Promises For Keeps

Chapter 1

I know I'm not suppose to be here. Damn it , why am I here?
"You want some Hen?"
He asks as he pours Hennessy into a glass cup.
"Uh sure."
Every time I say I'm done with this fool , I somehow find myself right back here. I told myself I wasn't going to come back but I've managed to lie to myself time after time. He's no good for me and I know that so why do I keep coming back here?
"You good? You been staring at the mantle piece for a while now."
I quickly come back to reality before replying , "Who me? Uh yeah I'm fine."
I wasn't fine.
"I thought I had lost you for a second there."
He says smirking and looking at me with those eyes that could light a fire.
"Oh no, I was just thinking about something."
"I'm talking about when you left the other day."
You should've. If only I could manage to say that aloud but instead I just swallow the lump that occurred in my throat. He makes his way over to me with two glasses of Hennessy in his hand. One in which he hands over to me before sitting.
"Why'd you leave?"
I scoff.
"Are you serious right now Julius? Why did I leave? You know why I left."
"You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that stupid question."
"Very stupid question."
I confirm before sipping some of the content in the glass.
"Nalani, I don't ever wanna lose you and you know that shit man."
Here we go again. I've heard this sob story so many times I could literally repeat everything he's about to say before he even says it.
"Not tonight , please. Let's just forget it happened okay?"
As we always do.
His phone begins to vibrate on the table in front of us and he picks it up before stepping out of the room to answer it. Eventually he steps back in and I couldn't help myself.
"Who was it?"
He hits the power button before looking up at me.
"Just one of the boys asking if I was going out tonight."
"So you had to step out to talk?"
"Man here you go."
"I'm just trying to get the clear picture here because I know all your boys so why did you have to step out to talk to him? This is exactly why I can't trust you because of small shit like that."
I place my glass on the table before getting up to go to the room with him hot on my trail.
"You really finna get mad over me walking out to talk on the phone? What the hell?"
"People walk out to talk on the phone for privacy. What did you need privacy to talk to him for?"
"See this is why we always get into it. You wanna go assuming some shit, like you said you don't trust me okay cool I get it but don't go around blaming me because you're paranoid. If anybody's to blame for why we always get to this point it's you. You and your overthinking ways."
"So this is my fault? Well, Isn't it always?"
I say sarcastically.
I make it to the room going over to my dresser to find my pjs.
Maybe he's right. Maybe I do overthink and he really was on the phone with one of his friends. Regardless to what , I will always have love for Julius. I mean this is the guy I've been with since high school, and the person who I've experienced everything with. We've been through so much together and most would look at it sideways because of how much shit we've come from , but I just see it as that we're really genuinely in love. I know some of the shit he does gets me on edge and the breaking up and getting back together thing is only doing more harm than good but he's my best friend. If anyone truly knows me and I mean truly, it's him. How could you rid of someone who just gets you even though a small part of you knows they're really no good for you?
"You gotta stop this shit Lani for real."
I pull out my silk pjs.
"Okay Julius. Maybe I am overthinking and I apologize. What can I say? Sometimes my anxiety gets the best of me."
He sits on the bed. Laying out my pjs I walk into the bathroom , not giving him time to respond.
I take a much needed hot shower almost forgetting I had to get out eventually. It just felt as though the hot water was washing away all my worries and stress but as soon as I step out I can feel all of them coming back like they never left. I guess some things don't go away that easy. I could hear my phone begin to ring in the bedroom then stop followed by Julius's voice.
"Hello? Yeah she in the shower,who this?"
I grab my towel and wrapped it around my body before walking out but he had already ended the call.
"Who was it?"
"They said Tara."
"Okay, what'd she say?"
"Who is Tara?"
He asks sternly.
"A friend."
I try to grab my phone from his hand but he moved it out of reach.
"I really don't wanna play right now Julius. Give my phone."
"You mean the phone I bought? With my money?"
"Don't do that."
"Whose Tara?"
"A friend! I just told you that. What do you want me to say? She's a friend."
"I thought we went over this Lani, did we not? You don't have friends. These people in this world don't give a damn about you. They don't want to be your friend and they damn sure don't wanna see you happy. A friend. The only friend you have is me and you know that. We look out for each other and we never needed anyone else. So therefore..."
He goes to my contact and deletes Tara's number.
"Why are you doing this?"
I ask with tears in my eyes. I hate when he gets like this. This is the side I wish I could get rid of while keeping the other one I love so much.
"Why am I doing what? Protecting you? Us? Maybe because that's what we need. Protecting."
"Not everyone's bad Julius—"
"You don't get to say that. You're just like a little puppy running around begging for people to love you. You think that's cute or something? You know you look kinda weak doing that."
"Whatever Julius. I don't have to hear this bull from you."
I grab my phone viciously from his grasp then proceed to put on my pjs.
"One day you gone listen to me."
