Exotica

Good Enough

♡Amini Howard♡

I sigh and lean back against the leather couch; Quinten sat to the left of me with a notepad on his lap and a pen in his hand. We were doing an exercise that involved me having some type of flashback.

I've seen this done before but only on television. I never paid it any mind nor did I think that it actually worked until I saw the movie The Butterfly Effect. The guy would have these crazy flashbacks and horrible nose bleeds that looked beyond painful.

It was evident to see that I was nervous, Quinten could tell just by my facial expression but, he said that fear was just an illusion therefore I had nothing to worry about.

"Whenever you're ready Miss Howard." his soothing voice says. I let out a breath and close my eyes, relaxing my mind and body.

When the car stops, he removes the keys from the ignition, placing them on his lap before looking in ny direction.

"Welp, we're here cuzzo." My eyes scan the apartment complex I haven't seen in the past two years. Once I meet his gaze he sends me a warming smile.

"Thank you." I mumble.

"How many times have you said that in the past hour? We family, you don't have to thank me for things like this." he assures me. Despite that, I still felt like I needed to thank him for taking time out of his day to pick me up from the correctional facility that was an hour and a half from him.

"But I do have to; you didn't have to do this Jabari."

"Are you sure you don't want to crash at my place until you get back on your feet?" He asks, changing the subject.

I shake my head no and run my fingers through my hair. "I'm not trying to be a burden or anything like that." I appreciated the kind offer but it felt like he was giving me some type of pity party, one I wasn't okay with. I didn't depend on anyone but myself and after being behind bars for two years I learned to just fend for myself instead of accepting handouts.

"Well what about staying at your parents house. It makes no sense to go back to a nigga who was the reason behind your jail sentence." I cut my eyes at him and he instantly puts his hands up in defense.

"You know me Amini, I don't say shit unless it's true, I also don't sugar coat anything either. You'll look like an absolute fool if you go back to his ass and don't tell me anything about that ride or die shit. It's outdated, has been for a cool as minute."

"Thanks for the pep talk cuz' it made me feel a hundred percent better about myself."

"There's no need for sarcasm. You said you wanted to start fresh right? Well getting back with Eric is just you taking ten steps back, I know that love can be blind but come on Amini, you're smarter than that."

"I have no one else but him Jabari. You already know how my parents are so I'll be damned if I go live with them!"

"Stay with me then." I lick over my lips and stare at him, debating whether or not I should accept his offer. He did have a point, it would be dumb for me to get back into a cycle I promised I'd never be in again.