Love Without Loyalty

by Kaige Keira

  Priest embraced her and Blessings held onto him tightly. She snuggled her nose into the base of his neck. She was trying her best not to break but it was too late. She felt the shift when he said he was moving out. She knew in her heart of hearts, it was over. It was in the way he held her. The way he suddenly talked to her. It was also the faint smell of flower perfume that was seemingly mingling in his cologne. Asha now had him back right where she wanted him.

  “How could you do this to me,” Blessings asked as she looked at him. “You said you love me. You said that I didn’t have to worry about you breaking my heart.” Blessings pushed him off her. “Then what is this I’m feeling?”

  Her heart was crying out to Priest. But when the one person who can heal all your wounds is the reason why it’s there in the first place, who can come to your aid.

  “I’m so sorry,” Priest said. Blessings stepped back from him. He could see the hurt in her eyes. It was now replacing her aura around her. “I paid the rent for the remainder of the lease.”

  Blessings walked into the closet and grabbed the baseball bat. She walked over to the tv and swung at it as hard as she could. The tv crashed to the floor as she connected it to the baseball.

  “Blessings!” Priest yelled as he jumped back. Blessings then went into the living room and swung at the television that was in there. She directed her focus to the glass coffee table and swung at that as well.

  Priest tried to grab the baseball bat from her, but she swung at him too. Priest jumped back to avoid getting hit. “Stay away from me,” Blessings shouted.

  Autumn walked through the door just as Blessings was destroying the end tables. “Blessings,” Autumn shrieked. She looked around the room and saw that majority of the furniture was destroyed. She saw Priest standing by the kitchen table, away from Blessings.

  Autumn stepped in and closed the door behind her. She quickly dropped her bags and walked slowly over to Blessings. “Give me the bat,” Autumn said calmly. Blessings shook her head as she held the bat to her chest.

  “Blessings, we talked about this earlier,” Autumn said as she tried to remind her of their earlier conversations. “Hand me the bat.”

  Autumn stepped closer to Blessings. She noticed that something mentally was off with Blessings. Autumn expected Blessings to cry and curse out Priest, but this was different.

  Blessings dropped the bat and fell to the floor. She placed her knees to her chest and cover her face with her hands. Autumn knelt down beside her. “I made a promise to you and I always keep my word.” Autumn grabbed Blessings hand and gave it a soft kiss. “I promise.”

  Autumn looked up at Priest and nodded for him to leave. Priest didn’t want to go but he had no choice. He felt sick to his stomach for breaking the heart of the woman he did love. He still was in love with her, but his principals were at stake. He wanted to be there for his daughter and give his child a two-parent home that he never had. So, he had to break Blessings heart and try to do right by his child.

  Priest walked out of the apartment after he grabbed all of his bags. He paused to look back at Blessings who was still crying on the floor. Autumn was standing by the door looking at him. “Tell her I never stop loving her,” Priest whispered to Autumn. Autumn looked at him grimly as she slowly shut the door on him.

  “He doesn’t love me,” Blessings cried out. “I hate him.

  I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.” Autumn closed her eyes as she felt her best friend’s pain. Autumn sat down next to Blessings and grabbed ahold of her hand. “I don’t want to be here anymore, Autumn.”

  Autumn nodded as she looked at the floor. Glass was everywhere and the tv had a big hole in it. “Let’s go back to my place.”

  Chapter 13

  Autumn stepped out of the shower and slipped into her robe. She exited the bathroom and walked into her bedroom as she fixed the bonnet that was wrapped around her head. She eyed the dress on the bed and sighed. Tonight, was her official second date with Avery and she wasn’t really in the mood. With her sister out of the house and Blessings now in depression mode, it seemed unfair for Autumn to be happy.

  Dina knocked on the door before she walked in. “Wow, he really brought you a dress,” Dina asked as she eyed the red garment. “A man with an eye for fashion. I like him already.” Autumn rolled her eyes as she turned to face her mother.

  “I don’t think I should go tonight,” Autumn admitted as she looked at her mother. “With everything going on, I just would feel bad.”

