Heartbreak And Past Mistakes

by Chenell Parker

  “What is it then Lyric? Huh? Is that who you wanna be with?” Javier questioned, enraged.

  Lyric was too afraid to answer him. Javier was out of control and it was only a matter of time before the car would be too. Horns blared around them but, still, no cops in sight.

  “Answer me!” he yelled as he pulled Lyric’s hair, removing one of his hands from the steering wheel.

  Javier felt like all the demons that he had gotten control of over the years had come back full force. When he got the two videos sent to his phone, he didn’t even recognize the number that it came from. The first video made no sense to him, but the second one cleared up the mystery. Javier never found out who sent him the videos earlier that day, nor did he care. His main concern was that the woman that he was in love with was fucking her ex again behind his back. The same ex who had done her dirty with her best friend. The same nigga who’d hurt her so bad that she was afraid to really give him a chance to love her the right way. After going against his family for her, that was the thanks he got.

  Instead of proposing to Lyric like he planned to, he was trying to talk himself out of doing her bodily harm. Seeing her scared and crying did nothing but anger him more because she still hadn’t answered his question. Lyric made him feel things that he’d never felt before and he didn’t know how to handle it. No other woman had ever made him lose control like she did and that scared him. All he wanted her to do was love him just as much as he loved her.

  “Do you love me, Lyric?” Javier asked as he let her hair go.

  “Yes,” Lyric sniffled, making him feel bad for how he was behaving.

  She was no fool and there was no way that she would tell him anything other than what he wanted to hear. Hell no she didn’t love him, but she would suck his dick doing a handstand if it meant getting back home in one piece.

  “Why won’t you commit to me then? Is there somebody else?” he asked her.

  “No, there is nobody else Javier, I swear. Please, just slow down. I’m scared,” Lyric cried,, melting his heart.

  She calmed down a little once they exited the bridge. Javier turned right back around and got on the bridge again, heading back to the city. He wasn’t going nearly as fast as he was going before but Lyric didn’t want to get too excited.

  “I love you, Lyric. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone else. You complete me baby and I can’t see myself being with anyone else. I’m sorry about how I behaved, but I need you to always be honest with me, Lyric. No matter how upset I get, I need the truth,” Javier said as he looked over at her.

  Lyric only nodded her head in response. She was too afraid to say anything, for fear of setting him off again. Javier had never so much as raised his voice to her, so she didn’t know that side of him. One thing she did know was that if she got away from him in one piece, she was done. Not only would she never get into the car with him again, but she never wanted to see him outside of work either.

  “What do you want to eat?” he asked her like he didn’t just try to kill her.

  “I don’t want anything to eat. You can just bring me home,” Lyric replied as she wiped the last bit of tears from her eyes.

  “I’m sorry baby. Please don’t be mad with me. I lost my temper for a minute, but I promise that it will never happen again,” Javier swore.

  “I don’t have an appetite anymore and my stomach is cramping again. I’ll just probably get some soup from home,” Lyric replied.

  She exhaled when she saw that he was driving in the direction of her house. As soon as he pulled up into her driveway, Lyric jumped out of the car and hurried up to her front door. Javier was right behind her as she fumbled with her keys to let herself inside.

  “Do you want some company?” Javier had the nerve to ask.

  “Are you crazy? Get the fuck away from me, Javier. You almost killed me a few minutes ago and you think I want you in my house!” Lyric yelled as the tears returned.

  Just the thought of what had just happened had her shook all over again. People lost their lives for less and she didn’t take it lightly. Freak accidents happened all the time and she was thankful that she was spared.

  “I’m sorry Lyric, but I was upset. I wasn’t myself a little while ago,” Javier said as she unlocked her gate and front door.

  Lyric rushed inside and locked the door behind her. She disarmed and then rearmed her alarm as soon as she got in. Javier was still standing there begging her to forgive him, but Lyric was over it.

  “Javier, just leave before I call the police,” Lyric screamed.

