Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
They weren’t meant for her, but I let her take them without a fight. I didn’t know what else to do. I felt the color drain from my face as the flowers and cup left my grip. And the remaining pieces of my heart shattered when Jamal dismissed me with, “You can go now.”
My feet were in motion before my brain realized they were moving. My mind couldn’t grasp what was happening. My lungs were too tight for air. As my shaky hand opened the car door, I heard the tall man scoff to Jamal, “For a second there, I thought some shady gay shit was going down.”
“You know me better than that,” Jamal replied with a dagger to my chest.
“I don’t know, man; with all your fancy ass clothes lately, I’d almost believe it.”
The last sound I heard before closing the door behind me was the group’s laughter and barbs at one another. I stomped on the gas and sped off, not looking back. I couldn’t.
Tears flooded my face, and sobs ripped from my chest. I could barely see. I couldn’t think straight. Even if I could, nothing would make sense. How could Jamal tell me he loved me, and then send me away like I meant nothing? How long had he been living a double life? Why build me up just to tear me down? How was I going to face him at work?
There were too many thoughts in my head and pain in my heart. All I wanted was to go home, hide, and forget the world for a while. I didn’t know how else to deal with the fact that the one person I thought I could count on to put me back together was one one who broke me.
Chapter Six
Jamal
“Go!” I shouted at the car in front of me, even though they couldn’t hear me. It was going too damn slow, and keeping me away from Geo. I’d been away from him for far too long already; ever since I told him to leave my neighborhood.
Lord knows I didn’t want him to leave; especially when I could practically see him falling apart in front of me. All I wanted to do was scoop him up and make everything better, but I had to do what I thought was best at the time. Watching him drive away while knowing how upset he had to be was the hardest thing I'd ever done.
Since he left, I had tried to call and text him several times, but the attempts stopped going through. Geo blocked me, which is what I deserved. I could only pray that once I reached him, once he could see the sincerity in my eyes and hear it in my voice, that he would let me explain everything.
I was finally able to park and ripped the key out of the ignition before leaping from the car. I hurried up Geo’s front steps and knocked on the door. I didn’t receive an answer, but I knew he was home, judging by his car parked alongside the road.
I knocked again, but again was met with silence. I wasn’t sure if he hadn’t heard me, or if he was ignoring me, which I deserved. But I wasn’t going to give up that easily. I didn’t want to leave him until I had a chance to plead my case. If he sent me away after that, then so be it. It would rip me apart, but I would accept his wishes.
“Geo, if you can hear me, I’m here,” I called through the door. “Please talk to me, sweetheart.” When I heard no answering sounds, I added, “I’m going to sit out here and wait.” I’d wait all night if I needed to, and catch him when he was leaving for work. I didn’t need sleep. I didn’t need anything except Geo.
I sat on the top step and dropped my head into my hands, waiting for my sweet man to appear. I don’t know exactly how much time passed, but I felt the chill of the evening settle on my shoulders, and watched the light of day fade away.
A loud whoop sound made me raise my head, and I was taken aback by the sight of a police cruiser parked in the middle of the road in front of me. Two uniformed officers climbed out of the vehicle and stepped towards me, and my heart sank.
Oh no; Geo! Did something happen? Is that why he didn’t answer the door? What’s wrong? I stood up quickly, hoping for answers, and both of the officers stopped walking and placed their right hand near their hips, hovering over their weapons. Shit.
“What are you doing here?” One of the officers asked. With just one look at me, he’d decided there was no way I could live in this neighborhood.