Page 10 of The Way Love Heals

“I know you are, but that shit still bothers me when I think about it. For our own mother to allow that to happen makes me sick to my stomach. If I’m being real, I probably think about it more than you do.”

“For real?”

He bobbed his head before leaning back and taking a sip of his drink. “Yeah, I do. Not as much as I used to when I first found out, but I’ll say it crosses my mind at least once every two or three days.”

“Damn, Naheem. Why haven’t you ever said anything?”

“Because I never want to be the reason you’re triggered or want to seem like it scarred me more when it happened to you. It’s just hard for me to digest that you were hurt in that capacity. I be wanting to find their bodies and handle them myself, but I know Uncle Benard already did it.”

I rose to my feet, pulling Naheem up by the arm with me. I didn’t care who was watching or the fact we were in the middle of the club. My siblings were close to my heart, and they never failed to remind me that it was the same for them as well. Naheem and I tightly embraced.

I kissed his temple like I always had and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Bro. Don’t worry about me, for real. I mean it when I say therapy has helped me. Just because I have dreams and moments doesn’t mean I allow it to consume me, so please, don’t let it do that to you. I think you need to come to one of my therapy sessions with me. Get the shit off your chest.”

“Wouldn’t that be taking away from you?”

“Nah. It’s simply my cup overflowing into yours.”

We hugged one another tighter and let go. A bottle girl came over with two shots on a tray for us. We toasted and threw them back. I took my seat, picked up my drink, and looked toward the restroom again.

Finally.

Brittish appeared, and our eyes immediately locked in on one another. She gave me a shy wave and went back to her seat. I took the time to finish my drink while watching her. Every few seconds, she would glance over at me. She knew that I was watching, and I wanted her to know.

The dress she wore appeared to be painted on her shapely frame. I loved me a woman with some weight on her, and Brittish wore hers well. On top of that, she was pretty as hell. Between her lips and her breasts, she had me wondering which ones were the softest.

I caught the attention of one of the bottle girls and asked her to bring me two shots. When she did, I stood up and made my way over to Brittish. She was sitting with her friend, but when my presence was known, her friend left with no question. I carefully sat in the seat she was in and offered Brittish a shot. She took it with no hesitation.

“Do you have a man, Brittish?” was my first question. If she did, I’d move right along. One thing I didn’t play with was another man’s woman.

“Nope. Do you have a woman, Nyle?”

“I don’t, but you can be the one to change that for me.”

She blushed and playfully rolled her eyes. “Those lines don’t work on me.”

“Well, what works on you?” My hand hovered over her exposed thigh, and I asked, “Do you mind?”

“Uh, no. I don’t.”

I loosely rested my hand on her thigh and felt her body tense underneath my touch. When I went to remove it, she placed her hand on top of mine. She licked her glossy lips and blew a breath through the circle her lips formed. It was obvious she was nervous, but she surprised me when she kept the conversation going.

“So, you went to school with Zaina?”

“Yes, back in Harley Grove. I haven’t seen her in years, so I was honestly surprised she recognized me. And y’all? You sure y’all aren’t on some sister wives type shit?”

I cackled when Brittish’s jaw dropped. She hit my arm and crossed hers over her bosom.

“Hell no!” she responded, snickering. “She’s married to my son’s father.”

“How old is your son?”

“He’s eleven. Do you have any kids?”

“Nah, but I eventually want them. I’m just waiting on my wife, but I think she might be right in front of me.”

“Didn’t I just tell you those lines don’t work on me?”

“Oh, this isn’t any game I’m trying to spit, pretty lady. The way you got my heart skipping beats and shit, I know it’s something about you. You had me sweating thinking you weren’t about to come out the restroom.”