Page 33 of Solomon’s Temple

She made me weak, and I knew I'd have to go into deep prayer about us moving forward.

I stood and held my hand out to him again. “Thanks, Pastor D. I have a lot to think about.”

“That you do, son. Always remember, a man who finds a wife finds a good thing. Temple's a good woman, just lost her way along the way. I don't have a doubt that you'll be able to bring her back where she belongs.”

“I'm going to try my best.” I bid him a good day and headed to my office to meet with a potential client.

Whatever you're doing, Big Homie, I’m going to let Your will be done. If she’s for me, send me a sign.

Two Weeks Later

I hadn't heard from Solomon in two weeks.

I called and texted him, but to no avail. I wasn't a woman who chased after no nigga, and I wasn't going to start now.

It was just crazy to me how, one minute, he was talking like he wanted to wife me the same day he met me but then ghosted me in the next.

I felt a way about that.

I didn't dwell on it. I continued to move on with my life because I refused to be down bad behind any man. Maybe that kiss was what drove him away, or I may have been too much for him to handle, and I understood completely.

We lived two different lives, but for him, I would have toned it down some. He was the type that made you want to do better. I knew that from the moment I saw him. I had Sapphire on the line for every date to help me dress appropriately for him. I didn't do that shit. What a nigga saw was what his ass was going to get.

After that fiasco with Deacon, I decided to resign from the facility. I could have gone to HR and fought back, but honestly, I needed to move on from that place. I had dreams of opening my own center for children with autism. They got derailed because of Ma Lula’s health decline, but I wasn't dancing and working my ass off at Northwest for nothing.

I may have shook my ass at night, but I still had integrity. I was still a woman who didn't allow her circumstances to belittle her value. Shaking ass wasn't something I saw myself doing for the rest of my life, but I also wanted to make sure Ma Lula got the help that she needed.

I pulled into the parking lot of Lucid, grabbed my dance bag, and headed inside. Tonight was Freaky Friday, so I walked over to the deejay booth to give Tim my stage song, then headed to the bar to say hi to Toni and get my two shots of Azul.

I was glad she didn’t have any customers since we weren’t open yet.

“Hey, boop,” she greeted, kissing my cheek.

“Hey.”

“You okay?”

I shrugged. “I will be.”

“He still hasn’t called?”

“This isn’t about him.” I omitted.

She side-eyed me with a smirk resting on her lips.

“You can lie all you want, Temp, but we both know the truth. You like that man more than you planned to, and now you feel a way that he just stopped all communication with you. I can’t say that I don’t blame him.”

My eyebrows dipped as I glared at her. “Well damn. Tell me how you really feel.”

“Hold on. Before you get in your feelings, let me finish that statement. I don’t blame him, because as my sister, I know you aren’t ready for him. That man has a plan, and you aren’t exactly down with that plan. He wants a wife and want to live in righteousness. You’re a free spirit that wants to be of the world instead of in it.”

“So what are you saying, Antonia? That I’m not marriage material because I’d rather shake my ass, drink, and cuss? That I can’t believe in God and try to live right for a man who wants to marry me?”

“You know that is not what I’m saying, Temp. You’re projecting because of what happened at your job. You’re letting what that pervert said to you get to you, and now you’re twisting the narrative to fit his description because you want to be mad.”

“That is not true. I just—why else would he ghost me then? He went and beat up the man, then poof. He’s gone. I guess I just want answers. I ain’t trippin’ for real, but at least let me know I’m too much for you. At least I’d know and don’t think something bad happened to him.”

“I’m sure he’s okay.”