by Xyla Turner
"Uh," Vita muttered.
"Clearly you don't know me but you will." He dipped into her back pocket, pressed some buttons on her phone and said, "The name's Swag. When you ready to talk and not fuck around, call me."
"What makes you think I'd call you?" she snapped back.
"I don't, but if you do, I’ll know you're serious and done with your games." He nipped her ear. "Plus, your curiosity is peaked and I got just the thing to settle that."
Swag pulled back with that goateed smirk still in place.
Vita snatched her phone back from him and muttered, "Whatever."
Her boots stomping away from him could be heard outside. My shoulders lifted when Swag caught my eye and I followed her back to the ladies.
“Y’all alright?” Phoebe asked.
“Yup, just peachy.” Vita laughed.
Shay eyed me with the, ‘told ya so’ look and Kylie kept the smile on her face.
“Where’s Dessy?” I finally noticed we were missing someone.
“Working. She said she wasn't missing out on these tips. That about pissed Bear all the way off, so he's standing guard near the bar.” Shay pointed. “That man is going to blow a gasket trying to keep up with her.”
“Such an unlikely pair,” I mused.
“Actually, she's into that lifestyle and he was low-key looking for someone. Well, that's what I heard.”
We all turned to look at Kylie.
“Care to dance?” A tall guy with a baby blue button-up shirt, crisp jeans and boots tapped me on the shoulder.
“Oh, uh...” I didn't finish.
“Yeah, she’ll dance,” Shay yelled.
“Come on,” he smiled. “One dance.”
“Alright.” I rolled my eyes at Shay.
We twirled around to the upbeat song a few times and surprisingly enough, the man knew his moves. He handled me with grace and strength, which made him a tad bit more attractive.
The song changed and he was about to say something but Connor cut in and asked for a dance.
“Sure, pal.” The guy nodded.
Uh, well. That sort of sucked.
“You look beautiful.” Connor grabbed my hands.
“You said that already,” I retorted.
His head pulled back as another upbeat song started to play.
“Something wrong?” he asked.
“Nope.” I kept moving and avoiding eye contact with him.
It was juvenile and childish so I talked myself in to trying to act like more of an adult. If he could buckle down and man up, then I could too.
“Are you enjoying tonight?” I asked with a smile.
“Yeah, I guess.” He nodded as he swung me around. “Now I am.”
“Vita, my friend from work, sorta got into with Swag.” I laughed.
“Hmm, don't strike me as the type to play those sort of games,” Connor noted.
“Yeah, that's what Shay told her.” I laughed. “He got her good though. She's going to call him but then again, maybe not.”
That woman could be just as stubborn.
“So, Goliath? He’s solid?” I asked.
Connor looked at me and said, “That's what you want to talk about? Why don't you tell me what's bothering you?”
I laughed.
“Nothing is bothering me. I mean, why does something have to be bothering me?”
I stopped moving and so did he.
“Want to have this rodeo here?” He was getting upset.
“Actually, no. I've had my share of rodeos with you before!”
And on que, someone tapped me and asked me to dance.
“Hell, yes.” I slapped the stranger’s hand with mine and we danced for another few songs.
After a while, I got thirsty and went over to the bar to chat up Dessy and get a drink.
“You missed it,” I whispered.
“What?” She leaned over the bar.
“Vita, my friend from work got into it with Swag.” I was still laughing about that.
“Vita, that friend from work?” She pointed.
Oh God.
Rihanna's song, Work, was playing and Vita was in the middle of the floor shaking her ass to the beat and damn, she was good.
“Shit, tell her to teach me how to do that!” Dessy laughed.
My head swiveled to Swag who was leaning against the bar, with a toothpick in his mouth, eyes on her and seemingly enjoying the show. If it wasn't for the pulsing vein in his neck, I wouldn't have known any different but I knew well-contained rage. I’d had plenty of it.
“Yo, I miss all the good stuff.” Dessy kept looking.
