a way that’s not sexual, romantic, or wanted, I’m giving you the right to use your gun on me and blow my brains out. I’ll never give anyone free reign to kill me, so that should let you know right there that I have no plans on being physically abusive with you. I really did slip up, and I swear that’s not in my character,” I voiced, and she nodded her head.
Even though she didn’t have a response for it, something told me that she believed me. If she didn’t, I felt like she would have continued to linger on the subject, needing me to continue convincing her that I would never put my hands on her.
“Where Bagel at?” I asked her, changing the subject.
I knew Bagel was her puppy. When I cared about a person, you could tell me the smallest detail of your life, and I was going to remember it. At the lounge, I remember the way Dionne glowed when she started talking about her puppy. She was a real-life dog mom, that had her puppy in day care, she would get these luxury spa services, and all kind of shit, and I loved that because I was into animals as well, with dreams of having my own farm in my backyard one day, and something told me that Dionne would fit right in with that.
“He’s good. I’m sure he’s home, missing me. What about you? Did you get your horse yet?” she asked, and that questionmade me smile, as I thought about Noir. That was my baby right there.
“The day I told you about Noir, that was the first time that I went out there to see her. I went ahead, and purchased her, and she was transported to me last weekend. She’s getting settled in real nice. Before she was transported to me, I had the back of my property fenced off for her. She got everything that she’s going to need out there from ventilation, all kind of room for her to run around in, fresh bedding, you name it. She so fuckin spoiled too. I don’t leave the house unless I go out there, and lay eyes on her, and make sure she’s good. I got her set up real nice out there. She got some shade, just in case it gets too hot, and a whole fuckin fan in her stall. I don’t play about my Noir,” I shared, and that same smile that had been on her face back at the lounge, as she was telling me about Bagel, was the same smile that was on my face as I talked about my baby.
“Awww. I love that,” she cooed.
“You want to meet her? I’ll let you come over one day, and meet her,” I suggested.
“Let’s see how the rest of the night goes,” she said, and I could take that, so I nodded.
It wasn’t long before we were pulling up toSunday Table.That was the name of my mom’s soul food restaurant. I remember when she came up with that name, and I told her how dope I thought it was. Growing up as a kid, when I would be in Miami with her, and not in Alabama with my grandparents, Sunday afternoon’s, my mom would make five-star meals for us. She didn’t have a lot of money, but the little bit of money that she did have, she was able to make it work for us and throw down in the kitchen.
She didn’t play when it came to the two of us sitting at the table together, having dinner. There was meaning behind the name. Struggles, and stories behind it, but when my mom and Isat down at that Sunday table, it’s like all the shit that we were battling, was put on a temporary pause. She told me that when she opened her restaurant, that she wanted her customers to feel that same feeling. Like no matter what your going through, when you come, and you sit down at the Sunday table, you can put your problems on hold.
I wasn’t surprised that the restaurant was crowded. This place was always packed, and I loved that for my mama because she deserved it. She worked hella hard to get to where she was right now. Whenever I come, I like to park in the back of the restaurant because I would always let myself through the back door, and into the kitchen. That’s what I did tonight.
I backed my car into a parking spot, shut the car off, and before getting out, I grabbed my gun, putting it on my waist. I stepped out, walking around to Dionne’s side, so that I could open the door for her. She stepped out, and I closed the door behind her, waiting until she got on my side, so that I could lead the way.
“Why you got us coming through the back door?” she asked me.
“I’m cool with the owner,” was all I said. Something told me that if I were to tell her that my mom owned this restaurant, that she probably wouldn’t have wanted to come in, so I wasn’t going to tell her ass shit until we were inside, and I did the introductions.
I made it to the door, pulled it back, and I allowed Dionne to walk in first. She did, but she paused, waiting on me. I motioned with my hand for her to walk, but she looked at me like I was crazy, and shook her head no.
“You lead the way. Tank, I don’t know what you got me walking into,” it came out like a whine, and that shit was so fuckin sexy to me.
I just smiled, got in front of her, leading the way, but I stretched my hand back for her, so that she could grab it, and she didn’t have any problem holding onto it. As if I was about to take her somewhere dangerous, she held onto my hand tightly, and within a matter of seconds, we made it where the kitchen area was. I wasn’t going to go in because my mama would trip about me walking in without a net on my head. She’s gotten on me plenty of times before in the past about that.