  It took him a minute or two, but he finally walked off and got back into his car. Lyric’s phone rang soon after and she ignored and blocked his call. She curled up on her sofa in a fetal position and cried until her eyes burned. When her phone rang again, Lyric was tempted to throw it up against the wall until she saw that it was her mother calling.

  “Hey mommy’s baby,” Melody said when Lyric answered the phone.

  “Hey,” Lyric sniffled.

  “Oh, hell no! What’s wrong with my baby?” Melody yelled.

  “Nothing ma, I’m okay,” Lyric replied.

  “Lyric Dior Carter, don’t you lie to me. What the hell happened? What’s wrong?” Melody asked.

  “Everything is wrong. I just give up. I don’t care about love or relationships or none of that. I just want to be by myself,” Lyric cried.

  “Oh no, baby. Where are you? I’m on my way to wherever you are,” Melody assured her.

  “No ma, I’m good, I promise. I just ended things with Javier and I’m done with relationships. You can forget about having grandkids because I don’t even want a man.”

  “What happened baby? Is it his mama again?” Melody asked.

  “No, nothing like that,” Lyric said vaguely.

  She would never tell her mother what really happened. Melody would have a fit and so would her father. Lyric didn’t want to make things worse, so she wasn’t about to tell her mother the entire truth.

  “Well, you know I’m here if you ever need to talk,” Melody replied.

  “I know you are ma and I appreciate you. What’s up with you though?” Lyric asked her.

  “It’s official now boo. You got a mama and a daddy,” Melody answered.

  “I’ve always had a mama and a daddy,” Lyric laughed.

  “Yeah, but not always under the same roof,” Melody corrected.

  “Aww, I’m so happy. Are you and daddy still moving to another house?” Lyric asked.

  “Yes and can you believe that we got an offer for this house already? We looked at two houses that we really like and we made an offer for one of them. It’s just a waiting game now,” Melody replied, right as Lyric’s phone rang.

  She started not to answer when she saw Bronx calling, but she wasn’t being fair. She couldn’t punish every man for the sins of a few. Lyric got off the phone with her mother and switched over to take his call.

  “What’s up pretty girl? What you got going on tonight?” Bronx asked her.

  “Not a damn thing. I got stomach cramps and hunger pains kicking my ass at the same damn time,” Lyric replied.

  “What you trying to eat? I got you,” Bronx said.

  “That’s okay Bronx. I’m good but thanks for offering,” Lyric replied.

  “Girl, stop acting like that. Nigga ain’t trying to do your scary ass nothing. Text me your address and I’m on my way,” he replied before he hung up on her.

  That nigga was cocky as hell but that’s what Lyric liked about him. He spoke his mind and he put his foot down with her. She smiled as she sent him her address and jumped up to freshen up again. Once she was done, Lyric grabbed her gun and sat it on her living table, just to be on the safe side. Javier had her shook and she wasn’t taking any chance with anybody else. She had been out with Bronx a few times but he had never been to her house. He didn’t even know where she lived and she was cool with that. When her doorbell rang about thirty minutes later, Lyric opened it and smi
led when she saw Bronx standing there.

  “What’s up pretty girl?” he asked while walking in and kissing her lips. He handed her some takeout from Outback and another bag full of snacks.

  “Aww, you really do listen to me.” She smiled when she saw all the chocolate candy he had purchased for her.

  “Always. This is a nice house,” Bronx said as he looked around in admiration.

  Lyric’s living room was decorated in navy blue, yellow, and white. Her place was neat and smelled fruity and feminine.

  “Thanks. Have a seat,” she said while motioning to the sofa.

  “The hell you doing with this lil cute ass gun? You do better getting a sling shot,” Bronx laughed as he kicked off his Jordans. He took off his shirt, leaving his wife beater on right before flopping down onto her sofa.

  “You getting a little too comfortable, ain’t you?” Lyric asked with raised brows.

  “Pass me the remote and come tell me what you were crying for,” Bronx replied as he ignored what she said.

