by Linda Verji
Despite repeated attempts to convince him to tell her where they were going for dinner, he’d refused to spill his secrets. His instructions were to dress casual. The secrecy had her curiosity and excitement at fever-pitch – but casual? She hadn’t seen him in almost a month. She wanted to stun him. There was no way to make casual stunning enough.
With a heavy heart she pushed the short red dress she was planning to stagger him with aside and picked a green off-the-shoulder t-shirt. She set a pair of ripped, light-wash, skinny jeans on the bed next to the top, just as the sound of the doorbell ringing peeled through the house. Since Kendra was in the living room, Erica assumed she’d find out who was at the door.
Hmm. Her gaze shifted between her white high-tops and her silver open-toe heels. Reggie said casual, but she’d had her toenails done just for this date and he was sooooo tall. Surely she could get away with the heels.
Kendra’s screeching broke into her musing.
“I told you she’s not here,” Kendra yelled. “Get the fuck off my doorstep.”
Kendra never swore unless she was seriously pissed off. Abandoning her assessment of her wardrobe, Erica exited her bedroom and stepped out into the hallway. The front door was open but Erica couldn’t see who was there. Not with Kendra standing in front of it.
“If you don’t leave right now, I’ll hit you.” Kendra brandished a wooden rolling pin in the air in obvious threat. “Haven’t you done enough to -.”
“I know she’s in there,” Quin’s voice cut into hers from outside the apartment. He and Kendra had never gotten along and a confrontation between them spelled nothing but trouble. Erica’s footsteps sped up.
“I don’t care what you know,” Kendra returned. “Get the hell out of here or I will hit you.”
Quin scoffed. “Just try and see if I don’t smack you.”
Uh oh. Erica’s steps quickened but she was not fast enough. Kendra’s pin flew downwards just as Quin shoved her into the house. Wood met flesh with a sickening smack and Quin’s handsome features contorted into a twisted mask of anger and pain. When Kendra raised the pin again, he caught it with his left hand and raised his right.
Slap. His palm met Kendra’s cheek
Oh shit! Erica shuttled towards them fast.
Slap. Kendra smacked him back and scrambled to get her weapon out of his grip. Erica forced her body between them as they grappled for the pin, trying to separate them. But they were both determined to get the other.
She wasn’t sure who did it, but someone yanked at her blouse hard. The fabric cut into her neck before coming apart at the collar with a sickening rip. As if their ruining her favorite blouse wasn’t enough, someone hit her with the rolling pin. Pain cruised through her body as the wood caught her on her shoulder blade.
“Stop,” Erica yelled, ignoring the pain as she pushed Quin away with her body, her back to his front.
“Fuck you, bitch,” Quin shouted, still trying to snatch Kendra despite the distance Erica had wedged between them. Determinedly Erica put her back into bodily forcing him out of the house.
“You’re the bitch, weak ass bottom feeder, can’t keep his pants zipped up,” Kendra returned as she waved her rolling pin. “Fuck you.”
“Keep talking and I’ll fuck you up,” Quin said, this time from the edge of the landing where Erica had pushed him.
“Try it, you little bitch.” Kendra taunted, smacking the pin on her palm as she stepped out from the apartment as if prepared to follow them.
“Kendra, just go in,” Erica pleaded as she placed her hand on the wall, and the other on the railing to keep Quin from moving past her.
“I’m not leaving you with that thug,” Kendra retorted, her lips drawn in a stubborn line. Unrestrained fury was written all over her face and emphasized by her continued smacking of the pin against her palm.
“Please,” Erica said. She didn’t want to talk to Quin but he wouldn’t leave if she didn’t, then he and Kendra would get into it again. She said to Kendra, “Just go into the house and let me talk to him.”
It took more pleading to get Kendra to get back into the house. By the time Erica managed it Quin had already left the building and was waiting for her by his truck. From the navy suit and pink shirt he was in, it was obvious he’d come straight from work.
