me crave him like that? I’ve had a few good relationships, but I’ve had my share of bad relationships, too. When they were bad, I left. Sometimes when they were good I left, too. I had my reasons. With him, I didn’t even consider it.
Maybe because I knew he was trying to teach me something important. There was something about him that was different from the moment I saw him. He is in a class of his own. I didn’t feel like I needed to call for help when we were engaged in the roughest sex I’ve ever had. There was beauty and desire in the pain. I felt safer than I had in a long ass time… How is that possible? He is the type of guy who makes you feel like he’ll take care of everything, and you need not worry.
She reached for the flowers and stroked one of the petals, then smiled.
I almost called him on so many occasions, but I fought the urge. I fought hard. I want real love now, not secret encounters with men that offer nothing more than sexual escapades and erotic rendezvous. I’m ready to try dating again; though my last few dates and relationships haven’t been the best, I’m not giving up on finding Mr. Right. Regardless, I have no regrets. Raze served his purpose, or so I thought. Now he’s back. He called me… and the things he said proved he is not done with me. I thought it was over.
…But I was wrong.
What were the odds that he’d call days after she’d discarded his business card? It was almost as if he knew the trouble she was having, the way she’d struggled to get to that final 12th step away from him. Raze Anonymous. She’d never admit how many times she’d considered reaching into the trash bin in her bedroom and fishing out that business card, trying to piece it back together like a jigsaw puzzle.
He’s found me. Worst of all, I’m not so sure I’m one hundred percent upset that he did. She reached for her necklace and rolled the dainty gold chain between her fingers. As she fell into a soft, carefree daydream, she practically jumped out of her skin when her work cell phone rang. She quickly grabbed her bottle of apple juice, took a swig to relieve her dry mouth, then answered.
“Hello, this is Yasmine Prince.”
“Look out your window.” Shivers crept up her spine when his deep, borderline evil voice reverberated on the other end. Phone in hand, she slowly got up from her chair and went to peer outside. Her office was on the fifth floor, looking onto the street. Pursed lips, temperature soaring, she finally spotted him in the sea of parked cars and traffic. There he was, standing off to right of the building, leaning against an amazing car she’d never seen the likes of. “Come to lunch with me. We need to talk. It’s important.”
She pressed her hand against the glass and watched him. He wore a dark business suit and sunglasses. He was too far for her to see the fine details, but close enough to cause panic. He appeared to be looking right at her. Through her.
“The call. The flowers. Now this.” She sighed. “Why are you doing this to me? Why after all of this time do you have this burning desire to start bothering me, Nixon? Don’t you have like, what? Five hundred other women you’ve messed around with that you can harass?” She threw up her hand.
“Grab your shit and let’s go. Chop, chop.”
“No.”
“No isn’t an option until you’ve heard me out. If after our lunch meeting you’re still not interested, then shit, I’ll take that as my cue to bow out gracefully. No sweat. I’ll walk away and never look back at your ass again.”
“I see you aren’t too proud to beg,” she quipped.
“I don’t beg. I make simple requests. Sometimes two, if I feel so inclined. You’re lucky. I’m inclined. Enough of the small talk. You’ve got ten minutes to get down here.” He gruffly disconnected the call and slid his phone in his pocket, then got into his car, cool as he pleased. Idiot. She stood there, her feet cemented to the floor. A weight settled on her shoulders. It seemed the world was going in fast motion all around her, like a spinning top.
You slimy, sneaky fucker. If I try to tell someone what’s going on, I’ll have to explain who he