  “Huh?” Lyric questioned.

  She had put a cold towel on her face and a few drops of Visine in her eyes. Her eyes weren’t red or puffy, so she was wondering how he knew.

  “Stop playing with me, Lyric. What happened?” Bronx questioned.

  “I know that this is a big mistake,” Lyric sighed as she started to eat her food.

  She knew better than to tell a new love interest anything about the old ones, but she found herself doing that anyway. She just needed someone to talk to and Bronx seemed like he gave good advice. She didn’t give names but she told him the entire situation about her past relationships, starting with her first boyfriend. Bronx listened without interrupting, but a huge smile appeared on his face once she was done talking.

  “It’s about damn time,” Bronx smirked.

  “What are you talking about?” Lyric questioned.

  “You were holding back on me, so I know you was feeling that nigga. Maybe now you’ll really fuck with me like I want you to,” Bronx replied.

  “I’m good on all that,” Lyric replied.

  “Now, you got me fucked up. How you give them lame ass niggas a chance and don’t want to give me one? You can’t put every nigga in the same category my baby. We’re not all crazy and we don’t all cheat. They still got some good niggas out here and you’re looking at one of them.”

  “Why are you single then?” Lyric asked.

  “Because I just met you. Maybe you’re the one who can change all that,” Bronx replied.

  “You talk a good game Bronx but I’m still not convinced. What you’re saying ain’t nothing that I haven’t heard before,” Lyric replied.

  “Don’t even try to compare me with them lame ass suit wearing niggas that you be dealing with. I’m not trying to convince you. My actions with speak for me,” he replied.

  “I hear you,” Lyric said skeptically. She was going back to dating and leaving relationships where they were. Niggas weren’t shit in her opinion and she didn’t give a damn what Bronx said.

  “Don’t do me like that Lyric. Damn, at least give a nigga a chance to fuck up before you shoot me down. Don’t let them niggas turn you bitter pretty girl. You’re too young to be giving up on love already,” Bronx noted.

  “I’m not bitter, I’m just scared,” Lyric replied honestly.

  Truthfully, she didn’t love Javier but she did like him a lot. She really thought that when she got into another serious relationship that he would be the one. She was happy that she saw who he really was before she made another mistake.

  “Come here,” Bronx said as he held his arms open for her.

  Lyric went to him and laid on his chest. They cuddled on her sofa and talked while eating the snacks that he got for her. She had to admit that he made a lot of good points but she was still unsure. Maybe what happened with her and Javier was too fresh on her mind to make a definite decision. Only time would tell what happened between her and Bronx in the future. Until then, Lyric was going to continue doing her and let things fall into place on their own. She had to admit that it did feel good opening up to another man other than Jared. It wasn’t her intentions for Bronx to stay the night at her house but that’s exactly what happened. After staying up talking until after three in the morning, they both fell asleep on her sofa wrapped up in each other’s arms.

  Chapter 15

  Lyric got up around nine the next morning and Bronx was still asleep. She grabbed her robe from the closet and went to take a shower. Right when she was about to get out, she heard the bathroom door open and moved the curtain to the side to see Bronx walking in. She was shocked to see him unbuckling his belt and then his jeans.

  “I’m in here!” Lyric called out as if he couldn’t hear the water running.

  “What that mean to me? I gotta take a piss,” Bronx yawned.

  “Why didn’t you go to the bathroom in the hall?” Lyric asked.

  “Because that wasn’t the one that you were in,” he answered.

  “Seriously Bronx?” Lyric said.

  “What? Stop acting like you ain’t never seen a dick before,” he replied.

  “You and that mouth,” Lyric chuckled.

  “You don’t know nothing about my mouth yet. Fuck with me and I got you though,” he promised.

  “Make sure you wash your hands too,” Lyric said, choosing to ignore his comment.

  Once the toilet flushed, she heard the water in the sink running. Lyric was standing there letting the hot water run over her body when she felt a small gust of wind. She jumped when Bronx reached his hand inside the shower and squeezed her ass.