He was a sports anchor for one of the local stations. They’d met when she’d gone for an interview with one of his colleagues and hit it off. Back then she’d thought the sun rose and fell on his blond hair. Who’d have ever thought they’d get to this point.
Stopping a few steps from him, she asked, “What are you doing here, Quinton?”
All the angst seemed to have left him and his lips curled into a soft smile. “I’ve missed you, baby.”
Ignoring the small leap her heart gave at the smile, she repeated, “What are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to see you.” Quin took a step forward. She took one back. In response he took two strides forward closing in on her. “I’ve missed you.”
“Uh uh.” Erica put her hand out, pressing on his chest, to keep him from moving any closer. “Don’t.”
Quin ignored her and slipped his arms around her waist. “I’m sorry.”
His touch was as familiar to her body as her own and her senses leapt in recognition. She had to force herself to untangle her body from his arms and push him away. Voice laced with frustration she said, “I don’t want to hear your sorrys.”
“Please, Ri, at least allow me to explain what happened,” he pleaded.
“What’s there to explain?” Erica folded her arms over her chest. “You did what you did and we’re done so please leave.”
“I messed up, I know,” he said. The sorrowful look he gave her cut a path across her anger pricking at her heart. “But, baby, please, you’ve got to give me-”
She cut in, “I don’t have to give you anything.”
Afraid that if she stayed any longer she’d give in to him, she turned to walk away. Quin’s hand shot out and grabbed her upper arm, stopping her movement.
“Erica, don’t go, please.”
She said nothing, but the disgusted look she gave his hand on her arm was message enough. His hand dropped from hers. Taking a deep breath as if to steady his nerves he said, “Three years! Three years, Ri! We’ve been together three years. Don’t you think I deserve a chance to say something?”
He doesn’t deserve anything from me, the hurt part of her said.
But three years is a long time, a softer voice insisted.
He’s the one who destroyed those three years.
Come on, Erica, she mentally debated herself as she stared at him, though on the outside she kept her face an expressionless mask. Apart from this he’s been a decent boyfriend. You should talk to him.
As if he could hear the brawl going on in her mind, Quin pushed the knife in deeper. “Please, Ri, just a few minutes!”
She surrendered. “Fine, explain!”
There was a faint glimmer of triumph in his eyes before he glanced upwards. “Can we do this inside my car?”
Erica followed his eyes, only then realizing that a few of her neighbors were on their balconies watching their conversation with interest. Her instinct was to refuse but her heart shoved her towards Quin. She nodded curtly.
Quin opened the passenger door for her, making sure she was seated in the car before rushing to the driver’s side. She took a heavy breath taking in the scent of his car; a light musky cologne that reminded her of autumn and plush forests. It’d always been able to send tingles up her spine. Today was no different. She had to steel her senses to keep from being hypnotized by it.
He settled on the driver’s seat and shut the door but instead of speaking he stared beyond the windshield in silence.
She reminded him, “You wanted to talk.”
He turned his gaze to her. “I’m sorry.”
“You already said that. If that’s all you wanted to say then I guess this talk is over.
” She reached for the door-handle.
“Don’t be like that, Erica.” His fingers closed over her wrist preventing her exit. Regret and sorrow punctuated his profile tugging further at her heartstrings.
“Don’t be like what?” Erica’s gaze shot to his fingers on her wrist and taking the hint, he released her but didn’t answer her question. Tense silence swirled around them, looming like a heavy cloud and chaffing her nerves raw. Unable to bear the loaded quiet, she asked, “How long?”
He didn’t need to ask what she meant. There was a brief pause before he let out a whoosh of breath. “Just three times.”
“Just three times,” Erica mocked as she shook her head. “You’re saying it like it was nothing. Just three times.”
“It was nothing,” Quin insisted. “She caught me at a weak moment and I made a mistake.”
Erica let out a derisive laugh.
Catching it, he asked, “You think I wanted to sleep with her?”
“Of course not!” She shrugged. “Brooklyn just fell on your dick.”
