Page 70 of Sweetest Temptation
“Hell no! Jerome, you’s a dog-ass nigga. A liar. Why would I miss that?” She snapped back with her words before walking upstairs to get Joya.
Jamila had been getting slick with at the mouth since we broke up. I guess she had every right to be mad, but I wasn’t going to be too many more dog-ass niggas before I flipped the fuck out. She and Zanova had me fucked up. She wasn’t going to keep disrespecting me like I was some little boy out here. If I wasn’t scared that her crazy-ass brother would kill me, I’d have been smacked the taste out of her mouth.
Suddenly, I heard the unmistakable sound of tiny feet pattering down the stairs. My heart swelled with anticipation of seeing my little princess. I may be a “ain’t shit father,” but I loved my daughter.
“Daddy! You came!” Joya’s tiny voice called out, breaking into my thoughts. It was filled with joy and excitement.
She rounded the sofa, her little face beaming with a smile that could light up the darkest room. Her curly hair bounced with each step as she ran toward me, her arms outstretched. I stood and knelt down, just in time to catch her as she launched herself into my arms. The warmth of her embrace and the giggles that spilled from her lips filled me with a profound sense of happiness.
“Hey, Princess," I whispered, holding her close.
“Daddy, can we go to Grandma and Grandpa's house? Grandma said she’d make me cookies.”
My parents indeed knew about Joya. They’d known since she was born. They were the first people I told because I was scared and didn’t know what to do. I went to them, crying like a bitch, thinking that my marriage was over. Although they were happy to be grandparents, they were disappointed that I had stepped out on Zanova because they loved her like a daughter. To this day, my mama barely speaks to me.
“We sure can.” I kissed her cheek and set her on the sofa. “Wait right here. Daddy needs to talk with Mommy before we go.”
I gently grabbed Jamila by the arm and walked over near the kitchen, so we were out of earshot of Joya.
“Nigga, don’t touch me! There’s nothing to talk about, Jerome.” She snatched her arm from my grasp.
“Chill, Jamila,” I told her.
Using my body to pin her against the counter, I invaded her space and buried my face in her neck. She smelled so good.“When are you gonna stop playing with me and let me get some pussy?” I placed a kiss on her neck. I went to place one on her lips, and she pushed me off of her, damn near knocking me on my ass.
“That’s all you think about? That's all I ever was to you? A piece of ass?” she asked, her voice cracking.
I sighed, raking my hand down my face. “Jamila, I never meant to hurt you. I should have told you the truth.”
Her eyes searched mine, looking for sincerity. "Why didn't you? You made me believe in something that was never real. All this time… You had me thinking that you loved me, and that we were going to get married,” she stated, her voice trembling.
“I was scared. I didn't want to lose you, but I also didn't want to face the consequences. It was selfish, I know.”
“You are selfish. Now get your daughter and go.” She wiped her neck with the back of her hands, like she was removing the kiss I placed there.
Jamila didn’t waste any time getting Joya’s overnight bag before kicking me out.
Damn.
A nigga’s head was fucked up. I have been blowing up Zanova’s phone for the past few days. I pulled up to her condo twice and even swung by her shop a few times, hoping I’d catch her slipping, but she was never there. Either I was missing her by minutes, or she was purposely dodging me.
I even had Ryan hit up Nyala, trying to get her to drop a hint about where Zanova was staying, but baby girl wasn’t budging. She straight-up told him, “Tell that nigga to kick rocks!”and hung up. I had to laugh when he mimicked her voice. I couldn’t even be mad at shorty riding for her girl.
Now a nigga was downbad. I hadn’t been to the office, hadn’t handled a damn piece of business, and I’d been avoiding my family. My phone kept lighting up with calls from clients, my sister, and my mama, but I couldn’t focus on shit. Food didn’t taste right, and sleep? Forget it. I’d closed my eyes, and all I’d seewas Zanova’s beautiful face, those eyes that used to soften when she looked at me now burned straight through me in my head.
And to top it off, I've been feeling sick as a dog these past few days. Nauseous, breaking out in cold sweats, stomach twisted up were just a few of my symptoms. I couldn’t keep shit down, so I was on a liquid diet until something agreed with my stomach. Every time I hit the bathroom, it felt like I was throwing up my insides. I ain’t never felt like this before, not even after my wildest nights out, when I’d get drunk off my ass. Zanova really had a nigga sick, literally.
Today was the first day I had enough strength to get out of bed. My body still felt weak, but I couldn’t keep lying around like some helpless nigga. I had shit to handle. Jamila and my team had been holding things down at the office, but it was my job to keep everything in motion, and nothing moved without my approval.
I sat on the edge of the bed, head in my hands, trying to shake off the fog that had been hanging over me. Between being sick, not sleeping, and stressing over Zanova, I’d been damn near useless. That wasn’t me. I wasn’t built to fold over any situation, but this one hit differently. I was a nigga in love.
I caught my reflection in the mirror across the room. My beard looked rough, and my body felt like it had been through war. I barely recognized myself.
“Get your shit together, nigga,” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face.
Zanova might’ve thought that she was done with me, but I wasn’t done with her stubborn ass. Yeah, she said she needed some time; however, that shit stops today. She could ignore my calls all she wanted. After I handled business, she was going to see me. I ain’t never been a man to give up on something I wanted.
I hit the shower, shaved, and called my barber to come and get me laced up. By the time I was done getting dressed, I made myself a quick breakfast and headed out the door. When I got to my office, Jamila was already there, waiting to give me the rundown on any and everything that I missed since I was out.
