Merc 🤎🐻
As Aries and I released each other, she said, “Neo, I didn’t mean to intrude… oh. She’s gone.”
I looked where Neo had been sitting then toward the hallway. “She probably just went to the room.”
Tell her I didn’t mean to take up too much of your time. And thank you again, Merc, for everything. You’re truly a great guy. I hope she knows what she has in you.”
“She does,” was what I said, and I hoped that was the truth.
After Aries left, I went to my bedroom, and Neo was there. She was seated on the sofa with her head buried in her phone.
“You didn’t have to leave,” I told her as I walked in her direction.
When she looked up but avoided my eyes, I knew something was wrong.
“I can’t do this, baby,” she whispered.
“Do what?” I asked, sitting next to her.
“This.” She pointed between us. “I know you said there’s nothing between y’all, and I believe that, I really do. I’ve seen how great of a man you are for myself, and I know you can take care of her and the new baby and it not be a romantic gesture for you.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Nibbling her bottom lip, she scooted to the side to face me fully. “All I’ll be thinking about is what Steven did and how you being so good to her can make her fall in love with you. And I know that hasn’t happened in the past, but things are different now. I’ve seen women fall in love with a man who was taking care of them and their children. That’s a natural reaction to the provision.”
“Even if her feelings for me did change, which they won’t, it won’t matter because I’m not in love with her. A baby she has with another nigga ain’t gon’ change that.”
“I know that in my mind,” she stressed, no longer able to hold back her tears. “But my heart doesn’t care about that logic. It’s just… too soon. I don’t want to punish you for what Steven did. I can’t bleed onto you because of a cut he caused. It won’t be fair for my paranoia to affect what you have going on with your family here. So I think it’ll be best if we stop this before it fully starts.”
“I appreciate and respect that, but no.”
Her brows wrinkled and head tilted as she slid her hand out of mine. “No?” Neo repeated.
“You a parrot now? I said no.”
“I didn’t ask you a yes or no question. I’m telling you we don’t need to see each other anymore.”
“And I’m telling you that ain’t gon’ happen.” With a chuckle, I stood and headed to the closet to undress. “I’on know what the fuck you think this is, but it ain’t that.”
“Mercury…”
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Merc (COMPLETED)
RomanceFor a man like Merc, his reputation has always preceded him. Known for his allegiance to the criminal underworld as a protector, the gangster only shows love to his family... and his son and the woman who birthed him are at the top of that list. Whe...
