Page 70 of Weddings on the West: Vol. I Brick & Destiny

“I’m serious. You need to rest,” she demanded with her hand on her hip and way too much fuckin’ attitude.

“So, you really gon’ do this to me, then leave me here to die, Peep?” I whined once I realized that she was really about to leave me.

“Do what to you, baby?” She frowned as she stepped forward and put her hand on my forehead. I pushed her hand away because I was tired of telling her ass to stop that shit.

“I ain't been sick like this in years, Destiny! Decades! Then I eat your ass one lil’ time, and now I'm on my death bed? I know it's connected—I just can't prove it!” She giggled, which erupted into full blown laughter at my expense.

“First of all, you ate it more than once,” she corrected, giving me a knowing look. I did, and if she hadn’t gave me the fuckin’ plague, I’d do it again. “Second, I’m clean and not the one who got you sick. I told you to put on a jacket when you went out in the rain the other day. Third, you been tellin’ me to leave you alone for the last three days, but now that I wanna leave for just a few hours, you’re crying about it!” she said with her lips stuck out.

“I never said that!” I lied through my teeth. Having her fussing over me felt weird as fuck. My own Mama didn’t do me like that, and I didn’t wanna look weak in front of her.

“Whatever. Go ahead to your lil’ lunch or whatever. I’ll be here, barely clinging on to life,” I muttered, giving her the dirtiest look before turning back to the TV.

“Baby,” she said, kissing my forehead. “I’ll be back in a few hours, and I’ll make you soup.”

“I don’t want no more fuckin’ soup, Peep,” I mumbled, pulling her in for a kiss on the lips and hoping I got her ass sick too so she would have to be laid up next to me.

“Well, what do you want? I’ll bring it back.”

“It’s already here,” I said, eyes zooming in on my favorite meal over there sittin’ pretty inside of her denim shorts. She fell out laughing again before kissing me and grabbing her bag.

“Bye Brickly. Do not get out of this bed. I’ll be back soon.”

I watched with my lip stuck out as she strolled out of the room.

“When she get back, I’ma cough all over her ass,” I mumbled to myself, turning the TV up and adjusting to get more comfortable.

Eighteen

Up in Flames

DESTINY

“Ifeel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” I heard Stasha whine on the other end of the phone. “Come have lunch with me!”

“Hmm, I can’t today. I already have plans, sorry.” I almost felt bad about blowing her off, but every time I thought about that smug little smile she had when she came to tell me I was basically excommunicated from the church, my guilt evaporated. I had been spending more time with Eden, Luv and I had already grown really close, and Kat and I were also spending a lot of time together. I hated to admit it, but Stasha was right when she said she wouldn’t fit into my new life—but, it wasn’t for the reasons she initially thought.

I wouldn’t dare tell her that my “lunch plans” consisted of getting a twelve-piece lemon pepper wet from Dream’s and maybe sneaking in a quickie with my husband in his office. He was feeling better and back to work after a week of getting on my nerves nonstop, and I was so glad. I was feeling particularly bold that day… and twice as horny, so the quickie took priority over the wings. The more I strayed from the ridiculously hypocritical guidelines that my parents put on me, the more I noticed Stasha’s little snide remarks and judgmental side eyes.

“Destiny, please?” I rolled my eyes at her whining.

“I can’t! I’m so sorry! Actually, I’m just pulling up. I’ll call you later girl!” I hung up before she could protest any further.

Things were so good, and I refused to let her bring my mood down even just a little. I happily skipped past the security guard who gave me a polite nod and let me inside without a word. I felt so bad for what Brick did to that man when he found out he gave me a hard time my first day going there. His head was healing up nicely, but I still had to fight the urge to apologize to him every time I saw him. Humming to myself, I made my way across the floor, making sure to wave at Kitty, aka Kat, as she shook her titties in some happy man’s face. She winked back and blew me a kiss before turning around so her client could slip her payment between her butt cheeks.

Once the shock of seeing her almost naked every time wore off, Kat was cool as hell. She and I ran into each other on another one of my trips to the restroom and sparked up a conversation. The next time I saw her, we exchanged numbers and had been texting or talking almost daily.

After standing there watching her run that man’s pockets dry, I happily strolled to the double doors and down the hall to Brick’s office.

I gently pushed the door open, but before I could step inside, two very familiar voices stopped me in my tracks.

“No, Eden. You promised that you would say something. I can't keep looking her in her eyes, knowing this shit. It feels wrong!” The two of them were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't even notice me peeking in the crack of the door.

“Brick, listen… I wanna tell her. I swear I do, but what if she never speaks to me again? I need my sister,” Eden answered back. I held my breath, trying to pick up every word as they moved around the room.

“So, I'm just supposed to keep lying to her over you?” he asked, words dripping with frustration.

“Yeah! Don't act like you never lied before!”