Something About Her

28.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Joshua gritted his teeth in anger as he watched Quannie's scumbag ex-boyfriend Lamar approach them on the street.

The nerve of that guy showed his face after all the pain and heartbreak he had caused Quannie in the past.

Joshua had always hated Lamar and everything he represented - a manipulative user who had taken advantage of Quannie's vulnerability and insecurities when they were together.

But Quannie had moved on, found happiness and stability with Joshua, and he'd be damned if he was going to let this loser waltz back in and ruin it all.

As Lamar started spewing his venomous insults, calling Quannie a hoe, Joshua felt a surge of white-hot rage coursing through his veins.

How dare he talk to his woman that way? Quannie was a queen, a goddess, deserving of nothing but the utmost love and respect.

Joshua gripped the collar of Lamar's shirt, his knuckles turning red with the intensity of his grip, as he barely restrained himself from knocking the smug look right off Lamar's face.

But Quannie quickly stepped in, blocking Joshua from getting to Lamar. "No, you have too much to lose, Josh," she told him, her eyes pleading with him to stand down.

Joshua could see the worry and fear in her expression, and he knew she was right. As much as he wanted to teach Lamar a lesson, to make him pay for all the pain he had caused Quannie, Joshua couldn't risk jeopardizing everything they had built together.

He had worked too hard to get where he was, to give Quannie the life she deserved, and he wasn't about to throw it all away over some punk-ass bitch.

Still, Lamar continued to taunt and provoke him, egging Joshua on. "Get active, my boy!" he sneered, that infuriating smirk never leaving his face.

Joshua could feel the muscles in his jaw clenching, his fists itching to connect with Lamar's smug mug. But Quannie stood her ground, refusing to let Joshua pass.

Finally, Joshua's restraint snapped. With a guttural roar, he lunged forward, his hands wrapping around Lamar's throat as he slammed him against the nearest wall.

Lamar's eyes went wide with shock and fear as Joshua unleashed a furious barrage of blows, his fists pummeling every inch of Lamar's body that he could reach.

Years of pent-up resentment and rage-fueled Joshua's assault, and he didn't stop until Quannie was physically pulling him off of Lamar's battered, bloodied form.

"Bitch boy just mad that I gave you a great life, you're my woman," Joshua growled, his chest heaving as he glared down at Lamar.

"Period," Quannie added, her voice firm.

As they hurried to the car and sped away, Joshua's mind was racing. He knew he had let his emotions get the better of him, that he had let Lamar get under his skin and provoke him into a violent outburst.

But damn it, that guy just brought out the worst in him. The way he had treated Quannie, the way he had manipulated and treated her - it was unforgivable.

Joshua had worked so hard to give Quannie the life she deserved, to shower her with the love and respect she had always craved.

And to have this lowlife come in and try to take that all away, to disrespect Quannie like that, it was just too much for Joshua to bear.

As they drove in tense silence, Joshua couldn't help but replay the confrontation in his mind, cringing at his loss of control.

He had promised Quannie that he would always be there for her, that he would protect her and keep her safe. And in that moment, he had almost let his anger get the better of him, almost jeopardized everything they had built together.

He couldn't bear the thought of losing Quannie, of going back to that dark, lonely place he had been in before she came into his life.

Joshua glanced over at Quannie, his heart swelling with a mix of love and guilt. She was staring straight ahead, her expression unreadable.

He knew she was probably disappointed in him, that she had been trying to prevent him from making a mistake that could have had serious consequences.

Joshua reached out and gently placed his hand on her thigh, needing to feel her close, to reassure himself that she was still there, that he hadn't ruined everything.

"I'm sorry, baby," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I just...I couldn't stand the way he was talking to you, disrespecting you like that. You're my everything, Quannie, and I'll be damned if I let anyone treat you like that. I lost control, and I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again."

Quannie turned to him, her eyes softening. "I know, Josh. I know how much you love me and how much you want to protect me. But you can't let your temper get the best of you like that. We've worked too hard to build this life together, and I can't have you jeopardizing it all over some punk-ass bitch like Lamar."

Joshua nodded, his heart swelling with gratitude and admiration for this woman who had so completely captured his heart. "You're right, baby. I'll be more careful, I promise. I just...I love you so much, Quannie. I can't stand the thought of anyone disrespecting you or trying to take you away from me. You mean everything to me."

Quannie reached over and squeezed his hand, a small smile playing on her lips. "I know, Josh. And I love you too. But we've gotta be smarter than that, okay? No more letting Lamar or anyone else get under our skin. We're in this together, for the long haul. And I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

Joshua felt a weight lift off his chest, and he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to Quannie's lips. "I'm with you, baby. Always. No matter what."

As they continued their drive, Joshua's mind was still whirring with a million thoughts and emotions.

He couldn't believe he had let Lamar get to him like that, that he had almost thrown away everything he and Quannie had built together.

But he knew that Quannie was right - they had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let some lowlife like Lamar come in and ruin it all.

Joshua was determined to be better, to be the man that Quannie deserved. He would never let his temper get the best of him again, never let anyone disrespect or threaten the woman he loved more than anything.

From now on, he would keep his cool, stay focused on the life they were building together, and never let anything or anyone come between them.

As they pulled into their driveway, Joshua reached over and pulled Quannie into a tight embrace. "I love you, Quannie. More than anything. And I promise, I'm going to be the man you need me to be. We're in this together, forever. Nothing's gonna tear us apart, you hear me?"

Quannie nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I hear you, Josh. And I'm with you, no matter what. We're unstoppable, you and me."

Joshua felt a surge of pride and determination wash over him. With Quannie by his side, he knew he could conquer anything.

They were a force to be reckoned with, and no one was going to stand in their way.

He was going to be the best man he could be, for Quannie, their children, and their future.

Nothing was going to stop them from building the life they deserved, together.