  “Damn. That shit is real too,” he said like he was surprised.

  “Boy! Get your nasty ass out of here!” Lyric yelled.

  “Hurry up girl. I’m hungry as fuck and you’re treating me to breakfast,” Bronx replied.

  Lyric shook her head and laughed at his comment. Once she got out of the shower, she got dressed and moisturized her hair. Once it dried, it would be nice and curly, just how she liked it. When she walked into the living room, Bronx was sitting on the sofa watching tv.

  “Ready?” Lyric asked while looking over at him.

  “You look good pretty girl,” he said as he got up and gave her a kiss.

  “Thanks. Where are we going?” Lyric questioned as they walked out of the house together.

  She didn’t know him that well so she didn’t want to set her alarm in his presence. Instead, she did it from her phone once she was seated in his truck.

  “Where we’re going depends on how much you plan to spend on me,” he replied with a wink.

  “I hope you’re joking. I’ll stay here and eat a pop tart before I buy your ass some breakfast,” Lyric said as he pulled off.

  “I hope you ain’t that selfish for real. I’m just fucking with you, but ain’t nothing wrong with you paying sometimes,” Bronx said as he looked over at her.

  He would never make her pay for anything but he just needed to see where her head was at. He hated a selfish woman. It didn’t matter how much he was feeling Lyric. If she wasn’t on the same page as him, he had no problem moving around.

  “I’m far from being selfish. I had plans to cook us breakfast, but you’re the one who wanted to go out. And let’s not forget that I offered to pay for dinner more than once and you always declined,” Lyric reminded him.

  “Yeah okay, I’m just making sure,” he smirked as he looked over at her.

  “Where are we going?” Lyric asked again.

  “I need to run home and take a shower. You looking all cute and shit. I’m trying to get fly like you,” he replied.

  He and Lyric talked the entire way until he pulled up to a nice subdivision. The homes were modern and the block seemed quiet. Bronx pulled into the driveway of a nice, brick two-story home. Lyric didn’t know if he wanted her to come in or not, but the mystery was solved when he came around and opened her door. As soon as they walked inside, her eyes immediately began to
scan her surroundings. Being that he was a bachelor, she didn’t expect Bronx to have an entire house full of furniture. Everything in the living and dining rooms was black and white and there was a huge tv mounted on the wall. Lyric took a seat on the sofa but Bronx wanted her to come into his bedroom. She sat on his bed while he laid out some clothes before going down the hall to take a shower. About twenty minutes later, he came back into the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. His muscular tattooed arms were on full display and she had to stop herself from staring.

  “You can look. I know I’m fine,” Bronx joked.

  When he dropped his towel, Lyric didn’t even try to turn her head. Bronx wasn’t overly huge, but he had enough to get the job done. His length was average but his width was impressive. He wasn’t even hard yet and she could see that it was something serious. Lyric was happy when he got dressed and told her that he was ready to go. He didn’t really have anywhere in mind, so Lyric directed him to one of her favorite places. Another Broken Egg sold some of the best breakfast that she’d ever had. Magazine Street was a congested area, so Lyric didn’t go there as often as she wanted to.

  “Damn. I been living here all my life and ain’t never been here before,” Bronx said as they ate their food.

  “Do you like it?” Lyric asked him.

  “Yeah, it’s straight,” Bronx replied as he continued to eat his seafood omelet.

  He enjoyed spending time with Lyric. Their conversations flowed easily and he loved that she was down to earth. She looked stuck up but she was cool as hell. She was always cracking jokes and her sense of humor was refreshing.

  Once they were done at the restaurant, he really didn’t know what else she wanted to do. He was just about to ask her if she wanted to catch a movie, but her phone rang before he had a chance to.

  “Hello,” Lyric greeted when she answered her phone.

  “Hey baby. Where are you?” Lenard asked loud enough for Bronx to hear him.

  “Get fucked up if you want to,” he snapped as he looked over at Lyric.