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“Unless you’re ready to apologize, yeah.”
“Apologize for what, Jeremy?”
“For how you treated me and my sister. How you still treat my mama. I’m done downplaying and accepting that. If you’re not going to apologize and change, I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Your pride is worth losing the job of your dreams?”
That made me chuckle. My anger was about to brew, but at the sight of Maritza heading out to the car, she calmed me. I didn’t even bother taking the call off Bluetooth. I didn’t care about her hearing how fucked up my relationship with my father could be at times. People swore we had the best bond because we laughed and joked a lot, but they had no idea.
“If you’re willing to cancel our agreement because I’m holding you accountable that’s cool, Pops. What I said stands.”
“I will not apologize for not being a better father. I did the best I fucking could.”
“Aight, Pops.”
My finger hovered over the button to end the call, but the tired sigh he released stopped me. “Did you ever consider you and your sister didn’tdeservemore of me?” He chuckled. “I gave you both more money than you could spend. I taught you all I know about law, sports, and politics. What more did your selfish, greedy asswant?”
“Maybe a father who gave him unconditional love and acceptance. Support. A bond that went beyond superficial things he could talk to a stranger about,” Maritza answered.
“Who the fuck is that?” Pops asked.
“My woman,” slipped out so effortlessly it felt real.
“Do better, Attorney Phoenix. All the good you do for your firm and our community won’t mean shit when you die if your own kids don’t care enough to mourn you and show up at your funeral.”
She disconnected the call from the dashboard before casually buckling her seatbelt. For a while, all I could do was stare at her. What she’d said was true. Our father hadn’t given us unconditionalanything. Everything he gave came with conditions or needed to be earned—even with the management position he was offering.
Throughout my entire life, I couldn’t think of anyone who chose, intentionally, to unconditionally love, support, or accept me. No one ever took up for me. Protected me. Made me feel safe—secure. Wanted for who I was, not for what I had to offer or the family I came from. It felt dangerous for Maritza to be the woman to change that.
I couldn’t pull myself to believe she’d done that organically, so as I reversed, I told her, “Thanks for playing your part, but you didn’t have to. I can handle him.”
Maritza gave me a half smile. “I wasn’t playing, and I know you can. But you got me now… so you don’t always have to.”
“You understand you’re playing a dangerous game, right?”
She chuckled, taking my hand into hers as we cruised out of her parents’ neighborhood.
“And how is that?”
“If you give me things no other woman has, this fake relationship will become real.”
“Jeremy, I—”
“I always get what I want, and if you keep that up, that’s going to be you.”
Her mouth opened and snapped shut without releasing a response. That was cool. There wasn’t anything she could say that would change my mind.
When we made it to her home, she couldn’t get out of the car fast enough. I was amused by the fact that she didn’t even wait for me to let her out before she scurried up to her front door and unlocked it as quickly as she could with trembling fingers. My steps were casual as I made my way to the front door. Even if she didn’t let me in, my sister would. The bond Sakura and I were developing had become separate from Maritza and me. She was cool as hell and reminded me of how I wished things would have been between me and Amelia from the beginning. Having them both seemed like a blessing.
To my surprise, Maritza hadn’t locked the door behind herself. I don’t think it was intentional, because I heard her telling her sister, “That man’s going to make me love him, Kura, and I-I really don’t want to.”
“Huh? Sissy…” Sakura sucked her teeth before pulling Maritza into her arms as she sniffled. “Why not? You don’t think you’d be safe with him?”
“It’s not that it’s just… I can’t do that to Matt. He’s my husband.”
“No, he’s not,” Sakura replied quickly, firmly. “Not anymore. I loved my brother-in-law, but he’sgone, Ritz. There’s nothing he can do for you from the grave. No one will shame you for holding on to your memories with him, but Jeremy’s here… now… and he’s trying to give you things Matt’s memory can’t. You’d be wise not to push him away.”
I took quiet steps backward, feeling like I’d intruded on a moment that didn’t have anything to do with me. There was nothing I could say to make Maritza feel better. Maybe her sister’s words could. Regardless, I’d fall back. I wanted Maritza to be open to me, not hurting because of how she felt about me. If she felt guilty over what was happening between us personally, I’d try to stick to our plan professionally.
