MARCH
The thumpfrom the speakers matched my heartbeat. The pounding was so aggressive it felt like it might burst from my chest. While everyone around me seemed to be having a good time, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in my stomach. I reached for the tequila on the table, tilting the bottle to my lips. The cool liquid burned as it went down, but I kept drinking until the bottle was empty. I just wanted to forget how this nigga had me feeling.
“Bless you good?” My best friend Chanel asked, looking at me with concerned eyes.
“I’m straight girl. Fuck that nigga.” I huffed, rolling my eyes.
My fiancé, Seven, had been on bullshit all night, and I was over it. My chest ached thinking about the argument we had before I left the house. He wasn’t feeling me going to the clubtonight. I’ve been cooped up in the house for several months, and I needed a fucking break. In his mind, now that I’ve become a mother, I should just sit in the house and cater to our household. He had me fucked up if he thought I would ever go for that shit.
So, when my girls invited me out, I didn’t decline. I got up and threw on the tightest dress in my closet. The short red mini dress clung to me like a second skin. I’ve been thick my whole life, but giving birth to my daughter gave me my grown woman body.
Chanel grabbed my hand, pulling me up to dance. I threw my arms over her shoulder, swaying asFuture’s Like Thatflowed through the club. All irritation left my body as we danced through the next few songs.
The shots I’d taken throughout the night were starting to take effect. I hadn’t felt this free in so long. Being a mother, a fiancé, and a full-time physical therapist took up most of my time. Juggling my work and home life while still trying to have a social life had me drowning in stress, trying to avoid depression.
Seven spent most of his time running the streets with my older brother, Messiah. They flooded the streets of Oasis Cove with the purest drugs in the state. Being the sister and fiancé of the two biggest dope dealers in the city had its perks. I didn’t have to work, but I didn’t spend all that time getting my master’s degree in sports medicine for no reason.
“Bless look!” Chanel whispered into my ear, tapping my thigh. I looked up at the group of men passing our section. I felt my heart skip a beat as I locked eyes with Saint Simmons, the defensive lineman for the Oasis Cove Jaguars. He licked his thick, pink lips before nodding his head at me. I smiled, returning the gesture. That man knows he’s so damn fine. I’d been around him a few times throughout his career. I’m the first person Coach Charles calls when one of his players gets injured.
“Girl, close your damn mouth.” My homegirl, Natalie, said, snickering. I threw a hand up at her as I sat down, taking a sip of water. My feet were killing me. These black strappy heels were cute, but so fucking uncomfortable. I knew I’d spend the rest of the night sitting down, looking pretty. I flagged a waitress down and ordered another hookah for the section. I didn’t usually smoke hookah, but tonight I was determined to let loose.
Two bottle girls entered our section, waving sprinklers and dancing, while another girl entered carrying two bottles of Don Julio. I looked up at them, confused. We didn’t order any more bottles.
“Courtesy of Moo and his teammates.” The bottle girl said, setting the bottles down on the table before leaving. Moo is Saint’s nickname. It’s what everyone called him, even the fans.
“I’ll be back,” I said to my homegirls as I stood to leave the section. I unlocked my phone and noticed multiple missed calls and text messages from Seven. Instead of responding, I cleared my notifications and opened my camera to ensure my makeup and hair still looked good. Once I was done, I made my way out of the section.
Saint’s eyes landed on me as soon as I reached the entrance of their section. He nodded at security to let me in. I added an extra sway to my hips as I walked over to him.
“Wassup, gorgeous?”
“Thanks for the bottles, Moo. Me and my girls appreciate it.” I smirked, standing in front of him. I watched his eyes travel my body before locking on mine. The notes of his cologne evaded my nostrils. I fought back a moan, inhaling his scent. He smelled so fucking good.
“No problem, Bless. You know the team appreciates you. Hopefully, we don’t need to see you this season.” He responded with a chuckle.
I laughed, placing a hand on my hip. “Yeah, I hope so too. We need another ring this year.”
“Speaking of rings, I see the one on your finger.” He said, grabbing my hand, looking at the ring on my finger.
I rolled my eyes, and before I could respond, I felt a yank on my arm.
“What the fuck!” I hissed, spinning around, coming face to face with Seven. Of course, he showed up here. I couldn’t have one fucking night to myself.
“Let’s go.” He said through gritted teeth.
“You good, Blessing?” Saint asked, looking at me. I nodded, following Seven out of the section. I walked back into my section, snatching my YSL clutch from the table before saying goodbye to my girls. I stomped out of the section, heading straight for the entrance of the club, feeling my body heat up from anger.
“I don’t understand why you constantly choose to push my fucking buttons, Blessing. When I call that fucking phone, you answer. What if something was wrong with the baby? You too busy tryna be seen. Got your ass all out, standing in that nigga’s face. I should’ve blew his fucking brains out! I watched your stupid ass ignore my message before waddling yo’ trifling ass over there.” Seven shouted in my face.
I ignored him, staring ahead as the valet brought his car to the front. Everything he said went into one ear and out the other. I was over this relationship. No amount of love could make me continue to stay with an insecure ass nigga with trust issues. I had never given him a reason not to trust me; the same couldn’t be said about him.
I slid into the passenger side of his truck, kicked my heels off, and put my seat belt on before pulling my phone from my clutch. His presence sobered me up quickly; the buzz I had vanished. I couldn’t have one night to myself!
The tension in the air was thick. I looked over at Seven, watching as he gripped the steering wheel. His golden skin was flushed, and his jaw ticked. I could feel the anger radiating off him.
“It’s bitches out here begging to be in your spot. But you don’t respect me enough to sit in the house and be a fucking mother. I put that big ass rock on your finger, got you put up in that nice ass house, driving a brand-new fucking Benz, Blessing. Is that not enough for you?” He shouted as his hand flew across my face, causing my head to knock against the window.
“Make that the last time you put your fucking hands on me, Seven. If they want you so bad, they can have you. I’m done!” I screamed, feeling my eyes begin to water. I wanted my daughter to be raised in a two-parent household, but tonight was the last time this nigga was going to put his hands on me.