One good reason, p.32
One Good Reason, page 32
“Deuce, Gema?” I laughed.
“Whoo… that thang know he is fine.”
“I’mma tell Tali you over here being fast.”
“Where you think she gets it from?” Gema winked.
The rest of the day was spent with Talitha getting to know the other half of my friend group. Between her and Promise, I swear they’d went through about three bottles of fucking Tequila. Her ass was going to be hung over and in a pissy mood in the morning but as long as she’d enjoyed herself, that was all that mattered.
My conversation with Gema had me spending the rest of the game seated beside my mama and Preme. I promised Gema I was going to try, and I meant that. Going forward, I planned to be more present where my mother was concerned. As far as me and Talitha, I knew I loved her. My actions showed it. Whenever she was ready to really receive it, I would let her know. Until then, all I could do was remain by her side.
“Dutch, you gotta show up. She’s refusing to turn over the shipment. I told you this shit was going to happen!” Preme fussed on the other end of the phone.
It was two o’clock in the fucking morning when he called bitching about Adele not letting them unload the drugs off the plane. Him and Drix had been going back and forth with her ass for the past fucking hour and she was refusing until I showed up. It had been weeks since I’d outed us to my mother and apparently Adele was feeling some type of way. To the point where her ass was interrupting the flow of my business. The longer the plane sat at the fucking hangar, the more we were in jeopardy of being caught.
Flipping the cover back, I slid out of bed and covered Talitha back up before walking in the bathroom.
“Did you tell her what the fuck I said?”
“Man,” he groused. “I did all of that shit. Bitch still won’t let me get my shit!” Preme snapped.
“Tell that nigga he either gon’ roll up or I’m ‘bout to smoke this bitch!” Drix fussed in the background.
“Give me twenty minutes,” I said and ended the call.
Talitha stayed right up the road from the Fulton County Airport so it would take me no time to get there. I don’t know what the fuck Adele’s issue was, but this wasn’t how I ran my shit. She knew it and so did the rest of the crew. If she had a problem with me, she could’ve picked up the phone and reached out. Playing around with my brother and Drix safety was the fastest way to get on my bad side.
After handling my hygiene, I threw on a pair of sweats and jogged down the stairs. Once I cut the alarm, I grabbed my keys and slipped out of the house. Normally I wouldn’t make this type of run without Baker being with me, but desperate times called for desperate measures. I wasn’t worried about my safety with Preme and Drix being there, but I was sure once Baker caught wind of the situation, his ass was going to be pissed that I hadn’t called him.
Pulling up to the airstrip, I let my window down and waved at the arm guard before being granted entrance. Once I pulled my truck around the back, I noticed that Drix, Preme, and Dreaux were standing in front of the truck while Adele stood there with her hands on her hips.
“What’s the fucking issue?” I asked when I stepped out of the truck.
“We got a problem,” Adele hissed.
“Aight, so what is it?”
“You can either speak to me in private or I can leave and take everything back with me?” she damn near shouted.
Swiping my thumb across my nose, I tried to keep myself from snapping out. “You gon’ lower your fucking tone when you’re speaking to me, Adele. That’s first. Secondly, if we had an issue, you could have reached out to me before coming all the way here causing an uproar. The precinct is right up the fucking street. The longer we sit here, the more at risk we are.”
“I called you.”
“When?”
“After your mother called me, threatening my life.”
“If I missed the call, it’s because I was busy Adele.”
“Too busy to reach back out?” her voice dropped.
“Aye, give me a minute to handle this. In the meantime, y’all start unloading this shit.” Grabbing Adele by the elbow, I drug her ass onto the private jet. As soon as her back hit the seat, I folded my arms across my chest and waited for her to speak.
“You told Val?”
“I did.” I nodded.
“Why?”
“She’s my mother, Adele. Why wouldn’t I? And the last time I checked, the shit wasn’t a secret.”
“She’s threatening to expose me, Harvey,” she fretted.
“Okay. I’ll handle that.”
“She accused me of rape and a bunch of other things.”
“We didn’t fuck until I was eighteen. You couldn’t have raped me if I was willing, and I explained that to her. Regardless, she’s pissed and has every right to be. You were her closest friend and we had a relationship. Give her time to process it… she will be okay eventually.”
“And what’s this I hear about you being in a relationship?”
Realization hit like a ton of bricks making me chuckle. “That’s what this is really about…”
Per usual, Adele’s true feelings only surfaced when she felt like she was being replaced. Instead of coming to terms with the fact that she ruined me when she denied me of her, she chose this. The game was two weeks ago, and she was just now bringing this shit up. Somebody in attendance must’ve mentioned Talitha to Adele.
“Who is she?”
“It matters?”
“Of course it does Harvey!” she spat.
“Why? You don’t want me, Adele.”
“I’ve never not wanted you, Harvey.”
“Appease me for a second, Adele. What would a relationship between us look like?”
Her eyes dropped to the ground. “I don’t know.”
