“Not that I owe you an explanation, but heisher daddy.”
And I’m in love with him, Jada loves him, and I don’t remember the last time I felt so happy.None of that was Jasper’s business, so there was no need for me to elaborate. Plus, I wasn’t trying to hurt his feelings. I just wanted him to leave.
He took a step back like the words hurt him anyway. His jaw tightened as he took a step forward. Silence lingered between us for a breath before I spoke up again.
“Well, let me go.”
“Nah,” he said, grabbing my forearm. “No wonder you played me to the side for so long. I get it now.”
“What’s there to get?” I asked.
“You been letting me run behind you like a sad puppy, while you were holding a torch for that dude. I bet you were probably waiting for him to get out of prison or something.”
“You know what? This conversation is over,” I said, snatching my arm from him.
That only made him tighten his grip.
“Come on, Faith. What are you gonna do when he goes back to jail? Dudes like that don’t stay on the street long. He’s too flashy. I saw those cars he’s been picking you up in. Anybody in their right mind can see that there is nothing legal affording him those kinds of rides. Wearing a suit don’t make you a businessman.” He released my arm but never moved his imposing frame out of my way.
“Is this really what we’re doing right now?” I asked, stretching my eyes as I waited for his answer. I really wished that I had that mace Hope always told me to carry. I was sure it was packed up in one of my boxes, completely useless right now.
“I’m asking if this is what you’re doing. Are you being smart, or are you being a sack chaser? I never saw you as a gold digger, baby girl.”
This situation felt like it was escalating, but I tried to play it cool. I didn’t need him to do anything crazy. I just wanted to make it to my car.
“What time is it?” I asked as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Ignoring the fact that it was now fifteen minutes to pickup, I hit Reed’s name to call him. It figured that my call went straight to voicemail. Instead of ending the call, I shoved my phone back in my pocket just in case I didn’t get an opportunity to make another call.
“Answer my question, Faith. I need to know you’re thinking straight.”
“I’m thinking straight. Thanks for your concern. Now can you go? I’m already late.”
“Can I go?Really? Nah, can you stop fuckin’ playing?”
“Playing?” I asked, lifting my brows for him to elaborate. My car was only six yards away. All I had to do was get off the damn porch.
“Yes, playing. That’s what you like to do. Admit it.”
“Jasper, go home. Nobody is playing. I’m just trying to go get my daughter from school.”
“Go home!” He chuckled. “Bitch, are you serious? You wasn’t yelling for me to go home when I was cutting your grass every other week and taking out your trash. You wasn’t hollering about me going home when I came through and laid traps to catch that mouse for you. You think I liked doing that shit for your ungrateful ass?”
“Jasper, don’t do this. You know we have some nosy ass neighbors.”
“Fuck these people. Where were they when I was coming through every couple of days to make sure you and Jada were straight? They didn’t give a fuck about you then, and they don’t give a damn about you now. You certainly weren’t telling me to go home then.”
“I appreciate everything you did. I really did, but we never went past a cordial relationship. I felt like you were being a good neighbor.”
“Bullshit! Don’t act like you wasn’t feeling this shit. You let a nigga in a fancy car with a few dollars in dirty money come over here and get in our way, and you don’t think I’m supposed to feel no kind of way behind that? As a matter of fact, you never said shit about me going home until you found a new man toplay games with. How far do you think that shit is gon’ get you, Faith?”
“Nobody got in our way. There was never anus.”
“Don’t do that,” he ordered, shaking his head.
“I’m just being honest. I never meant to lead you on. Yes, maybe I took advantage of you letting you do those things. I tried to stop you at first, but you insisted. If I would have known you were keeping score, I would have taken out my own damn trash.”
His nostrils flared as he took another step forward, making me back up until I was standing in the doorframe again.
“You weren’t talking all that sassy shit when I was out here running around in circles behind you.”
