Page 31 of The Perfect Verse
He slid his fingers through hers while his other hand guided the wheel as he drove. The trip he planned was also because he knew that time on the road away from her was coming. So, when Scooter gave him a few days to himself, he jumped at it. He’d make up them having to leave early, though, as soon as he could.
“What if Shay won’t allow that?”
“Let me worry about that. Her ass called me. I’ll shut that shit down if she’s not on what I’m on.”
“Whatever.” She pursed her lips, staring out the window.
“You trust me?”
She nodded, but her issue wasn’t trust. It was about testing boundaries, and theirs was about to be tested. She’d seen Sashay’s type. They dry clung to anything and anyone that made them feel seen or heard. She was often on social media, sharing Donovan’s posts, reels, and even posting old footage of them. Chaney knew it was intended to have her and Donovan at odds. That didn’t make her feel any better, though.
When they pulled up, he leaned over and pecked her cheek. “Get out your fucking head, baby. Ignore the noise, and follow my lead.” That was the problem. She always followed someone else’s lead, but he wasn’t Kaleela, so she pushed out a bout of air and nodded her head.
“Fine.”
He slid out his truck and made his way to her side. He’d never done that with any woman, but it came naturally for him, especially when she’d greet him with a cheeky grin. He opened the door, took her hand, and helped her out. A soft whistle escaped his mouth as she stood and giggled.
“And you think I would mess this up?” He dragged his hand down his mouth, then slid his tongue across his teeth.
“I don’t know.” Chaney was thick, ass round, with a washboard stomach. Her jeans hugged her in all the right places, and her tits sat up perky and full as the half-tank she wore rested just beneath her breasts. She was easily a size fourteen, but no bitch he ever had could shit on his girl. Her blonde hair fell effortlessly on one side, in layers, the side shaved. She never tripped about hair since it always grew before she came up with her next hairstyle that she couldn’t wait to sport, since weaves weren’t exactly her thing.
“Thought we established I was all yours?”
She smirked. “That’s the sound I like to hear. Be good so I can show you how much you’re mine later.”
Once they made it inside and received their visitor passes, she decided to run to the bathroom. She couldn’t risk him catching her on Kaleela’s page, but after what had just happened, she needed to remove her comment. She prayed she had time before Kaleela noticed, but it was too late. She’d responded.
“Means a lot coming from you. ‘Preciate you.”
She chewed on her fingernail, her finger hovering over her response. They spoke once in court after the charges were dismissed, but that was it. Fear quickly seeped in as she made the decision to fix the error she’d made.
“Fuck it.”
She quickly tapped the delete feature and shoved her cell back in her purse. Once she exited, she went inside the elevator and made her way to the seventh floor. As soon as she stepped out, Chaney could see Sashay’s infamous red hair. It was hideous from the type of weave she’d selected to exaggerate baby hairs that lifted on the ends and were dry. Chaney’s mouth twisted at the sound of her loud ass wails, not to mention her flailing arms.
“Donovan, why!” she belted loudly, her body crashing into his. He attempted to pull away, yet her cries grew louder as she held onto him. “She can’t die. She can’t.”
Chaney took a seat and watched her man coddle his ex. She wasn’t that much of a bitch, but she also wasn’t feeling how a few others who were present glared at her like she was the enemy. It was clear that her presence was unexpected and unwanted, but she’d be damned if she allowed them to run her off. She fought one of the baddest bitches on the regular—Kaleela—who was a beast, even in a damn wheelchair. She’d have no problems activating those same hands if needed.
“What if she dies, though?” she repeated. She then rested her head on his chest, her arms around his torso. Chaney’s chest tightened, but she sat silently, chewing on the inside of her jaw as her legs began to shake.
“Naw, Granny’s strong,” he disputed. “We have to use words that embrace that shit, Shay. Come on now. You’re giving up on her when she ain’t never given up on those she loves.”
The way he comforted her, offering her words of encouragement, was both admirable yet borderline disturbing. Chaney watched along with the others as Sashay went from falling apart to collecting herself as Donovan softly rubbed her back.
“I’m just scared,” she confessed before her eyes landed on Chaney. She kissed her teeth, her lips pinched tightly as Chaney stood. “The fuck, Donovan? Why is she here?”
Once his eyes followed, his heart fell in his stomach when Chaney’s fists clenched. He immediately peeled Sashay’s arms from around him, then walked toward Chaney.
“Baby, you’re ready?” he probed, although Chaney’s eyes peered at Sashay.
“That’s fucked up, Donnie,” one of her aunts spoke. He was already frustrated, but then he got annoyed, especially since hepaid most, if not all, of their bills or had at one time. Like Sashay, they were equally upset he’d cut them off financially, short of her grandmother, Granny Paula.
“They only allow family in,” Sashay venomously spat when he reached for Chaney’s hand.
“Maybe you should come back when you’re alone.” A few murmurs from her aunts and cousins mimicked her sentiments, but her older sister, Rakeeda, intervened.
“Shay, you’re doing too much. If that nigga doesn’t want you, move around. We’re better than that. Stop dry chasing his ass. As for Granny, she would want to see him, so now ain’t the time for all of that. Handle this nigga accordingly. You already know how they are when they get some new pussy.”