Some bold man decided to dance with Vita and she backed up on him while twirling her hips and he nearly buckled. His hands grabbed her hips and the woman had the nerve to turn towards Swag, staring him dead in the eye as she continued to move around on the guy.
“Oh shit,” Dessy muttered.
Swag pushed off the bar and headed to the dance floor. Vita quickly pushed the other guy away and immediately started to dance around Swag. He didn't look like he was happy but when she came back to his front, held on to his neck and shimmied her ass around his crouch. Those eyebrows went back into place.
One of the guys yelled, “Go Pres.”
He shook his head and Vita worked it on him until he pressed his hand in her stomach and pulled her against his body.
It wasn't clear what was being whispered but they were in their own world. As the song finished, she turned around to face him, smiled and almost walked off but Swag was having none of that.
That girl would learn. He was a Guardian. Those men did not play that shit.
He pulled her back against him, placed one hand on her ass and squeezed. Some words were exchanged but she went out the front door with him.
Dessy laughed and said, “Let me go get these drinks. Y’all are some entertaining folks.”
“Alright.” I grabbed my drink and headed back to the girls.
“I'm about to retire. Me and the little one are tired.” Kylie waddled over to me.
“Okay, girl,” Shay said. “Be safe.”
“Can Razor leave?” Phoebe asked.
“When this one leaves, so does he,” Shay replied.
“Gotcha.” Phoebe nodded.
“Let me check on Vita cause I'm about to retire myself," I informed the group.
"Really, y'all are party poopers," Phoebe whined.
"I'm staying. Don't worry, we'll have fun," Shay smiled.
I kissed everyone and made my way to the front. The trucks, bikes and cars were lined up on the outside but Vita was nowhere to be found. Until I heard a raised voice.
"What do you mean, your place or mine?" Vita snapped. "I'm no biker groupie. Told you that."
"Listen, suga. I'm not here to argue semantics. You dry humping guys over there and looking at me like you want it. Here I am. You want it or are you still playing?" Swag asked.
Nothing was said for a minute and then Vita said, "Look, Swag. No games and no funny shit. I saw you, liked your style but that whole biker groupie comment was a turn off. So, no. I guess I don't want it."
"Lies," he countered. "You just don't want to admit that I beat you at your own game. You come sashaying your ass in my face, dressed like that, and you expect me to think you're something different." He paused. "Give me a fucking break. I was born at night, but not last night."
"Well, Swag. I won't give you a break, my pussy, these lips or suck that dick on any night," Vita clarified and started to walk off.
"Vita," I called her while waving near the door.
He was close behind her but not in a hurry.
"Hey," she waved back. “You ready to go. I need to get the fuck outta here. You said Manor had good guys. Ugh." She huffed.
"They are good guys, for the most part. A little rough around the edges." I tried to defend them.
"Rough?" She shook her head. "The man just called me a whore. I'll say."
I laughed out loud and sai
d, "Sorry, your night was a bust."
"Not a bust, I have a number I'll never use, got to do my Rihanna dance that I only practice in the mirror and met some cool chicas." She laughed as we walked to our cars.
"Okay, Vita." I waved. "Be safe."
"Alright, lady. I'll see you at work on Monday." Vita waved back.
"You work with her?" The deep voice said as I went to get in my car.
I turned to see Swag leaning against a car across from mine.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Fuck." He shook his head. "Do I want to know more about her?"
"Well, it depends." I laughed. "Do you want to kick yourself now or meet up with her later after a few apologies?"
His laugh was thick and hearty. A good laugh.
"Both," he managed to say.
"Her name is Vita. She's a senior engineer at my job, going for the VP position and this is her first time going out in about four years." I cringed as Swag put his head down and contemplated his feet. "I probably shouldn't add that she has her shit together; her own house, car, and property."
