Page 9 of Whatever It Takes
“Thank you… I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. After I fell this morning, I felt like I needed to push myself harder.”
“You don’t have to prove shit to anybody. You can’t rush the healing process. I got you. I promise I do.” She stood, holding her hand out to help me up.
The rest of my session went on without another fall. Once she left, I lay across the couch, my thoughts running wild.
“Good lookin’ out, Zoey,” I said, taking the shopping bags from her.
“I’m your assistant, not your personal shopper, Moo.” She responded, rolling her eyes. “I don’t understand why you’re the one apologizing when you weren’t in the wrong. Then you just spent all this money on gifts? You’re such a simp, bro.”
“Look, I love Mariah. The argument was so petty. It’s nothing we can’t work past. Plus, I know how badly she’s been wanting that purse, and what woman doesn’t love eternity roses?”
“Just watch out for that girl, Moo, seriously. The chef will be here soon. Anything else you need from me?”
“Nah, thanks again.” I slid my wallet out of my pocket and handed her a few hundred-dollar bills. She gladly took them before turning to leave. As she was leaving, the chef was walking up the driveway, carrying grocery bags. Instead of going to her car, Zoey grabbed the bags to help her carry them in since I couldn’t.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Simmons. So, you requested stuffed chicken, asparagus, and creamy garlic mashed potatoes. I already had the strawberry cheesecake you requested in my fridge from the sale I had earlier. Dinner should be ready by 6. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Perfect. Thanks for coming on such short notice, Cree. I appreciate it. My girl loves watching your cooking videos onTikTok. We had a little argument this morning, and I’m trying to get back on her good side.” I chuckled.
“I’ll make sure I make your meal with extra love then. She’s going to love this. This shows how much you pay attention to the little things.” She passed me a beer and shoo’d me out of the kitchen, telling me to go relax.
Mariah let me know that her last client was at 5, so she’d make it back here by the time dinner was done. Everything would work out perfectly. I knew she’d love her surprise, especially the tweed and gold-tone metal, beige-and-white mini classicChanelhandbag. She had been eyeing the bag for a few months now. I just hoped it was enough to repair things between us after the argument we’d had this morning.
Me: Hey, where are you?
Me: I thought your last client was at 5? Are you on your way yet?
The chef had left over an hour ago, and Mariah still hadn’t made it home. I blew out an air of frustration. I could understand if she’d sent a text letting me know she was running behind or something, but she didn’t even do that. I exited the text thread, opening theFind Myapp to see if I could track her location. It was no use; I forgot we stopped sharing locations after our last breakup. I rubbed my hand across my face, trying not to get upset. But I’d spent all this money on gifts and a meal made by her favorite chef, just for her not to show up. Instead of sitting around sulking about it, I went into the bedroom, stripped out of my clothes, and climbed into bed. My appetite was gone.
The bed shifted, causing me to wake up from my sleep. I looked over, seeing Mariah climbing into the bed. “Hey…sorry... I had another client, and things ran over… I saw the gifts you got me. Thank you so much, Moo. I forgive you for the argumentwe had earlier. I’m sorry for missing dinner. It smelled really good. If you had told me what you had planned, I wouldn’t have accepted the two walk-in clients.” She said, placing a kiss on my lips.
I paused to process her words, peeping how she shifted from mentioning another client to accepting two walk-in clients. Instead of bringing it up, I simply accepted her apology. There was no point in arguing over it. I grabbed my phone off the nightstand, checking the time. It was a little past 11 p.m.
“It’s cool, Ri. I’m glad you liked the gifts. Chef Cree made the food. I know how much you like her videos. There’s a strawberry cheesecake in the fridge.” I said, slowly getting up from the bed, grabbing my crutches. I made my way into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind me. I closed the lid to the toilet, sitting down on top of it. I was trying not to be upset about it, but fuck. It was hard not to. I went out of my way to surprise her, and she couldn’t even show up when she was supposed to. My phone chimed, indicating a text message.
Blessing: Attachment: 2 Images
Blessing: I know it’s late, but look. I was going through some old yearbooks. Why the hell are you sitting in the background of both of these pictures? I forgot we went to the same high school lol.
I looked over the pictures and laughed. Blessing and I both attended OCHS. She was a freshman during my junior year. In the first image, she was photographed with another student for winning best dressed that year. You could see me in the background talking with one of my teammates. The second one was a picture of the cheerleading squad, and she was posedwith her hands on her hips. A few football players were in the background; I was one of them.
Me: Wow lol that is crazy. Look at you with a mouth full of braces.
Blessing: Right lol. That’s why this smile is so perfect now.
Blessing: What are you doing up? You need to be resting cause I’m wearing your ass out tomorrow.
Me: I woke up to pee. You should be sleeping too.
Blessing: True. Goodnight, Moo. See you in the morning.
“Siahhhh,”I sang, pushing his front door open, with Sage hoisted up on my hip. Messiah poked his head out of his kitchen and threw his head back at me.
“What you doin’ here?” He asked, taking Sage from my arms. He peppered her face with kisses before setting her down in the playpen he had for her in his living room.
“I can’t come see my favorite brother?”
“Girl, I’m your only brother. I know you want something. Just go ahead and ask.”