Quin sighed. “I never meant to hurt you, Erica. But since you started this expansion thing, you’re never home. When you are, it’s weekdays when I’m at work so we can’t spend time together. Worse, you’ve refused to move in with-”
“Are you kidding me?” Erica’s head snapped towards him. “Quinton, are you kidding me? Are you seriously trying to pin this on me?”
“I’m just explaining why it was a weak moment for me.” He ran a frustrated hand over his hair, ruffling the blond strands as he said, “The last thing I ever wanted to do is hurt you.”
“Good job with that,” Erica scoffed, but on the inside she tossed around his words. Had her neglect pushed him towards Brooklyn? For the last year, she’d been in and out of San Diego frequently, as she tried to expand her brand beyond their state. But she’d explained that it was only until the franchises were stable then she’d be all his again.
As for the moving in, the only reason she’d resisted was because they’d been dating for three years and he’d only recently proposed. If she moved into his apartment who knew if he’d even get her to the altar. If he wanted the milk, he’d have to cough up a marriage certificate. Now she was second guessing that decision. If she’d let him have his way, if she’d spent more time at home, maybe he wouldn’t have run to Brooklyn.
If, if, if!
Her heart constricted at the thoughts running through her mind. She hated that he could do this to her. The rational part of her knew that he was the one who’d done wrong and deserved to burn in hell. But the part of her that was in love with him was determined to give excuses to his actions.
Unaware of the mental acrobatics she was doing, Quin pleaded, “What do you want me to do? I’ll do anything you want to show you I’m sorry.”
This time when he reached for her hand, she didn’t resist. “Ri, please give me another chance.”
“I ca…” Her breath caught in her throat as tears pricked at the back of her throat. “… I can’t.”
He reached for her face with his free hand, stroking his thumb over her chin, “Please.”
Despite the unshed tears blocking her throat, she murmured, “Quinton, you hurt me,”
“I know and I’m so sorry.” He leant forward, his breath whispering over her lips as he said, “I’ll do everything I can to make it up to you.”
She should’ve stopped him but he’d weakened her defenses. She didn’t move away when his head lowered. Rationality and caution faded fast as his mouth met hers.
The kiss was tentative. He pressed his lips to hers, pressuring her to agree to the demands of his mouth as he nibbled at her lower lip. When she parted her mouth, he took full advantage sinking his tongue in.
His taste was as familiar as his scent; a soft mingling of mint and man that played on her weaknesses. His tongue danced against hers in determined seduction and broke through her defenses. Cupping his hand at the back of her head, he increased the pressure of the kiss, his lips and tongue demanding what she wasn’t ready to give.
And she wasn’t ready. Not just yet.
Coming to her senses, she pressed both palms on his chest and pushed. At first he didn’t respond, determined to kiss her back into submission. But when she pressed her palm to his chin pushing his face away from hers he had to draw back. Their hushed breathing punctuated the tense stillness of the car as they took in calming breaths and stared at each other.
Quin was the one to break the silence. “Please give me another chance.”
“I don’t-”
“Then at least think about it,” he implored, “please.”
“Okay.” This time when she tried to exit the car, he didn’t stop her. However, his gaze burned into her back, silently reproaching her, as she strode towards their building. His car roared to life once she was inside the building. She took the steps up, wavering between berating herself for being so weak and trying to suppress her senses from celebrating that there was still a chance for them.
As soon as she got into the apartment, Kendra confronted her. “Please tell me you didn’t fall for his bullshit.”
Ignoring the question, Erica moved closer to the other woman checking her face. “Are you okay?”
“Please,” Kendra scoffed. “He slaps like a girl.” There was obvious glee in her tone and expression when she added, “Wait until I tell Nico. He’s gon’ kick Quin’s ass into next year.”
Erica’s eyes widened in sudden anxiety. “You’ll tell Nico?”