"Fuck me." He shook his head. "Sad thing is when you're so used to the wrong thing, when the right thing finally comes to you, can't even see that shit for what it is. Keep saying I want to settle down and clearly of all the fucking women, I push the good one away."
"Well, maybe all hope isn't lost. You know." I shrugged. "In the six months that I've worked with her, she's always been fair."
Swag shook his head and muttered, "Fucked up."
"How about this? I'll give you her number and you see if you can right the wrong." I pulled out my phone and searched for her name. "Ready?"
When I looked up, he was eyeing me with closed brows and a curious glint. "You and Apollo ever get y'alls shit together?"
"What?" I coughed. "Me and Apollo?"
"Yeah, I heard you left and now you're back. He already warned everyone off of you, so I'm wondering if you and him ever fixed what was broken."
"He did what?" I gasped. "I, uh..."
It was my turn for my head to shake.
"I'll take that as a no." Swag raised his hand. "I just thought it was a kind thing for you to do and wondered if he had fixed the shit he fucked up, since you were talking about second chances and all."
Dammit.
"Hmm, maybe those aren't for me." I showed him my phone so he could copy the number.
"You're too young to be this cynical. Believe me, if Apollo is warning my guys off of you, he's trying to make it right. I've known him a bit and he's a complicated dude. However, when Razor needs something done, Apollo is his guy because not only is he loyal but he won't stop until it's done. No matter what that shit is." Swag copied the number. "Thanks Lori. I hope to see you around."
"Yeah, have a good night." I opened my car door and drove home.
I did not wait up to hear his motorcycle come home nor did I cry because he did not come home by three in the morning.
That would have been stalker-ish. If I'd fallen back into that cycle, it was time for me to make some more changes.
11 - Mending Hearts
APOLLO:
The plan wasn't even complete yet and already something went wrong and I hadn’t the faintest idea. Lori seemed to be over the kissing thing at her house with the boots, which I shouldn't have bought in the first place but seeing her face and the way she hugged them to her chest. I wanted to buy a pair every single week.
That small lapse in judgement, coming over to her house at night wasn't good because we were starting from scratch and at the same time, I just wanted to see her face light up. I kept my distance but fully expected to spend some time with her at the party. How that got fucked up, I had not a clue. When we’d spoken she seemed fine and was informing me about Shay's party.
Retracing my steps mentally, I had gone back over to the guys and hung out for a few.
Donna showed up because Razor tapped me and muttered, "Here comes trouble."
She’d said she missed me, was upset that I had gotten another nurse and that she thought she meant more to me. Of course, she did all of that with her hands all over me.
That had to be it.
I told her I was unavailable and attached. She guessed that it was the short-haired gal and I didn't confirm or deny that but she went about her way. That was when I saw Lori dancing with some guy and went to cut in. She was cold and aloof; then she tried to be chatty.
Fuck.
I stayed at the compound that night because I could have seriously hurt something and the way my skin was flushed, nerves were shot and heart was aching, I would have gone to jail. The next morning though, I was pounding on her door at eight in the morning.
I couldn't sleep, so I stopped by the nearest coffee place, grabbed a couple of cups of Joe and went to wake her ass up.
"Open up." I kept banging and after ten minutes, the door cracked open.
"What?" she croaked.
"Let me in." I stepped closer.
"It's eight in the morning, I'm tired and don't want any company," she uttered in a husky voice.
"Lori, you got one chance to open this fucking door or I'm kicking it in." I kept trying to calm myself down but I was livid.
"Okay, okay," she said as she pulled it open. "What's the emergency?"
Pushing the coffee towards her, I walked into the living room and said, "Sit and we're going to talk. I've tried to do this your way. I've tried to do it alternate ways but I keep missing something. I'm done." I glared at her. "Sit your ass down and talk."
Surprisingly, she sat down, took a sip of coffee and looked at me with wide eyes.
"Why are you upset with me?" I asked. "Tell me the truth, Lori. I'm not in the mood to guess."
