Page 27 of Cessation
“Aye bro. What you got going on?”
“Nigga don’t come in here trying to hold a conversation now. Where the fuck was you at ’cause it damn sure wasn’t at the Buy a Heart event?”
“Oh, I had a date with this chick I met at the mall. She was pretty dope. Her name is Dawn. I might let you meet her if she makes it that long.”
“I’m with it. Has Gia handled everything I told her to? She was to report to you while I was away.”
“She did and I’ll get all that to you after lunch. What I’m more interested in, is what the hell happened between you and Yani Hart. I heard some things and I’m curious to how the hell yo’ ugly ass pulled that?”
I chuckled at his insult, but I was also wondering on who was speaking on Yani and I. What we shared was nothing for the public. Professional was what the people received and while we were stashed away, everything under the sun was done. When we left the hotel, we knew more about each other’s body than anything.
“Don’t play with me like I’m not always the flyest nigga in the room. Anyway, she not like other women Jo. It’s something about her that has me wanting to save her and?—”
“You captain save a hoe now?”
“Watch yo’ mouth when speaking about her. I ain’t trying to hit you in yo’ shit today. She’s far from a hoe so don’t disrespect her like that.”
He gave me a glare before nodding and saying, “Heard you. What I heard must be true then?”
“Nigga who in the hell did you hear whatever was told to you from? Yani and I were very professional while we were around others.”
“Y’all hit the blogs quick and the picture along with the post that I seen showed how cozy y’all were. She was spotted coming out of your hotel room several times. That’s why yo’ ass need to get on social media again.”
He handed over his phone and I was looking at an article that held all kinds of speculations about Yani and I. I had to laughfrom getting so upset. It seemed people were always minding someone else’s business.
“I can’t catch a break.”
“Excuse me Mr. Hughes, but you have some things that just arrived. Do you want me to bring them back?”
“Sure Amy.” Her interruption was welcomed.
In she walked with a bouquet of flowers, a bag of food, and a bottle of wine. I smiled and did a subtle nod as I took in what Yani had sent over. It couldn’t have been anyone but her. I told her that spoiling was my job and she ignored me. There was a card with the flowers, which Amy removed and walked over.
“Here you are sir. Is there anything you need before I go to lunch?”
“Nah. This is good. Thank you.”
Josiaha waited until she was out of the office before he spoke up. “You get gifts now?”
“It’s something Yani and I have been doing since our meeting. I asked her not to, but it seems she has her own agenda.” I smiled as I stood and went to assess what was in the bag. She had great taste in food.
I could smell the food before I opened it. I saw that it was from my mother’s restaurant. That was another reason I took to her. She loved Henrietta’s cooking. We were now on round two and I was excited to see where this was going.
“So, is this you finally moving on from Thalia? Because I’ve never seen you smile about no female other than her.”
Hearing her name caused my smile to drop instantly and a wave of betrayal to wash over me. Thalia had been dead for years, but I had always felt like I owed her my heart even after death. She was the love of my life, and I was living in happiness with her. I lost both her and my princess in the blink of an eye due to someone else’s negligence. Getting millions in the enddidn’t suffice to them being taken from me. I would live with that pain for the rest of my life.
My head dropped and I placed the food back down on the table. Thalia and Tiana were missed dearly. I thought about them often. However, while I was under Yani, not one memory of them surfaced. Now, Josiaha was bringing attention to something I hadn’t noticed.
“Nah. I’m just being a gentleman that’s all.”
“Hold up nigga. I didn’t ask that to make you feel some type of way. It’s been years since you lost them and Yani ain’t no bum ass broad, so I was happy for you. I might’ve called her a hoe earlier but hell, I ain’t mean it for real. You deserve to be happy again so don’t think on the shit too much. I knew sis and she thought about your happiness a lot. She would’ve loved Yani.”
He was right and Thalia was the least selfish person I ever ran into. She was always finding new ways to keep me happy and everyone around her. She would say to me often “I just want you to be happy and maintain it.” I lost sight of all that when she passed.
“Yeah, I think she would’ve as well. I’m heading home for the rest of the day. I ain’t in the social mood no more. Come by the crib later for some drinks and a few rounds of pool.”
He nodded, gave me a slap on my shoulder, then let me be.