“And Reggie,” Kendra added in triumph. Her gaze turned from amused to a measured glance then anger. “He got to you, didn’t he?” Erica’s gaze fell away from her friend’s in embarrassment. Kendra dragged her to the couch. “Okay, what did he say?”
Haltingly, Erica summarized the gist of their conversation. “… he said that it was only three times and-”
“Three times?” Kendra cut in. She shook her head. “Uh uh. Brooklyn said they’d been sneaking around for two years.”
Erica turned a shocked gaze towards her.
Two years?
CHAPTER 7
Is it me? Reggie couldn’t help but wonder as he watched Erica pick at her food. She sorted the multicolored bits and pieces into color groupings then scattered them, only to start over. Though her eyes were on the plate, it was obvious her attention wasn’t.
He furtively scanned her features. In the weeks since he’d last seen her she hadn’t changed much. Yet that hadn’t stopped his pulse from pounding the tiniest bit faster when he’d seen her. Perfectly arched eyebrows complimented the amber eyes shadowed by long dark lashes. Her lips were a pale shade of pink that drew attention to their lushness. The only new thing was the slash of pink that cut across her cheek. His questions about what had caused it had only earned him a shrug.
A silver necklace dangled from the long column of her neck and into the depths of her scoop-neck t-shirt hinting at the alluring bounty beneath. Apart from the necklace, the only other pieces of jewelry she had on was the silver studs in her ear and the silver ring on her finger.
Around them, the chatter of Kandi Soul swirled. With its all dark wood décor and the faux fires blazing in the fireplaces scattered around, the eatery looked like an oversized log cabin. The scent of soul food swirled around as servers weaved their way around the patron-packed tables carrying trays laden with food. The soothing strums of country music mingled with the low murmurs, laughs and clinking of cutlery over plates.
With its festive atmosphere, Reggie had thought that the family-style restaurant was the perfect start to their date. He’d been wrong. Ever since he’d picked Erica up from their apartment she’d been distracted. Her responses to his attempts to draw her into conversation had been half-hearted and the teasing rapport they’d built over the last couple of weeks seemed to have disappeared.
“You can order something else if you don’t like it,” he offered. When she didn’t reply or raise her head, he called out, “Erica?”
“Hmm.” Her eyes jerked upwards but from the emptiness in them it was obvious she hadn’t heard him.
“You can order something else if you don’t like it,” Reggie repeated.
“No, no.” Erica shook her head, her braided ponytail swinging with the movement. “I’m good.”
She lowered her eyes once more and pierced a piece of shrimp with her fork. She put it in her mouth, bit off a piece, put it back on her plate then resumed playing with her food.
To draw her back from wherever her mind had wandered off to, Reggie asked, “So where will you be jetting to this week?”
She didn’t respond.
“Erica,” he called out. She didn’t answer. His voice was louder when he repeated, “Erica.”
“Hmm?” Her gaze rose once more.
“What’s the matter?” he finally asked.
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “It’s just…” Her words drifted off into silence before she reached for her purse. A second later she rose with her phone in her palm. “Give me a minute. I’ll be back.” She took three strides away from the table, stopped, turned, then came back. “Never mind.”
There was definitely something wrong. Reggie could guess the culprit behind it. Setting his knife and fork on his plate, he asked, “What’s he done now?”
Erica’s forehead crinkled as her eyes shadowed in confusion. “What’s who done now?”
“Quin,” he clarified. “This is about him, isn’t it?”
“No, it isn’t.” Her answer came too quick to fool Reggie, and he gave her look of disbelief. She sighed as she set her elbow on the table and covered her forehead with her palm. “It’s just something Kendra told me about him.”
The last person Reggie wanted to discuss was Quin. Even while not here, the man had wedged himself into their dinner. Drawing a deep breath, Reggie asked, “What did Kendra say?”
Erica started, “He-” then paused before she shook her head. “No, won’t talk about him.” She straightened in her seat, squaring her shoulders as if to wave away thoughts of Quin before asking, “So is Ma still threatening to take Lea to military school?”