"You come barging in my house and tell me what you're not in the mood for?" she snapped back.
"Lori, what are you upset with me about?" I repeated slowly since my patience was hanging by a thread.
"Why do I need a reason?" she replied and I fucking lost it.
"Fuck!" I roared. "I'm so sick of this shit. Another man touches you and it drives me insane. I wanted to rip his fucking hands off. I don't want another man looking at you or thinking he has a chance at what's mine. That's why I spend my free time with you. That's why we're doing this whole thing because I wanted you to know me. I wanted to get to know Lori but if you're not honest with me, how can I ever know you? Me, of all people, you should be honest with."
Lori put down her coffee and her reddish coloring could have been from the hot coffee or her temper but I was not ready for her to unleash like she did.
"You of all people?" she screamed. "You single handedly annihilated my life with less than three sentences and you want me to share something with you! Ha! You're rich. Shit, that's just rich."
"No. No. You don't get to do that. You don't get to blame me for the shit storm that led down that path. I was wrong. I have apologized and tried to make amends over and over again. You won't let it go and it keeps being the thing that keeps us apart." I tried to reason with her.
This time, she shattered me.
The woman I’d completely fallen in love with, screamed with tears running down her beautiful but broken face, "You broke my fucking heart, Apollo!”
I didn't know whether to run away or to her.
"You broke my heart into little tiny pieces and you want me to get over that. You want me to put myself back together again and jump on the fucking wall again. I put myself out there before and fell and had to piece my life back. Now you think you know what you want and you want me to go back up that wall and wonder why I won't just blindly go. I'm not the insane one." Lori was literally screaming at me. "You move across the street and I stay up all night wondering if you've gone with that bimbo and why you haven't come home. Then I realize, I am displaying the same tendencies from before. Once again worrying about Connor Locklear and he doesn’t give two shits about me, my feelings or thoughts."
She nodded her head. "Yeah, you need to go
."
"Are you shitting me?" I stood, holding my head. "I love you, woman. LOVE YOU! I'm not asking you to go back up there alone and take a plunge. I'm asking you to join me because I'm already there. Fucking heart has been aching all night and I've been working overtime to make you see me. The real me, not the inflated, infatuated me but the ‘me’ that loves you. That you're not in this alone and sweetness, I'm not going no goddamn where. You can't make me. You hear?" I stood up and moved towards her. "I'll follow you. I'll do the thirty-day program but I'll be back at your door. You can yell to the rooftop at Peppers that you hate me and that we'll never be but I will fight for us Lori, because I know what we can be together."
My voice broke slightly.
"I know you're mine. Ain't lived till I got to know you. Ain't done shit till the possibility of you in my life formed. So, do what you got to do but there ain't nothing that will convince me – you don't love me. I know you do. I feel it. Felt it before and mishandled that shit. You were too close but now, I'm fighting for us."
Lori's eyes were focused on the floor and her bottom lip was quivering when she muttered, "I don't love you."
"Lies." I cupped her face. "Tell me the real truth."
She looked up at me and tried to say it but her mouth just quivered and the tears flowed down her reddish-colored face. Her fingers gripped my shirt as she pulled me closer to her.
Her eyes looked up to me and she continued to cry. "Tell me this is real. I can't go through it again. I swear to God, I can't. My dream of being with Apollo died that night."
"I know, sweetness," I muttered as I held her chin up. "You'll never go through that again. Not on my watch. It's no dream Lori, and I swear to God, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Till the day I die, I’ll promise you that."
Lori's grip loosened on my shirt and she threw her arms around me as the tears continued to spill. In turn, I enveloped her in my embrace so she could do whatever she wanted as long as it took place right there.
After a while, Lori stopped crying so I loosened my grip a bit.
“Tell me, Lori,” I whispered as my forehead connected with hers.
Those tear-stained eyes rose to look at me, then she said what I was wanting to hear for a lifetime.