  Dina sighed as she walked over to her daughter and gave her a hug. “Don’t worry about none of that shit tonight. A broken heart will always heal over time. Go out and have fun. Remember what I always taught you.”

  “Always become somebody worth having,” they both said in unison.

  Dina placed her hand on the side of Autumn’s face. “Good girl. Now get dressed. I can’t wait to meet this Avery guy.”

  Autumn laughed as she sat down at her vanity desk so she can start applying her makeup. “I’m meeting him at the restaurant.”

  Dina looked at her daughter in surprise. “So, when do I get to meet him?”

  “When we see if this is serious,” Autumn said as she applied body lotion to her legs. Dina rolled her eyes as Blessings walked into the room. Blessings was wearing a pair of sweatpants that she put on two days ago and never took off. Dina ran her hand through Blessings hair. No longer was Blessings the happy and smiling young woman that she met. In her place was a more depressed Blessings. Dina gave Blessings a small hug for comfort.

  “I would leave yall two alone so yall can have girl talk,” Dina said as she walked out the room. Autumn looked at Blessings and gave her a weak smile. “Want to do my makeup,” Autumn asked as she held up the makeup bag. Blessings shook her head as she sat Indian style on the floor. “Did you eat?”

  “I’m not hungry” Blessings said in a short tone as she looked down at the floor. She rested her head in her hand as she messed with the carpet. Autumn got out of the chair and sat down next to Blessings. Blessings looked at Autumn for three seconds before she started crying again. Autumn placed Blessings head in her lap and began stroking Blessings hair.

  “Get it all out,” Autumn whispered. “Pretty soon, you will realize you are stronger than this. And it’s ok to cry. But you got to also move on. This isn’t you. This isn’t my best friend.” Blessings kept her eyes closed as she felt Autumn massaging her scalp. Her heart was broken into so many pieces. There was no fixing this.

  “Want to know what’s funny,” Blessings said as she turned to look up at Autumn. “I always thought my relationship was like this wonderful love story. But then I realized not every story is a love story. Most stories tell you about how the girl falls for the notorious bad boy and they live happily ever after.” Blessings shook her head as she looked away from Autumn. “What if I tell you that is complete bullshit? Lame nigga me any day because I'm tired of waking up and having this urge to slash his tires or fucking him up on site.”

  Blessings wiped her eyes as she got up from Autumn’s lap. “Enough about me and my cry baby shenanigans. Where are you going tonight?”

  Autumn shrugged her shoulders as she got up from off the floor. “It’s a surprise. He just sent me that dress.” Autumn pointed at the dress and Blessings eyes got big.

  “Ohhh bitch! This is gorgeous,” Blessings exclaimed as she eyed the dress. “He must be taking you somewhere nice.” Autumn started applying her makeup as Blessings sat down on the bed and started having small talk about how Autumn should do her makeup.

  Once Autumn was finished applying her makeup, she took the bonnet off her head and fluffed out her curls. She had just gotten her hair and nails done the night before, so she was pretty much ready to go. Autumn turned around in the chair as she waited for Blessings to give her opinion.

  “That is cute,” Blessings said as she took out her phone to take Autumn’s picture. Autumn stuck out her tongue as she posed for the picture. Autumn laughed as she go
t up from the chair to go put on her dress. “Baby, Avery is going to want you all to himself tonight.”

  Autumn smirked as she looked at Blessings. “Let’s just hope he didn’t buy this place out.” Blessings laughed as the doorbell rang.

  “I got it.” Blessing said as she walked out of the room. She walked to the front door, instead of asking who was there, she opened the door. To her dismay, Chicago was standing there, holding flowers.

  “What are you doing here,” Blessings asked in a challenging voice. Chicago rolled his eyes as he looked at her.

  “I’m here to drop off this notebook that Autumn let me borrow for psych class,” Chicago said as he held up the notebook.

  “And the flowers?”

  Chicago smirked. “My appreciation.”

  Blessings rolled her eyes. “Give it to me. I can give it to her.” She held out her hands, but Chicago didn’t budge.

  “I don’t think so,” Chicago said as he held the items in his hand. “I see her car is here so I will give it to her.”