“Of course you don’t. You don’t want me, Adele. The days of you dangling the ‘what ifs’ in my face are over. I told you that before I got with Dah. You did that for years, and for years I allowed it. You don’t want me, love.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m ready to lose you to someone else. For six years I had to watch you be with Dah. Even if you claimed the relationship wasn’t prospering, you kept her around for six years. And for six years I had to play the role of the doting friend.”
Taking a seat across from her, I tucked my hand in the pocket of my jacket. “Why are you doing this?”
Adele shrugged her shoulders.
“Open your mouth, Adele. You’re a grown ass woman.”
“I don’t know Harvey, okay. I don’t fucking know.”
“Then why cause all of this commotion for some shit you don’t know.”
“I don’t want to lose you as my friend.”
“Have you ever?”
“No. But things may change. What if this new girl doesn’t feel comfortable with our friendship.”
“Why wouldn’t she be? I haven’t touched you in years. There is nothing between us but business.”
“What if I want to try again?”
“You don’t,” I exhaled. “She’s good for me. I can see myself truly being happy with her and as my friend I expect you to be okay with that. I’ve had to sit back and watch you run around the world with your boy toy. Why deny me of the same happiness, Adele?”
“I don’t love him.”
“You sure as hell don’t love me. I opened myself up to you. I was willing to give you everything. Ready to defend us to the world. Adele, you walked out on that. It was you who decided that you weren’t ready for anything serious. You wanted to be friends and now that I’ve found someone that I can see myself settling down with, it’s a problem.”
“Do you love her?”
“Yeah. I kind of do,” I admitted.
“Shit Harvey!” she groaned. “I’ve really lost you.”
“Adele, my love. You lost me when you denied me of your heart.”
Squaring her shoulders, she wiped the corner of her eyes. “I won’t stand in the way of business again. I’m sorry Law.”
“You don’t owe me any apologies, Adele.”
“No, I do. I toyed with your heart and somewhere in my head I thought you’d always be there. I figured I could date around and when I got tired and was ready to settle down, I would do it with you. Had I known that it would push you away, I wouldn’t have made that move to begin with. I would have accepted what you were offering.”
“You weren’t ready, and I understand that now. It was wrong of me to try and force something on you. You’re my oldest and closest friend, Adele. The love I feel for you extends far beyond words. Me being in a relationship doesn’t change anything between us.”
“It does,” she mumbled.
“Only if you allow it.”
“I really am sorry for the way I ended things, Harvey.”
“It’s in the past.” Rising from chair, I extended my hand out toward her. After a few seconds, she placed hers inside of mine. “I love you immensely and that’ll never change. We had our run, and it was fun while it lasted. Doesn’t mean I love you any less.”
“I know,” she declared.
Pulling her into my chest, I held onto her for as long as I could. When I pulled back, I kissed her on the forehead. “Stop giving my guys a hard time. They’ve got a job to do.”
“I will.” She laughed.
“We good?” I asked to make sure. I didn’t need anything like this to happen again. My reason for stepping back was so I could pursue other things. The end goal was to hand everything over to Preme and Drix, so I needed the three of them to stay on one accord. Another slip up like this would have me abandoning business with Adele permanently, and because of our history I didn’t want it to result in that.
“We’re good.”
“Excellent. I’ve gotta jet. I left her in bed alone and if she wakes up before I make it back, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Go home, Harvey.”
“Let me know when you’ve landed back in Miami.”
“I can do that.”
“Be safe, Adele.” I pecked her cheek before turning to leave the jet.
“Harvey…” she called out. “Tell her if she fucks up, she’s gotta see me.”
“You along with a few other people.” I winked before descending the steps.
“Everything good?” Drix was the first one to ask when I walked in their direction.
“Yeah, it is. We shouldn’t have any more issues. Y’all should be good to go.”
“Bet. Everything is accounted for so we ‘bout to head to the warehouse and get this shit divided so we can distribute it.”
“Hit me up if y’all need me.”
After saluting them, I hopped back in my truck and headed for the house. I wasn’t lying when I said Talitha would have my ass if she woke up and I wasn’t there. The last thing I needed was her thinking I slipped off to be with another woman. Bad enough, her ass had been asking me where the name Dutch came from.
Apparently while her and Promise was talking the day of the game, the shit slipped out of her mouth. I had to explain to her that it was something I was called when I was growing up and it kind of just stuck. I knew her ass ain’t believe me one bit, but she tried not to pry. Every so often, to fuck with me, she would call me that shit. I stayed correcting her, but it didn’t matter. My baby was going to do what she wanted to do no matter how strongly I felt about it.
CHAPTER 32
Talitha
“When are you coming up?”
“Tomorrow. Willearl and Bonnie gon’ bring me to come get her.”
“And you’ve asked her if she wanted to go?” I queried. Louise was on my business line first thing this morning telling me that she was coming to get Gema. Now that things were seemingly okay, they called often. I didn’t mind as long as they wasn’t calling with no shit.
“She said she would come stay for a few days as long as it was okay with you.”
“I mean, if she wants to go, I’m fine with that. You sure you ain’t picking her up for my Mama.”
“Tali, I’m a grown ass woman. I know how to spend time with my Mama without Litha being around.”
