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Chapter 11

“You seem different.” Will said, dropping into the seat next to Tucker, running his hands down his face.

“What you mean by that?” Tucker sat back on the couch, raising an eyebrow.

“I can’t really explain it but, it’s like whatever it is that’s been weighing on you hasn’t been as heavy lately. You seem happy. Shorty is a good look for you.”

Despite how much of a simp he felt like, Tucker damn near beamed at the thought of Danica.

“Damn, bro, she got you like that? Where did you find her? And how do I get one?” Will joked.

“Chill out,” Tucker laughed good naturedly. “She has a sister, but I don’t think you ready for all that. Miesha ain’t nothing to fuck with, especially since you obviously have some shit going on with Cece.”

Will’s eyes darted to the table where Cecilia and Allie were sitting at a table playing a round of cards, and he shook his head.

“Man, I don’t even know where to start when it comes to that damn girl.”

“The fuck is up with y’all?”

“Same old shit. We started fucking around on the low, and now she wants more. I was considering it despite the doubts I had about things working out, but then she flipped the script and started sniffing around you like a dog in heat every chance that she got.”

“Probably because I’m a safe option compared to your ass.” Tucker snickered. “But you know it’s not like that with us, right? I’ve never touched her like that. And it’s damn sure not going to happen now that you’ve told me that y’all had something brewing.”

“I think it’s safe to say that whatever that was, is a wrap. I’m trying to find me a Dani.”

“Then you better get the fuck in line, because if you talking about my wife, Dani, then you shit out of luck,” Charlie teased, passing behind the couch.

“I’ma kill him.” Tucker’s jaw twitched while Will laughed.

“Yeah,” he clapped his friend on the back. “She put something serious on yo ass.”

“You don’t have to tell me, trust me, I know.”

“Aye, Tuck, you got a visitor!” Wade called, making his way inside the station.

Thinking it was Danica, he hopped up quickly and rushed outside. He stopped short when he realized that it was Monae instead.

“Hey,” his greeting was laced with confusion. “What are you doing here?”

“I got your message,” she waved her phone into the air before slipping it into the pocket of her jacket. “I’ve been meaning to stop by for days, but I had to get my head right and get a grip on what I wanted to say.”

Tucker was at a loss for words. When he texted his apology to Monae, it was because he felt that he’d never given her a proper one, and couldn’t move on with Danica without giving the proper closure to that situation.

Monae was a good woman that didn’t deserve everything that he dumped into her lap. Tucker felt that he couldn’t truly consider himself a man until he owned up to it. But the last thing he anticipated was her showing up unannounced to his job.

“Baby,” she let out a wistful sigh that had him groaning internally. “I don’t know what happened with you, but I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”

“Moe,” Tucker’s mind quickly worked to try and find a way to diffuse the situation before it could get any worse. “Before you finish, I need to tell you…”

Not waiting for him to finish his statement, Monae threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his. Even with their history, she felt foreign as hell to him, and Tucker quickly pushed her away.

“Kee,” Monae’s face twisted. “What’s wrong with…”

“That message wasn’t for us to try and fix anything, Moe,” He cut her off. “I gave you an apology, because you deserved it, but our relationship ran its course, and I don’t want it back.”

Blinking a few times, she took a step back from him. Tucker could see the hurt written all over her face, but he wouldn’t let that keep him from standing firm with his feelings.

“I-I don’t understand,” she finally spoke, narrowing her eyes. “I thought that this was you wanting to fix us. I thought that…”