He continued but I wasn't listening. I just wanted him to stop talking and by luck he walks out the room but it wasn't that much later when I heard other male voices. Its damn near 12 o'clock midnight. I walk out the room towards the living room area.
"So yal didn't go to the club? Why not?"
I hear Julius ask.
"Man, Andrew and his boys were gone be there and seeing how we rivals and shit we refuse to be in the same club as those mother fuckers."
"So yal gone bring the club here? Ionn think Lani gone like this shit."
"Like what?"
I ask as I make my presence known.
Everybody looks my way and I see the company was his friends and some chicks I'm assuming they brought with them.
"Oh shit ain't even know she was back already."
Donny one of the guys says bringing about an awkward silence.
"Julius you know it's 12 o'clock, right?"
"And you do know I'm a grown man and this is my house, right?"
"All I'm saying is—."
"Nothing. You're not saying nothing. This is my company my house. If you don't like it or wanna join then go back to the room. Don't come out here like you run some shit because you don't. We clear?"
He picks up a fresh glass of Hennessy and takes a sip.
"Is that another glass of Hennessy?"
I ask knowing it was. His alcohol habits were one of the main problems in our relationship that's when his behavior is times ten.
"Bye Lani."
He says waving me off. I refuse to stay here while he let these hoodlums have any and whoever over. I go into the room , going straight to the closet for my overnight bag and begin to pack a few things. Putting on some sweats over my pj shorts , I pull my hair into a high pony and throw on my retros. Sometimes I wish my mama was here to guide me in the right direction because it's like I'm all alone out here. Closing my bag and placing the strap on my shoulder I walk out the room towards the door in which I had to go through the living room.
"Hold up! aye! Where you going man?"
I here Julius say to me.
"Ima stay at a hotel tonight. I refuse to sleep in this house with all this noise. I'll see you in the morning."
"Lani!"
I open the door and walk out. I walk up to my car feeling around for my keys.
"Shit." I say under my breath knowing I left them inside. I'm not going back in there that's for sure. I know he's gonna try to convince me to stay and I don't have time for it, I just need to be alone for the night.
I begin walking down the street of New York. This time of night is never a good time to be out alone but I'll take the risk. Prostitutes maneuvered past me as I made my way to the nearest hotel.
I could see a group of guys ahead and my heart speeds up. Anything can happen in New York and the last thing I need added to my already shitty night is somebody trying to rob or kidnap me.
"Aye girl whatchu doing out here so late?"
One of them asks looking me over.
I ignore him and proceed to walk past them but he decides to stand in my way and give me a hard time.
"Can you please move?"
"I asked you a question or do I need to force it out ya."
He says grabbing me by my waist and pulling me to him.
"Look, I'm just trying to get home is all. Just let me go."
"What if I don't want to?"
He asks getting in my face, the smell of his breath making me weak to my stomach.
"Aye man let her go!"
I didn't see the car pull up but someone inside a silver Mercedes G Wagon , yells out to the guy.
"Who the fuck is you?"
"You wanna find out?" The masculine voice asks back.
The guy let's me go and walks a couple of feet to the car before holding up his hands and backing away.
"Aye man it ain't even that serious."
"Maybe you should let that be known to her by apologizing."
I pull the strap of my bag up a little on my shoulder.
"My bad lil mama."
He apologizes before walking over to his boys.
I try to make out who the guy was in the car from where I was standing but it was way too dark.
"You need a ride?"
"I'm sorry but I don't take rides from strangers," I acknowledge, "thanks for helping me though."
"Strangers? I'll say we're a little bit further away from that stage seeing how as though I just practically saved your life."
"I mean I can't even see your face, and where I'm from that would kind of be considered rude."
And with that the car light comes on inside and i can say I wasn't unimpressed. In fact, I was very impressed he was by far the most handsome guy I've seen. I didn't think it could get any better than Julius here in New York but I guess I was wrong.
"So how about that ride?"
"I'm fine, really."
I plead smiling nervously.
"I'm not driving off until you're in this passenger seat beside me so either you can get in or ima trail you to wherever you going."
"That's some stalker type of stuff right there, don't you think?"
"Call it what you want, but these streets ain't safe at this time of night baby girl. I'm just trying to get you to where you going safely."
I look back at the group of guys who were trying to slyly look towards my way as if they were waiting for him to leave.
"I'm going to the nearest hotel okay?"
"The nearest hotel. Gotcha."
"Promise you're going to take me straight there?"
"Promise?"
"Yes. I don't care if you're a stranger nobody's heartless enough to break a promise."
"And you believe that."
"Eh, what can I say? I'm the cliche type."
I say shrugging my shoulders.
"Aight I promise. Now can you get yo ass in this truck?"
Without thinking of all the things that could possibly go wrong with this situation, I hesitantly walk to the Benz wagon and slide into the passenger seat.