You Before Me [dave east]

| thirty nine

I walk into the kitchen seeing Dave sitting up on the counter as he eats off a plate. I don't know what he's eating but it's none of my business since I've been refusing to cook for him.

"Ay mama," Dave calls me as I start slicing up bananas for Maya. I roll my eyes, not answering. "You ain't even gotta speak to me but I'm just letting yo' ass know basketball season starting in a couple weeks so I'ma be gone for six months."

I roll my eyes. If it was one thing I hated about Dave's career, it's the most important part of it which is basketball season. He's gone for six months every year playing games across the country and the only time I really do see him is on his breaks or his home games.

"Whatever," I mumble.

"For real? How you gon' still be mad at me? I tried everything to make shit up to you."

It's true. Dave had taken me to dinner, bought me gifts, given me permission to check his phone whenever while always showing me his whereabouts. We're even trying marriage counselling with the bishop. He's done so much to try to restore my trust and to gain my forgiveness so we've now reached the point where I don't even know what I want from him apart from one thing.

"Who. Did. You. Fuck, David?" He stares at me as I add a few grapes to the plate. "If you can't give me an answer then you ain't getting shit from me, okay?"

"Baby how is that shit even important? All you gotta know is that I cheated and now I'm tryna fix shit. Ain't no point knowing who it was when that ain't gon' change nothing."

"It's important because you're not telling me! Why? Is it somebody I know?"

"Zo you trippin' bruh." He hops off the counter and leaves the kitchen.

I shake my head and walk into the living room, taking Maya out of her swing. I take her into her toy room and put her in her playpen before setting the plate of fruit down in front of her. I turn on the TV and call Alonzo down to watch her as I head back in the living room.

"Where you going?" I ask, seeing Dave ready to head out.

"My barber said he can't make it over here so he said I gotta meet him at the shop for my appointment. Gotta get my shit lined up."

I frown, crossing my arms suspiciously. "I look like a fool to you?"

"Mama I swear he said that shit. Damn, cut a nigga a break."

"No you ain't going no where. I can line you up myself right here." I shrug, looking at my nails. Dave isn't fooling anybody. Even if he is telling the truth, I don't care because his ass needs to learn how to stay home with his family.

"You know I don't trust nobody else with my shit. Fuck outta here."

I laugh. "You're lying to me. Who the bitch you 'bouta meet, huh? Cuz' I swear to God you don't wanna test me today David."

"Mama look the texts right here." He sucks his teeth and pulls out his phone, letting me read the messages for myself.

I roll my eyes and plop down on the couch. "Fine. Go." I say frowning.

Dave sighs and kisses my forehead before heading out. I follow him to the door and lean against the frame, watching him head out to his car. He gets in and drives away so I linger by the door a little longer before closing it behind me as I head for my car too.

I get in my car and start it up before heading out of the driveway. I was stepping out the crib looking way too comfy but I didn't care because this nigga ain't slick. I'm about to catch his ass.

I know exactly where Dave gets his cuts so I head in that direction and end up pulling up at a red light just a couple cars behind him. We drive straight to the barbershop and I pull up at the curb a little down the street so I'm not spotted.