Page 91 of The Ninth

“Stop acting like you give a fuck about me, shorty. I may be soft with you, but I’m not a simp ass nigga, folks. I’m tired of you and all the ways you shitting on what we were supposed to be building. I’m done trying with you. You don’t get to tell me you want me and only me and then I see you in some kickback busted open while I’m getting food for me and my client. Is that what you on? Huh?!” he walked up on me until I backed into the desk. “I haven’t even had your body in my mouth. I haven’t even tasted that pussy but you think I’m finna run you down while you out doing it with random mothafucks?!”

His fist slammed down on the desk, causing a piece to break off.

“And what if I would’ve killed that nigga while he was touching you, huh? Ripped that hoe scalp off her head to get her from in between your legs? This is why I told you to wrap that shit up, Devyn. You want me to hurt somebody over that pussy, don’t you? You don’t fucking respect me. I’ve given you nothing but respect and patience and you just open up to some random, dusty ass nigga that ain’t neva gon have anything on me. Fuck is wrong with you?”

He roughly pulled my dress down, “Fuck you out half naked for? You letting people see shit that I only dreamt of while beating my dick? You think I want to work towards marriage with someone living a double life? Just go do you, Devyn. Leave me alone. Go. Get out.”

My mouth dropped opened as he stepped to the side. I blew out a breath, walking towards the door.

“G, WHERE THE FUCK YOU GOING?”

HUH?! I spun around, facing him.

“YOU’RE CONFUSING ME! I KNOW I FUCKED UP AND I FEEL BAD, DUKE. I’M TWENTY-EIGHT, I’M TOO OLD TO BE GOING THROUGH AN IDENTITY CRISIS. I’VE ONLY FELT LIKE MYSELF WITH YOU AND MY COUSIN. I SABOTAGED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY COUSIN AND I’M SCARED TO DO IT WITH YOU. I WAS SO HAPPY TO COME HERE TOMORROW. TO LEAVE WITH YOU AND TALK. I’M JUST DRUNK, STUPID, AND CONFUSED. I’M SORRY!”

I pushed past him, sitting on his couch with my face in my hands. This time, I couldn’t help the tears that came out. He came and sat next to me. He didn’t hold me or rub on me like he usually would. But he sat next to me.

“You once told me that your relationship with your cousin and me were the most important to you right now. Why didn’t you tell me y’all fell out? And on top of that, you fell out with your friend and her friend is beating on you?”

I sat confused until I realized I told this man Cassie was my friend.

“I’m sorry about you and your cousin. Hearing your family dynamic and how important it was for you to work things out with her...it explains a lot. You could’ve told me sooner, but I’m glad you told me at all. And we don’t have to discuss the details right now. Not while you’re like this. But Devyn...you’ve gotta find healthier ways to work out things and to get out your head. I don’t want you to act out to a point where something happens that changes you.”

“I look and feel stupid.”

“You look sexy as hell. You would’ve turned my head whether you were dressed like you were when we met versus now. You just seem so uncomfortable, and it makes me worry about why you decided to do it all. Who was shorty, and how’s she treating you?”

“She’s who I went to lunch with.”

“Who your friend warned you about...”

“Yeah.”

“Mmmmm. No friend tries to eat pussy that ain’t theirs. No friend makes eye contact with yo nigga and still allows you to show yo ass, almost leading to you walking out with your head in your hands. No friend would have you out like that, Devyn. You gotta wrap it up with that bitch. I don’t want her around you, and I mean that.”

“I’ll do it. She’s just been the only one nice to me and she paid for everything today.”

“Sounds like she’s just trying to get to your pussy. Moving just like a nigga would when he want something. Swooping in when nobody else around. Making you feel comfortable. Tricking. I’m not feeling that shit, G. I want a list of everyone’s names, addresses, and blood types by tomorrow.”

I cackled, shoving him to the side. He chuckled while shaking his head, reaching down and pulling out some weed. Hesitantly, I laid my head on his shoulder, scratching his back softly.

“I can’t get them two mothafuckas on your body outta my head....”

“It was the first time in years...” I mumbled. “I’m sorry. Also, you are crazy.”

He threw his head back, laughing. “It did slip out, foe. But I promise I’m reformed. If I was still crazy, we’d be on the news right now. But I do want you to know once we work everything out and lock in officially, I will do a nigga or a bitch in if they touch you. I don’t do that sharing my shorty with a nigga on some freaky shit or even a bitch. I make mothafuckas bite the curb, regardless of gender. Once you mine, you’re nobody else’s. You hear me?”

“Yes,” I squirmed in my seat a bit.

“And you gonna meet up with shorty, cutting her off. Right?”

“Right, baby.”

“I want you to remember that you’re gorgeous inside and out. That I want you just how you are, flaws and all. Nobody is perfect. Not me, you, your cousin...anybody. As long as there’s progress forward, forward is how we’ll move, on granny. Your peoples fucked a lot up for you, but it’s nothing we can’t fix. I’ve already had to correct some demons of my own. You’re the perfect woman. I thank God you walked in my shop daily. Don’t doubt yourself, Ms. BussDown.”

I laughed as his tongue swiped the rello he was rolling.

In my heart, I knew I didn’t deserve to be forgiven by Duke. He knew it too. But I also know he felt what I felt. And what’s between us is strong enough to work through anything. My heart felt heavy as I realized this may be it for me. I may not ever want anyone that’s not Duke.