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“Alright,” was all she said, trying to keep the peace.
“She said alright, so let it go, Blaze,” his aunt, Verinda, added.
“I don’t have to letshitgo,” he replied, puffing out his chest. “This my house and these my folks. If Denali don’t like it, she can go in the room or get the fuck out.”
“Your house?” she repeated as she stood, unable to keep her laugh in. “Nigga, this ismyhouse. My name is on this lease andI’mthe one that pays these bills. You can try to act tough or like you that nigga in front of your folks, but you know what’s really good with me.”
He chuckled. “Oh, so you proud of that shit? Be proud of that shit then, Ms. Independent Woman. Let everybody in this bitch know you taking care of me like I’m a muhfucking king.”
“A king? Blaze…”
Denali’s head shook as Verinda muttered. “Time to go.”
“I take care of you like you’re my son,” Denali repeated.
“The fuck you just say to me?” he asked through gritted teeth, getting directly in front of her.
“Okay, that’s enough,” his brother-in-law, Chris, said, trying to step between them.
“We’re about to head out,” his mother announced. “Are you coming with us, Blaze?”
“Nah. I got some shit I need to handle.”
“Okay, but walk me out,” Tasha insisted, and Denali was grateful for the distraction.
As everyone in the house began to leave, she went upstairs to the master bathroom and splashed water on her face as her hands shook and heart palpitated. She’d spent so long making her home her place of peace, and in seconds, it felt like that was ruined. There was no telling what she’d have to do to restore the security she felt before Blaze’s get together.
Something told her not to let him even have the party, but she didn’t want to hear his mouth. That had never been Denali’s wave. She didn’t like having her home invaded by multiple energies at once… especially ones she didn’t know. Had she known Blaze was going to disregard that boundary, she would have left before people started arriving so he could enjoy himself while she was away.
She was unsure how much time had passed while Blaze was outside, but it was enough time for her to grab a CBD joint and light it before sitting in the black recliner by her side of the bed. Relaxing in the seat, Denali took in deep pulls of the CBD in an attempt to calm down quickly.
“What the fuck was that about?” Blaze asked, standing by the door.
Slowly opening her eyes, Denali licked her lips. She released an irritated sigh as she put the joint out. There was no point in her trying to smoke it if he still wanted to argue… which was another thing he knew she couldn’t stand. All that back-and-forth shit had never been her style. If she got mad enough, she was liable to pop him in his mouth. Blaze knew that; that was why whenever they had issues, they put space between them so theybothcould calm down.
“Blaze, leave me alone.”
“Nah. You had a lot of shit to say while my folks was here. Now you wanna be quiet?”
Her head shook as she looked his tall, medium build over.
“You’ve disrespected and made me uncomfortable all day… in my own home. When I finally snapped, you got real slick at the mouth. I think it’s best if we don’t speak to each other right now.”
“How did I disrespect you, Denali?”
“All the jokes you were telling!” she yelled, pounding her fist against her open palm as she sat up. “You made me look like I’m weak as fuck in front of the women in your family for a few giggles. Then you know I don’t like having a lot of people in my home. You told me it would just be your folks, but you had damn near fifteen people coming in and out of the house, most of which were women! Do you know how that made me look in front of your mama? Every time a woman came in here, she just shook her head!”
“I’on give a fuck what she think, but Idocare how she feel, and she said your outburst made her uncomfortable.”
Chuckling, Denali stood. “So… Me asking you who the woman was that you were taking upstairs, where our bedroom is, made your mother uncomfortable… Not the actions that led to it or the way you talked to me in front of a room full of people?”
Sucking his teeth, Blaze dismissively waved his hand in her direction. “I’on have time to babysit your ass, Denali. I wasn’t fucking with none of them females for you to feel insecure.”
“I wasn’t insecure. Not when it pertains to a lack of confidence. But yes, I was not feeling secure and safe in my home. I did not feel protected. You walked up on me like you was about to put your hands on me, Blaze. Is that okay with you?”
“Look, you pissed me off with that bullshit. You disrespected me in front of my people…”
“Fuck your people!” she roared, tears finally falling. “I’m standing here telling you I did not feel safe with you or respected by you, and all you care about is yourpeople?” When he didn’t reply, Denali nodded with a smile. “Wow. Well, since you’re so concerned with your people, why don’t you go stay with one of them?”
