I agreed and freed him. Once he grabbed the white plastic bag, he led the way to the patio. He loved it back there. It was the only place where he actually exhaled.
For a good amount of time, that was where we existed. We didn’t do much talking. Instead we just sat here enjoying one another’s space. Even in the most silent moments, I felt him in ways I couldn’t describe, ways I had never felt anyone.
Maybe my sister was right. Iso was a complete life adjustment for me, but it was more than sex.It was him.
“If you weren’t in the business you’re in right now, what would you be doing?” His voice interrupted my thoughts. Several blinks later I was looking at him and he stared back at me, waiting for a response.
I tilted my head to the side. “For a while, when I was younger, I wanted to be an artist or something like that. Something in the art field, then my pops flat out told me I wasn’t good.” I laughed at what used to be a sore subject for me as a kid. “Honestly I don’t know, but I always knew I wanted to do something.”
He nodded. “Do you feel like you’ve done it?”
“A million times over.”
“Then why go back when clearly it’s not what you want?” he asked. The million-dollar question I had lowkey been asking myself.
“Because a small part of me isn’t ready to let go of what helped me find myself for so many years.”
He nodded and didn’t say anything else while I settled heavily on my words. For so long I had relied on the agency to give me substance and teach me who I was. Now that I was finding myself somewhat outside of it, I didn’t really know how to process.
“Maybe I’ll give myself two more years to let it all go and be normal,” I said aloud, tone coated in sarcasm for no reason at all.
That earned a laugh from him, making me look his way.
“Baby, you could never be normal, and that I know for a fact.”
I tilted my head to the side, looking for him to explain his statement. “Something I also heavily fuck with about you. If you wanna get out, do that shit for yourself, not anybody else.”
I was up on my feet, moving in his direction. “Not even for you?” I asked, corny as hell.
“Not even for me, ’cause I’ma be here regardless.” He pulled my body in front of him and set me on the table while he leaned into my abdomen.
“You promise?” I asked, hugging his head.
“No bullshit.”
I smiled at the statement that had kind of become our mantra, our way of saying things we weren’t quite ready to say.Fuck, I don’t know how I got here.
When I woke up the next morning, I was in bed alone and my phone was ringing off the hook. Thank God it was my personal line and not the one that meant I had to drop heaven and earth to get there.
I reached for the phone under my pillow, irritated before I even answered. I opened my eyes for a millisecond, then glared at the screen, seeing that it was Lauryn.
“Yes, Lauryn. This better be goo?—”
“Come to Sissy’s house now. Something happened.” She interrupted what would have been a threat for interrupting my sleep.
I sat up immediately, my heart beating uncontrollably in my chest. “What do you mean something happened?”
“Just get here.”
“Why did you call her? I told you I was fine, Lauryn,” Sissy whined in the background.
“No, you’re not fine. You look like somebody put their fist in your face.” Lauryn’s irritated tone had me on my feet getting dressed.
“I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone before she could say anything more.
“On your way where?” Iso’s voice had me turning around.
“My sister. Something happened to my sister.” I grabbed my hoodie and pulled it over my body. Then I bypassed his heavy body and went straight to the bathroom.
