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As happy as Denali wanted to be, she didn’t want to get her hopes up too quickly. This wasn’t the first time things appeared to be looking up for them and they fell through, but she was praying it would be the last.
??????
Denali was impressed. Instead of Blaze going out that Friday night, he stayed home with his family. They made homemade pizzas and watched movies all night until the kids went to sleep. Unsure what was going to happen between them, Denali decided to call it a night as well. They hadn’t been physical since before the Valentine’s Day fiasco.
“Thanks for this,” she said, blowing out the candles she had going. Almost always, Denali lit a few candles in whatever room she was in.
“You don’t have to thank me for spending time with my family.”
Nodding, Denali remained silent as she cut the TV off. As she tried to leave the dining room, Blaze pulled her into his arms.
“You still mad at me?”
“Why would I be mad at you, Blaze?”
“You tell me.”
Her head tilted as she considered if she wanted to be honest with him or not. Figuring it couldn’t hurt anything, Denali decided to be honest.
“I just… wonder about your priorities lately. You don’t seem to prioritize me and the kids like you used to.”
“Is this about Valentine’s Day?”
“A part of it, but it’s about you not being there for the kids the way you should up until this week. I’ll give you credit and say that you’ve done well this week, but it’s going to take more than that to fix what your lack of priority and interest has broken over the last few months.”
“Look…” Blaze sighed. “I ain’t gon’ lie, a nigga been fucked up lately. When my money ain’t right, my mind ain’t right. It’s nothing personal. I just needed to get my shit together.” He cupped her cheek. “I’m getting my shit together now, and I’m trying to do right by you. By our kids. All I need is a chance.”
Her head shook as she put space between them. “You’ve had three years, Blaze. We’re still in the same position we were in when you first got out. Same house, same struggles, no marriage. Hell, this doesn’t even feel like a relationship. It feels like we’re roommates that co-parent from time to time.”
“So give me six more months.”
Her head flung back as she pouted while Blaze took her hands in his. “Give me six months to get on my shit, and when I feel like I’m ready, I’ll change all that. I promise. If I don’t… I’ll leave and just be here for my kids.”
She thought about it for a few seconds before sighing and nodding in agreement. Not that she had that much of a choice. Blaze and her kids had been her whole world for the past twelve years. As easy as people on social media tried to make it seem to leave, it was hard—especially when a person was doing just enough from time to time to refill your satisfaction with them.
seven
Elite
There wasn’tanything that got under Elite’s skin more than anI told you sokind of conversation, but tonight, he deserved to hear it. Supreme had warned him against marrying Jacintha, but he didn’t listen. While Elite wasn’t 100 percent sure he’d spend the rest of his life with Jacintha, he was willing to give it a try. If the brothers’ troubled childhood had taught Elite anything, it was to hold on to those you loved and showed you love. For quite some time, Jacintha had been the woman who loved him the greatest… so it made sense for him to give her his last name.
But there was a part of Elite that feared he wouldn’t be able to give his wife the life she deserved. With no father around, Elite and Supreme had to teach themselves how to be men. His insecurities over not being a good father and husband were the only reason he’d gotten a vasectomy before their wedding. He told himself it was better that way. How would he explain wearing a condom with his wife or pulling out when he didn’t?
The few married couples he knew all said the same thing—the first five years were the weirdest and hardest adjustments. Elite made up in his mind to have the vasectomy reversed for their five-year anniversary. The last thing he wanted was a child to bond them together forever if their marriage ended. When he made that decision, Elite wasn’t expecting it to be how he found out his wife of three years had cheated on him. Well, it was almost three years. Their anniversary was four months away, and he’d already booked them flights to Paris to celebrate.
“So how are you going to handle this?” Supreme asked, rolling their third blunt of the evening.
It didn’t seem to matter how much he smoked, nothing was numbing Elite and taking his mind off Jacintha’s betrayal or the fact that he’d allowed his anger to consume him to the point where he’d put his hands on her. No matter how possessive he was, Elite would never own Jacintha or anyone else for that matter. As much as he told himself that, it angered him every time the thought of her giving herself to another man crossed his mind.
“I don’t fucking know.” Elite ran his hand over his face. “I think it’s best if we just take some space right now. I can’t stand the sight of her ass right now.”
Supreme chuckled. “I hear you. You never liked to share. I pray you never find out who the nigga is. Ain’t no telling what you’ll do to his ass.”
Elite’s jaw clenched as he slumped further in his seat. “Man, say. A nigga liable to catch a charge if I ever find out who it was. For real. Jacintha know I don’t play that shit. I told her if she couldn’t be real and faithful, not to accept my ring. I guess her ass thought I was just playing.”
“Yeah. Well, she learned today.”
As much as Elite didn’t want to laugh at his brother’s goofy antics, he smiled. “Worst part is, I don’t even know why. We haven’t been as present for one another, but damn. Was it that fucking bad?”
