Affinity

Chapter 42: Even If I Walk This Path Alone

" This motherfucker would pick the day of ya graduation for this shit." Jaz continued running the flat iron through my hair as I sat in between her knees, returning to the days when having Jaz do my hair meant a special occasion was upon us and our mother had long tired from fighting with us to achieve our desired styles.

" I'm not bout to stress about it." I fidgeted in her grip as the flat iron rested a little to closely to my scalp, causing a shiver to run up my spine.

" Of course you not, all I know is you better be on time for ya own graduation little girl." Jaz admonished me swiftly as she turned my head so that she could make the correct part, snaking the rat tailed combed through my tresses to create the perfect line she was working so hard to achieve.

" I'll be there, worked too hard for this shit." Jaz smoothed edge gel on my hairline and swooped the hairs down with a tiny brush.

" I know, now go get our brother and be on ya way. Oh, and stop ignoring Rah, he ain't do nothing to you lil girl." She was referring to my slight standoffish nature towards Rah since the grand opening. It wasn't intentional, just a byproduct of the shit that'd happened and the fact that that hoe who messed everything up, was an extension of his past life.

" I'm trying."

" Try harder. Go put ya dress on, you not gon have time later. Oh, and don't forget ya cap!" She inspected my hair once more before easing up and attempting to pull me up along with her.

" Put ya damn hand away, you not bout to blame me for making her come out quicker." I rested my hand over my sister's stomach, feeling my niece kick sent the most genuine smile across my face. I grabbed the dress from it's place on the bed and quickly slipped out of the sweats I had on. I smiled subtly as I slipped the dress on and remembered my sister had put enough thought into my outfit to make sure it fit me like a glove.

" You gon be pregnant next, you keep walking around looking like that, Rah not stupid." I chuckled in response to her silly ass statement as I admired myself in the mirror, I looked damn good.

" You hear me Ab, I'm dead ass. I see marriages, and baby carriages in your oh so very near future." And with a final smirk Jaz left out the room leaving me to ponder the events of the day.

The board meeting was originally slated for two days prior, as was relayed to me by another process server delivery to my bookstore. It only gave me a mild reprieve that the motherfucker didn't know where I lived yet, or at least I didn't think he did. But last night Jay had called me to tell me Hakim had reached out to him, demanding that the meeting was moved to today, only mere hours before my graduation. I thought about not going at all and worrying about the consequences later, but I couldn't do that in good conscience. No matter where the money and resources had come from, I worked hard for my businesses, and the income they would bring my family and I. I would not allow my eldest brother's attention seeking ass to pull the rug out from under me.

" Knock, knock." I knew without turning around that it was Rah in the doorway. I also knew, as I stood with my back to him, that his eyes were roaming my backside in appreciation and acknowledgement of the fact that I was his woman; it was the same thought I shared every time I looked at him.

" I know you not knocking in ya own house." I slid on earrings and bracelets as I heard his footfalls near, anticipation building up inside of me as if I hadn't known this man for years now.

" You look gorgeous Ab, fucking beautiful mamas." It was hard not to succumb to his every will and demand when he bit his lip like that at me, the rosy flesh pulling between the whiteness of his teeth in wanting.

" Thanks baby." As his arms snaked around my waist I felt the apprehension from the past week between us fade away; I'd let petty feelings get in the way of a man who'd never left my side, it was time to grow up.

" I know it's a lost cause to ask you not to go, but I wouldn't be doing my job as ya man if I didn't continue to voice my distrust towards this whole situation and tell you not to." His lips brushed against the sensitive skin of my neck, causing goosebumps to appear under the guise of his breath. I sighed slowly and tightened my grip around his frame, willing the transformation of us becoming one to occur through osmosis or some shit, at this instant so that he would know why I couldn't do what he was suggesting. I wanted him to be able to feel the pit in my stomach that was telling me I couldn't roll over and let Hakim have his way for nothing, the nagging in my heart that told me I had to take my stand now or forever live under the parameters my eldest brother set for me.

" Just know I gotta do this, and when it's done, it's done." Rah pulled back from me and looked at me with hurt woven in his features and a sliver of anger accompanying it, all problems I couldn't fix at the moment.

" I need you to trust me Rah, ima come home okay? Ima get my businesses, walk across that stage, and we gon come home together, all in one piece."

" Ima hold you to that. Jay ready when you are babe, don't forget ya necklace neither." He drew closer once more, his lips a welcome stain to my forehead as he pointed to my Travis necklace that lay on the dresser behind me. I waited until he closed the door behind him before heeding his word and pulling my favorite piece of jewelry around my neck; he was another reason I couldn't steer from my path now, his life was on me now and I had plans for us for sure. 

I know it took me so long to update.........but there will be another update soon

Any thoughts?