“You don’t believe that.”
“I do.”
“Nina…”
“I swear to God.”
He stared at her like he wanted to believe her more than anything.
But belief had never come easy to Jio. The only thing he had faith in was her. Jio didn’t think he could be a good man. He didn’t believe he could have peace either. Would he ever make it out the streets? Would he end up in jail like his daddy? Shit, he didn’t believe in his damn self these days. Everything was just going good. Shit was running smooth… until it wasn’t. He rested his forehead against her stomach again, and Nina held him tighter.
He went quiet and she didn’t mumble a word either. The only sound you could hear was them breathing. The outside world moved at a fast pace, but in her loft, things were still. Nina stood in the middle of her living room holding the most dangerous man she knew as he trembled like he was two seconds away from getting a whoopin’.
“I really wanna be a better man, baby… for you.”
Nina closed her eyes. His confession was the reason she couldn’t move on.
They were the reason why she kept forgiving him and why she kept searching for the man inside the monster and convincing herself that if he could say it, he could become it.
“I know,” she whispered.
“I don’t think you do.”
She looked down at him. He was fuckin’ right.
Jio stood slowly and wiped his face with one hand. He was embarrassed now. The vulnerability retreated almost as quickly as it had appeared. He snatched his innocence away which led to feelings of rejection. Jio only showed her his bleeding heart for a second before he locked it away. She didn’t even get a chance to try and heal it.
“I’m trying,” he said, voice low. “With you, I’m trying.”
“I see that sometimes.”
He looked back at her sharply. “Sometimes?”
Nina regretted the word as soon as it left her mouth, but not enough to take it back.
“Yes,” she said.“Sometimes.”
Jio’s eyes changed first. The wetness disappeared and his rough demeanor resurfaced.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Nina sighed. “It means exactly what I said.”
“Nah, say it.”
“I don’t want to fight tonight.”
“Me neither but still answer my question.”
Jio never thought they were arguing when he was demanding shit and that right there was the problem.
She walked into the kitchen, needing space and a bottle of water to help clear all the champagne she’d had at the art gallery.
He followed her with his eyes.
“I went somewhere today,” she said, trying to shift the energy. “I stopped by this random art showing and I met a really nice stranger.” It’d been awhile since she’d had a joyful night.
Jio’s mouth twitched. “A nigga or a bitch?” His mouth could be so guttural at times.
