I gulped.
He glared at me. “Yooo, you was out here wildin’, for real.”
“We were broken up, Sincere,” I reminded him.
“Fuck that!” He lashed. “I aint hearing that shit, shorty. We was never fucking broke up!”
I could literally feel the heat radiating from his body. “Calm down.”
“Na, aint no calming down,” he fumed, as he poked my temple. “Cause you playing when this shit aint a game. I should’ve beat that nigga unconscious.”
I cut my eyes at him. “You really tripping. Like really. I still can’t believe that you got in the ring and did what you did. Were you that mad at me?”
Nodding, he licked his lips. “I was heated. But the boxing ring wasn’t about my anger. I just know my way around that mufucka, and he hopped in thinking that I didn’t stand a chance. His post-up was weak…and I used to amateur box.”
I squinted my eyes, thinking that he had to be bullshitting, because I swore that I knew everything there was to know about him. “You boxed amateurly when?”
“Since I was like five.”
“Then why you never mentioned it?”
“Because.” He stared at me unblinkingly, while those grey eyes bore through me.
“Because what?” I pressed, as I pulled into a shopping center’s parking lot, and parked in a random spot.
“Because when I met you…boxing was put on hold.”
I frowned in confusion, as I turned in my seat to face him. “But why?”
“Because. I used to mainly box over the summer. My moms would drop me off at the gym. But once I met you…I had to be in Houston every summer. So, boxing became something I’d do only when I could. Plus, I focused on ball, which didn’t interfere with me leaving for the summer.”
“Well, you’re clearly good at it…and I don’t want to think that I stopped certain opportunities for you.”
“You didn’t,” he immediately clarified. “Clearly, the opportunities are still here for the taking. Terio and ya pops won’t stop talking about it. They were literally arguing about who should manage me.”
“So…you’re okay with being managed? I mean…do you want to take boxing seriously?”
“I’m open to it. You heard,” he admitted. “What chu think about it, though?”
I smiled. “I think that you’re great…but I can’t say that it’s something that I’d handpick for you. Because…you could get hurt. Like…you don’t understand the anxiety I had, while you were in that ring. And had things been different…and he would’ve knocked you out, then I would’ve had everybody confused, after I would’ve dove on Jules’ back. Screaming, ‘Get off my man!’” I laughed at the thought.
“Yo, you funny.”
“It’s funny now, but I’m so serious.”
“So, you was gonna jump on ya boyfriend like that?”
“Boyfriend? Really, Sin?”
“Shit, that nigga was looking at you like he was in love or somethin’. I should’ve blacked his fucking eyes.” His nostrils flared.
I shook my head. “I don’t know how he was looking at me, because you had my head in the clouds.” I reached over and grabbed his hand. “And there was nothing special about me and him. He was just a distraction. I promise on everything I love.”
“Yea, a’ight. I’ma take your word…but I better not find out different, yo.”
“O-kay, Sin,” I pouted. “Can we please let this go?”
He sighed, before licking his lips. “It’s a dub.”
