CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Amelia

“You call six months fast?”

 

Amelia couldn’t get the last time she saw Ryan off her mind although he not so much as reached out to her since. But something in the way that he looked at her with hate told her that he would be by very soon to call upon her. And the fear alone had her craving crack again.

Just one hit, she told herself one night when she was lying in her room alone thinking about her life. If I do it one time I’m strong enough to pull myself off. Things are different now. I’m not like other addicts.

She was about to call a cab and make her way to a crack house when her phone rang. She looked down at it and smiled realizing that God worked in mysterious ways and sent Wyld.

She decided against buying it.

And then another kind of fear set in. If Wyld were the only person keeping her clean what would she do if he were not in her life anymore?

She just dropped the macaroni from the box into the pot when Wyld walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder. “Uh…what’s that’s supposed to be?” He frowned.

She giggled, already feeling foolishness coming on from him. “You know what it is, stop playing, boy.”

“Nah, I’m serious,” he said kissing her on the cheek. “What you making?”

“Mac and cheese, Wyld.” She raised a blue Kraft box in the air and sat it back on the counter. “And I got some baked chicken in the oven and I’m warming some spinach from the can.”

He stared at her hard. “E.M. would roll over if she saw this half ass cooking.”

“It’s good.”

“Basically you’re saying that you can’t cook. Basically that’s what you telling me right?”

“But I am cooking.”

He shook his head. “It’s a good thing you fine as hell because you wouldn't be getting these.” He dropped a set of keys on the counter and smacked her ass.

Amelia turned the eye down on the stove and picked up a key ring with a royal blue bow tied on it. Two keys were on the tiny silver hook and she grinned widely. One she recognized belonging to a car but the other she was unsure of what it opened. “What’s this for?”

“You don’t know what keys are for?” He said playfully. “You unlock stuff and—”

She giggled and hit him on the arm. “I know what keys are for but I don’t know what they go to.”

“One is for my house and the other is for a little something I picked up for you today. It’s sitting in the driveway.” He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, staring into her eyes. “I want you here with me, Amelia.” He grew serious. “For the long term. And I’m tired of you having to catch the bus or cab to get here.”

“But I…you…I…”

“You deserve this, bae. I ran your name through the streets and you know what came back?”

Amelia’s belly bubbled and she felt herself about to fart upon hearing the news. Luckily she was able to squeeze her cheeks together before the bubble ruined the moment. “No…what?”

“Nothing. Niggas don’t even know you exist.”

She smiled. “So you didn’t trust me? That’s why you asked around?”

“It’s not about that. Like you already know I had some things happen to my wife and my life is different now. But it doesn’t mean I don’t want you with me or that I don’t trust you. If I didn’t you wouldn’t even be here.”

She smiled brightly and stared down at the key ring, which seemed to sparkle. It was at that time that she noticed the key belonged to a BMW. “And you really bought me a car? A luxury one?”

He nodded. “Let’s just say the red one with the bow on the top out front belongs to you.”

She placed her hand over her lips. “Wyld, are you serious? I…I mean…I thought you didn’t want this. I thought you said it was too fast and that you wanted to slow down.”

“Amelia, I’m feeling you. I always have been and that’s all I can say definitely right now. I’m not the kind of man who moves fast and you know this about me already. But I do know I want you here with me. And when you’re not I worry about you.” He paused. “So I broke my fast pace rule to make this one exception.”

Her eyes widened. “You call six months fast?”

“For me.” He paused. “It’s lightening speed.”

“This won’t be a mistake, Wyld.” She sat the keys on the counter and placed one warm hand on each side of his face. “I promise you.” She looked into his green eyes.

“I know it won’t be. And I don’t ask for a lot, Amelia. As a matter of fact I don’t want anything but honesty.”

She cleared her throat and turned around to stir the macaroni, which had pasted together in clumps of twos and threes because she forgot to add oil and stir. “Of course, Wyld and you have it with me. I told you before that I’m ready to be all about you.”

He grabbed her hand and turned her around, preferring eye contact. “Then why do I feel like you want to tell me something?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “What you probably see is the excitement from all of this, Wyld. I mean, I’ve never had anyone buy me a car or move me into their house. Ever. Part of me feels unworthy and the other part wants it so badly I can’t contain myself.” She paused. “But I promise I want this relationship and I’m being honest about everything.”

“Amelia.”

“Seriously, Wyld. I have nothing to say.”

He released her. “Let’s do it like this, whatever you tell me right now, in this moment I won’t hold against you. And I mean anything.” He paused. “You can even say you married and on Anna’s soul I will forgive you as long as you get a divorce. But you have to tell me now.” He pointed at the floor. “Because later on, if I walk away, this window won’t open for you again.”

A thin coat of sweat formed on her forehead. This was the moment she was waiting on and she knew she had to take it. Just the other day she prayed for the strength to tell him the truth about her past, hoping that he could help her stay clean with support and love.

Then she thought about telling him what Ryan did to her on the day he dropped her off. She was amazed at the speed God worked and was overwhelmed with happiness for the blessing.

But did she deserve him? Or the amazing consideration he was offering?

She grabbed both of his hands and looked into his eyes, preparing to release her biggest secret. “Wyld, I have nothing to say. It’s like you want me to tell you something bad just so you won’t choose me. If you want me like I want you then lets just give us a chance. And see what works.”

She fucked up by not being honest and she knew it but it was too late now.

“The last thing I’m doing is trying to trap you into saying something that would make me cut you off. Why would I do that when I care about you, Amelia? And I don’t amuse women I don’t fuck with or want in my life.”

When there was a knock at the door Wyld exited the kitchen and walked into the living room to open it. He was uneasy when he saw Spyrit’s bulging eyes as he slid inside slamming the door behind himself.

“You…you talk to E.M. yet?” Spyrit asked as he paced next to the area by the door.

“Not in a few days, why?” Wyld looked him over, as he braced himself for the worst.

“Dick ain’t been home in over a week, man. He haven’t been over E.M.’s house either. To break her heart even more she can’t find that fucking dog.”

Wyld’s eyebrows rose. “Hold up, the dog rolled out too?”

“Yeah, man,” Spyrit said sitting down, as he pulled in several deep breaths. “She said the last time she saw the dog Ryan was washing it out back.” He paused. “Since when does this nigga wash a dog? He the most selfish person alive.”

Wyld placed his hand on the side of his own head. “Yeah, Ryan washing a dog? Ain’t adding up.”

Spyrit rose and moved closer. “He’s not…he’s not good man.”

“Spyrit, I think its time that you told me everything.” When Spyrit didn’t speak Wyld moved closer. “Stop fucking around and talk to me! I’m sick of the games! What is it about this nigga that you want me to know? Tell me now.”