Having an early from work left me trying to figure out what I was going to do with the rest of my day. I couldn’t go home. Julissa had quit her job in some weird ploy to get attention from Jason. I don’t know how her being unemployed would help her relationship. I figure she maybe thought she would force his hand and he would take care of her when he signed his NBA contract. Who knows? I didn’t put too much thought into it.
I do know I was tired of watching her mope around like a sad ass puppy— looking as if she wanted to slit her wrist anytime he was at the house. She was being stupid and childish. She should have been moved on from Jason. Even if he wasn’t pursuing me. He didn’t even seem as if he wanted to speak to her most days. I wanted to say something to her, but how would that look? I kept my mouth closed and had been avoiding her and Jason. It had been almost two weeks since I left for work and didn’t go back. And I would continue to avoid them for as long as feasible. I needed the space to get myself together and figure out what exactly it was I was feeling for Jason and what I was willing to risk — to have him. Jason refused to allow me that time. He had started applying pressure and not being subtle about it anymore. Julissa almost caught us kissing or fucking a few times after he’d left the house slamming doors. Thank God I found an apartment early.
The ones I’d toured with Jason had fallen through and I thought I was out of options until I discovered that the firm I worked for had a few condos that they allowed their attorney’s to lease. I had inquired about them to Simone, a classmate of mine and niece of the owner. I told her my situation and she had worked it out with her uncle so I could stay in one of them rent free for six months. I couldn’t move in officially until July first, which meant I would have had to go home or find somewhere else to sleep and shower for work for ten days, but Simone came to my rescue again. She had slipped me the key and told me if I needed to start using the place right away, I could sneak in. The leasing agent left at seven at night and didn’t return until nine in the morning.
Usually, I’d go wait until seven at an after-work spot that was popular in downtown Tampa or sit at the park and catch up on reading. At the moment, I didn’t want to do either and I didn’t have many options since my car was in the shop and I couldn’t afford too many more Ubers.
I thought about waiting for Cameron, it was three. He was off at five no later than six. But I nixed that idea. He had been acting real stand offish for about a week. He’d see me and go the other way. Maybe he had gotten tired of being my shoulder to lean on, which meant I needed to stop doing that.
I shrugged “I guess I’ll play it by ear.”
First I needed to change my shoes. I leaned against the side of my office building and swapped out my heels for a pair of nike slides. It was casual Friday so I’d worn Jean’s and a nice white silk blouse. I unbuttoned the blouse and shoved it into my Eddie Bauer backpack along with my shoes, leaving me with a red wife beater.
Just as I righted myself a black Lexus SUV with tinted windows pulled up. The owner beeped their horn a few times. I was used to the attention so I ignored it and started walking towards the bus stop that was twenty feet in front of me.
Whomever was driving the SUV laid heavy on their horn again when I didn’t bother looking their way. Because of the heavy flow of traffic, they were forced to drive off. Just as I sat down and got comfortable the SUV pulled up in front of the bus stop, blocking traffic. My first thought was that my ex had finally decided to act on his threat. My heart was galloping like a racehorse in my chest I slid my hand into my backpack for the Glock 19 I now carried religiously. I had told Malcolm next time he came for me, would be the last time. One of us would die. I wasn’t taking anymore ass whooping’s. I was deathly serious.
The windows on the SUV crept down slowly.
My heart slowed at the sight of Jason. I wondered who car he was in. He usually drove a beater, at least he did when he picked up Julissa. An old Chrysler.
“Get in.” He ordered, cutting his eyes at me. I detected a hint of attitude in his voice. I didn’t care. He looked really good though. His hair was freshly cut, his beard had been recently trimmed and shaped. The AC blew his clean scent out the window and it immediately affected me. I shifted in my seat as my clit started to thump.
“No thank you.” I refused. I knew we’d just end up fucking and it was becoming too hard to remain detached after each lascivious experience.
Jason turned fully in his seat to glare at me. “Get in before I get out and put you in, Tempest . I don’t have time to play with you today.
Ignoring him was tempting, until he was opening his door.
I sucked my teeth and stomped my foot. “Ok, damn.” I got up but kept my head down. I was so embarrassed. The people he was holding up in traffic were blowing their horns at us, but Jason didn’t seem to care. He was rude like that.
After struggling to get in with no help from him I roughly tugged the door closed.
“Don’t be slamming my door, Tempest.” he barked. Then He leaned over and fastened my seat belt for me, then he pressed a kiss to my cheek pulled back and mumbled “with your difficult for no reason ass.”
I gave him the finger, biting my cheek to hide my smile.
My feelings were all over the place at that moment. Although I was happy to see him, I also wished he had left me alone.
Jason Laughed. “What you are doing, showing me the finger your lonely ass been fucking yourself with while hiding from me?”
I rolled my eyes. “Just stop talking to me and take me home.” I feigned aggravation instead of coming right out and telling him I’d missed him.
