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Muted from betrayal, I saw red.
We filed out of the van while our luggage was being removed and taken to the plane.
A beautiful Black woman in professional blue and gray livery and high heels sauntered over to us. “Hi, ladies! So glad you made it on time. I’m Mel, your flight attendant back to New Jersey. I just need your identification and passports. Drivers’ licenses will suffice.” Her smile beamed with crimson-stained full lips.
I obeyed, attention going between my purse and Jas, who stood in a group with the captain,I assumed, Juggy, Man, and Myron. His legs were long and thick in an all-black sweat suit and black baseball cap pulled low on his face, damn near hiding his eyes. He stood tall, broad, and strong, exuding urbane alpha energy, holding a cup of coffee. The man didn’t appear to have lost an ounce of sleep last night from fucking me all night long, into the morning. I didn’t give a fuck about how handsome and delectable he appeared, I was fucking done with him.
“Hey, y’all,” Man called over as we were finishing up with Mel.
I was third in line and ambled over to him while putting my things away. In that moment, I didn’t know how, but had decided to keep cool the entire flight home. If I confronted Jas, because we weren’t alone, I’d share with his family and friends how stupid I was for fucking a man I knew shit about. And at this point, I was sick of the narrative my damn self. I would not crack out here on the tarmac.
“Aye,” Jas called over to me, tone commanding and clear as I followed Man, Corinne, and Shizu toward the stairs of the plane. Swallowing back my anger to get this shit over with, I strolled over to him. “Captain Willie, this is my lady, Ashira Witherspoon.”
“Oh, wow!” the older Black gentleman beamed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve been told you hosted a festive past few days.”
I mustered a smile and met his proffered palm. “That was what I was aiming for. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain.”
He gave a bow. “Okay. I’m going to join my son in there so we can get you guys back to the States.”
“Thanks, Captain Willie.” Jas shook his hand. “I appreciate you accommodating us.”
“No worries at all, sir.” He took off for the boarding stairs.
“You good?”
“Me?” My face opened wide and I inhaled deeply, trying not to lose my shit. “I’m surviving moment by moment. The title you gave me in that introduction is laughable, however.”
Jas’ head angled, eyes narrowed even further under the brim. “You ain’t my lady, Shi?”
I tried smiling past the hurt. “I don’t think I’m anything past a lover, at this point.”
Jas sighed, head rolled. “Let’s get the shit over with. It’s the plane. Right?”
“It’s the vibe of this entire…situationship we’ve found ourselves in. I’m your lady, but you don’t even tell me you’re flying down here privately? I only know about the redeemed man in a striped prison uniform, but apparently everyone else knows about the influential and apparently wealthy Harlem icon. I mean…what kind of money do you have to do this?” My arms swung toward the plane.
“It’s not mine. A good friend—former mentor—was able to help me out with my dilemma.”
“Oh, so spending your birthday with my friends and me was a dilemma?”
The fuck?
Jas took one aggressive step toward me, nostrils flared. “No. Bringing my family on a trip they couldn’t afford a single night of was. You think them people got lifestyles they could up and suspend to fly out to the Caribbean…stay at a four star resort, afford the food and drinks? Nah. That’s the lifestyle of your friends, Ashira.”
“I offered to help with theaccommo—”
“I don’t need your help!” There went that stinging sensation I felt each time he rejected me. But Jas didn’t retreat as he usually did. His thick body was against mine, pinning me to him in less than three seconds. His big, hot hand was splayed at the small of my back possessively. Familiarly. “I only need you,” he whispered in my ear so clearly.
My betrayal had upended from my belly, ready to spill from my damn eyes. “But this is me.” My tears held in my throat. “I don’t judge, Jas. If they love and support you and want to be in your life, being me is making that happen.”
“I got help with those details.”
“From who?”
“My apprentice.”
My stomach flipped with jealousy. “Why did a young apprentice forRizzo’s Custom Homesget the task of something for your personal life when I’m here, able and willing to? That’s with my heart and wallet.” I pulled my head back to peer into his face. “Does she read the Bible with you, too? Suck you off when you’re in need?”
“Oh, shit!” I didn’t even know Juggy had stayed back after the captain left. “I’m out!”
