Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70429 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“Who the fuck are you? How long you been knowin’ Gio? Where y’all meet at?”
“Baby, all you need to know is that I like your shower curtains. Lovely shade of purple. Well made, too. Now, instead of giving me a survey, you need to get your mind right and handle him.”
“Hol’ up! Don’t put this off on just him. As a woman, you should know better!” The lady marched up to her, finger wagging. She went on and on about how she and Gio lived together, had been together for three years, and so on and so forth. “And I’m tired of you bitches always comin’ after men that you know got a woman! Get yo’ own shit!”
“Are you done, because I got shit to do.” Azure shrugged, then checked her cuticles. “Your problem is behind door number 8C, not me.”
“Bitch! Did you fuck my man? Yes or no?!”
Azure rolled her eyes. “What do you think? We weren’t in there playing chess!”
The woman raised her arm to swing and Azure caught it. She squeezed the lady’s wrist, bringing pain. The woman let out a low groan.
“Let that be the last time you raise your hand to someone that ain’t do you no wrong.”
But then her heart dropped when the lady’s eyes glossed over with moisture. She slowly released her grip, and the woman stood there crying, massaging her sore arm. She backed up against the apartment corridor wall, looking utterly defeated.
“I will beat your ass if you try me again. Now look, baby. We’ve all been there.” She drew closer so they were face to face. “I understand your pain. Honey, regardless, you’re takin’ this shit out on the wrong person. I didn’t make no commitments to you. He did. As a woman, a real woman, my only job is to rest in my femininity, be good to mankind until mankind ain’t good to me. I would never fuck another woman’s man off the grip, but let me hip you to somethin’.” Her eyes narrowed as she pointed her black-painted nail in the lady’s direction. “You’ve been down this street before, so don’t pretend like I’m the only bump in the road…”
A tear fell from the woman’s eye. And then another.
She snatched the woman’s hand, intertwined their fingers, and began walking back towards the apartment.
“What you doin’?”
“I’m doing what needs to be done. Stop cryin’. What’s your name, queen?”
The woman sniffed. “Delilah.”
“Delilah, I’m Azure. I’ve been seeing Gio for about two months. He ain’t said shit about you to me. Ever. Period.”
They reached the door.
“What are you waitin’ on? Put your damn key in there, and let’s go in,” Azure directed.
Delilah placed her key in the lock, her hand trembling, and the door cracked open. The sounds of ‘Just Friends,’ from Musiq, played inside. She could hear shower water, and the bastard humming and singing to the tune, just as happy as his cheating ass wanted to be.
“I’mma kill him!” Delilah screamed.
“Shhh! No, you ain’t. You ain’t about to catch no case over some dusty ass nigga who don’t respect himself, let alone you. He’s a dime a dozen. Hell, cheaper than that, even during this time of inflation. You just happen to love this nickel, so you mistook him for more than he’s worth. Let’s go on in there and pay him a visit.”
Moments later, with Azure heading the charge, they burst into the bathroom. Gio whipped around, eyes big as her fists as she balled them at her sides.
“Delilah! What you doin’ home from work? You ’sposed to be at work.” His eyes shot between the two of them, over and over as though he was watching a tennis match. “Who is that wit’ you?! You can’t be bringin’ strangers up in the bathroom like this!”
“…Oh my Lord…” Azure burst out laughing and shook her head. “You did not just try the ol’ she a stranger routine.”
“MOTHAFUCKA!!! YOU LYIN’, TWO-FACED, PIECE OF SHIT! YOU DIRTY DICK MOTHAFUCKA!!!” Delilah began screaming as she started to pound the bastard with her hands and threw in a few brutal kicks, too. “I knew you was cheatin’ on me! That’s why I came home early! Your phone was going straight to voicemail! I fucking hate you, Gio!”
“AHHHH! D, stop!!!”
“Naw! Nuh uh! Slow down!” Azure grabbed the lady from behind and held her.
Now all three of them were wet from the shower water that kept bursting from the socket. Delilah lunged at the man, popping her neck, eyes strained. Trying to get back at him. She was like a snapping turtle on a rampage. An enraged animal—rabies was in her blood and she wanted to kill at will.
“Delilah! You’re about to go to jail! STOP IT! He ain’t worth it!” She held the woman tighter, but she was a wiggly one. Strong with hurt and adrenaline.