“Aye, I’m just asking. Since we been up here, it’s been her that’s came to grab her. But it’s fine with me. I’ll have Mrs. Jessie pack her stuff up.”
“Okay. We should be there no later than twelve.”
“I’ll be home.”
“Thank you, Tali.”
“Don’t mention it.” Before she could say anything else, I hung the phone up.
Had she called my cell phone, I would’ve called her ass a bald face lie, but seeing as though she called my office, I knew either Gema or Mrs. Jessie had given her the number. I kept reiterating to them that I didn’t care ‘bout them spending time with Gema. As long as they brought her back unscathed. Since she would be going home for a few days, I was gon’ pack my shit up and go to Lake Spivey to stay with Law.
Pulling my phone out of my desk drawer, I shot him a text message.
Me: Gema going home for a few days.
Law: You agreed to that?
Me: Yeah. I just got off the phone with Louise.
Law: As long as you’re okay with it.
Me: I am.
I smiled inwardly at him checking to make sure I was secure with letting her go. The next message that came through from him had me sucking my bottom lip into my mouth.
Law: Nasty sex on the counter?
Me: Or… Nasty sex on the terrace at Lake Spivey
Law: Shit. I’m getting hard just thinking about it. I’ll get Chari to order groceries.
Me: I’ll do it. They won’t be here until noon. I’ll take the day off.
Law: Me and you. It’s a date.
Me: I’ll be waiting.
After sending him a few winking emoji’s, I locked my phone and stuck it back inside of the desk. Shutting down my computer, I grabbed my water bottle and headed out of the office.
“Tali?” Rossi called my name before I had the chance to pass his office. Waving his hand in the hair animatedly, he invited me into his office.
“Hey. What’s going?” I asked, noticing a very pregnant chick sitting across from him at his desk.
“You headed out for lunch?”
“Not just yet. I’m going later, I was getting ready to refill my water bottle and go check on the kitchen staff.”
“Oh okay. Well...” he sang. “I want you to meet someone. Talitha, this is Dahlia. Dah this is your replacement, Talitha Howard.”
“Dahlia.” I smiled. “It’s nice to finally put a face with the name.” I did my usual perusal of her. I was pleased. Law had done well. I wasn’t a hater by far, so I gave credit where it was due. Baby girl was gorgeous and glowing like a muthafucka.
“It’s pleasure to meet you. Rossi talks about you all of the time.”
“Who doesn’t he talk about?” I laughed lightly.
“Right,” she agreed. “I love what you’ve done to the place. I know the kids were elated with all of the changes you made.”
“They were and that’s all that mattered to me.”
“I bet.” She smiled.
Things got awkwardly quiet for a minute as the two of us stared at each other. She was sizing me up without really letting it be known. And that was fine by me. I’m sure it was out of sheer curiosity because after all from the way Law outlined it, the youth center was her idea. She’d run it since the day the doors opened, and only walked away to separate herself from him. Before long, I was excusing myself so I could finish handling my business. I didn’t see a reason to sit there and chat with my man’s ex-girlfriend. After all, she wasn’t my friend, she was theirs. And I wasn’t spiteful enough to feel some type of way about her stopping by.
“Tali, this is for you,” Rossi said as he placed the Jason’s Deli bag down on the table.
“Thank you, boo.”
“I knew your ass wasn’t planning on taking a lunch, so I picked that up on my way back in.”
“You know me oh so well.” I laughed and dug into the bag, going for the pot pie soup first. “In my defense, I did eat breakfast this morning. I had an errand to run before coming in, so I stopped and grabbed egg bites from Starbucks.”
“That was hours ago girl.”
“At least I ate.” I shrugged.
“So…” he exaggerated.
“So… what?”
“What did you think?”
“About what?” I stared at him quizzically.
“Dahlia.”
“Oh,” I huffed. “Was I supposed to think anything?”
“No. I mean, I guess not. You’re dating her ex, so I just thought.”
“Her ex, my current,” I clarified. “She’s a pretty girl. Seems pleasant.”
“You know how you cisgender females get.”
“Cisgender? I’m a woman.”
“It’s all the same Tali,” he groaned. “As I was saying, you know how you women get when you run into your man’s ex. All territorial and immediately dislike the ex.”
“I’m not most females. I don’t know lil’ mama enough to dislike her or make assumptions about her.”
“She left him because he wasn’t willing to commit, Tali,” Rossi blurted.
“What that mean to me?” I asked and spooned the delicious soup into my mouth.
“You’re not worried that you’ll end up in the same position?”
I knew Rossi’s line of questions were because he was concerned for me and had my best interest at heart. However, I was a big girl. Capable of taking care of myself in lieu of a bad breakup. I already felt like nothing was permanent anyways, so I had pretty much trained myself for the day whatever I and Law had going on ended.
To answer his question, I shook my head. “I’m really not. I have no expectations when it comes to this thing with Law. We’ve had plenty of conversations where things were outlined. I know what he does and doesn’t want for his life. I would be a fool to think that my pussy was so good that I’ll have that man altering his whole life to be with me.