  “Blessings, who is that,” Dina asked as she stepped behind Blessings. “Oh, hello,” Dina said with a smile suddenly showing on her face. My daughter sure knows how to pick them, Dina thought. She looked Chicago up and down and was amazed. Chicago was definitely handsome. “Hi, I’m Dina, Autumn’s mother. You must be Avery?”

  Blessings groaned as she rolled her eyes. “This is not Avery Ms. Dina. This is just a fellow student that goes to school with us.”

  Chicago extended his hand to Dina and shook it when she grabbed it. “Chicago Brooks, ma’am. Autumn is in several of my classes actually and I’m just here to return her notes. But apparently your doorman is blocking me.” Chicago eyed Blessings as she glared at him.

  “Well come on in,” Dina said as she opened the door up wider. She moved Blessings out of the way. “Autumn is just getting ready for her date. Blessings, why don’t you go get something to drink for our guest?” Blessings rolled her eyes as she walked into the kitchen. “Autumn, you have a visitor,” Dina called out.

  Autumn walked out of her room fully dressed as she pinned up her hair. Chicago’s mouth dropped when he saw how the red dress was hugging every curve on Autumn’s body. Autumn looked at Chicago and smiled. “You like what you see,” Autumn teased. Chicago nodded his head as Autumn twirled around. “Good. Now wipe that drool from the corner of your mouth.”

  Autumn laughed even harder as Chicago’s hand instantly check to see if he really was drooling. “What are you doing, here,” Autumn asked. She eyed her mother and motioned for her mother to make herself scarce. Dina walked behind Chicago and gave her daughter a thumbs up sign. Autumn shook her head as she turned her attention back to Chicago.

  Chicago showed her the notebook as he held it out for her. “Returning your notebook,” he said. Autumn reached for it as he pulled his hand from behind his back to show her the flowers. Autumn smiled when she saw he was carrying all white roses. “My appreciation.”

  “So, a polite thank you wasn’t enough,” Autumn asked as she took the flowers. Chicago shook his head.

  “You are an extraordinary young woman. How foolish would I have been to show up here empty handed?” Chicago flashed a smile as he stepped closer to Autumn. Autumn looked up at him and smiled back. “You look damn good in this red dress,” he whispered into Autumn’s ear.

  Autumn smiled as she stepped back. “I am officially talking to Avery now,” Autumn said as she cleared her throat. “So, you can stop with the flirts.”

  Chicago rolled his eyes. “I can be your side nigga.”

  Autumn raised her eyebrows. “My what?”

  “You heard me,” Chicago replied. “When he fucks up, I will be there to love all the pain away in any shape, form, or fashion. I can make a great side nigga.”

  Autumn looked up at the ceiling as she shook her head. “I don’t need a side nigga. I wouldn’t do that too him.”

  “This must be your very first relationship,” Chicago asked. Autumn nodded her head. “Well word of advice, just walk into it with your eyes opened. Some dudes just looking for something to get them through the day.”

  Autumn shook her head. “That’s not true. He brought me this dress.”

  Chicago laughed. “That dress is fitting you in all the right places. Let me guess he is taking you to a fancy restaurant and get you feeling really good and compliment you all night. Then you gone feel some kind of way and you gone start feeling butterflies in your stomach. Next thing you know, you in his bed with your vagina in his face.”

  Autumn’s face flushed as the image flashed in front of her mind. She wouldn’t mind getting her pussy ate. Avery’s tongue looked wide enough and the way he moves his tongue in and out of her mouth, just clarifies that Avery knows what to do.

  “I’m grown,” Autumn said as she tried to compose herself. “I can take care of myself and make decisions accordingly. Now, thank you for the flowers but I have to finish getting ready.” She ushered to Chicago to the front door so she can get him out of her mind. Chicago was starting to become a threat. Even though, Autumn was flattered that he was interested in her, she already had her eyes on somebody. If it doesn’t work out with Avery, then Chicago would be the next nigga she calls.

  Chicago turned back to Autumn and gave her a kiss on her lips. Autumn was stunned at first, but she let him kiss her. Chicago ended the kiss by walking off abruptly. Leaving Autumn looking at him, wishing he wouldn’t have did it.

  PRIEST SAT ON THE EDGE of the bed as Asha sat behind him, massaging his shoulders. She kissed his neck as he took off his shoes and tossed them to the corner of the room. What started off as Asha just coming to visit so Imani can get to know her daddy, ended up with them staying even longer than they had intended. Her and Priest had quickly fell into the same routine as they did when they were teenagers. While Imani went to visit Ms. Nancy, Priest and Asha would spend time alone and catch up.

  “How was work,” Asha asked as she continued massaging his back. Priest shrugged his shoulders as he kept his eyes trained on the floor. He hasn’t been himself since he grabbed his bags from the apartment he once shared with Blessings. Images of her crying invaded his dreams and he so desperately wanted to hold her and tell her it was ok. He wanted to make her whole again.

  “It was ok,” Priest said as he removed his shirt. “How is Imani?”

  Asha rolled her eyes as she pushed her dreads to out of her face. He always asked about Imani first, like she wasn’t here fucking him whenever his dick got hard. “She is good. I took her to the library and showed her where I grew up.

  Priest nodded his head as he found himself tuning Asha out. Blessings was on his mind heavy like a baby in a uterus. He felt like shit for breaking her heart. She was young and she did deserve the right to figure out everything that was going on. He was her first serious relationship. She always used to tell him that when she finishes school and get settled in her career, she wanted to have his baby. Their first child would be a boy. Priest sighed as he looked down at the tattooed B on the inside of his wrist. He had gotten it tatted on him a year before they had got together. She always made fun about why he would go and get the letter B tatted. She never knew it was because he cared for her. She was his best friend and confidant. If he could go back in time , he would have told her he was in love with her mean ass then.

  “Hellooo,” Asha said as she waved her hands in the air. “Are you even listening to me?”

  Priest snapped back to reality as he looked at Asha. “Yea, I am.”

  Asha rolled her eyes as she got out of the bed. “I’m going to fix you a plate of food. What do you want to drink,” she asked as she pass him to walk to the kitchen. She paused when he didn’t answer. “Earth to Priest.”

  “I’m sorry Blessings, what did you say,” Priest said as he looked at Asha.

  Asha’s face scrunched up when he called her Blessings name. “Really? You are thinking about her?”

  Priest looked at Asha with a loo
k of confusion on his face. “What are you talking about?”

  “You just called me another woman’s name,” Asha shrieked as she looked at him. “You know what? Go be with her then. I don’t have time for this.”

  Asha walked back into the room and grabbed her sneakers out of the closet. “I’m sorry,” Priest said as he walked behind her. “I just got a lot on my mind.”

  “Clearly, you only have one person on your mind,” Asha stated as she grabbed her hoodie. “Remember, you asked me to stay so you can spend more time with Imani. Not the other way around. You been inside of my pussy for the past several days acting like you missed me. I could have gone back home.”

  Asha folded her arms as Priest knelt down in front of her and grabbed her waist. He planted soft kisses on her thighs as Asha tried to keep a straight face. “Give me some time,” Priest mumbled as he unbuckled her shorts. Asha placed her hand on his head as let him undress her.

  AUTUMN SAT IN FRONT of Avery as she watched him struggle with the menu. He had decided to take them into the city to a French restaurant but the whole menu was in French. Autumn laughed as Avery squinted his eyes to pronounce a word.

  “I don’t know what this shit says,” Avery complained. Autumn bust out laughing as she watched the waitress stand there trying to hold her composure. “Just give us another minute,” Avery told the waitress.

  “We could have gone to a burger joint,” Autumn said as she looked at him. Avery rolled his eyes. “Maybe even Willie’s chicken shack.”

  “With you looking like a million bucks,” Avery asked as he eyed her. He had Ms. Nancy pick out the dress for Autumn so he can take her for an evening out in the city. At first, he thought it would be too much but when she pulled up to restaurant and stepped out of the car, he realized Ms. Nancy was right. Autumn is a showstopper. She was wearing the hell out of that dress.