Sweet Taboo

17

DeSean

My mouth was instantly dry.

Tegyn just said that. Whew. I rubbed my face and stuffed my phone in my pocket. What was supposed to be a few quick texts was now taking up space in my head, when I needed to focus on the job. First night back open and I couldn’t afford to be distracted…but I was.

There were no more texts and I wondered what was going on at my house. I worried over her, but more than that, I wanted to be with her so badly I could barely concentrate on anything else. As I was doing rounds an hour later, Tommy called me over.

“You good, boss?” he asked with a frown.

I gave one curt nod. “I’m fine.”

“Really?” Tommy shook his head. “You been looking but not seeing for almost an hour now.”

I groaned. “So, what’d I miss?”

“Nothing much. I stopped a drug sale and Raven managed to squash a fight between some sistahs trying to get some brotha’s attention.” He shifted his feet and glanced down at me. “But heads up. We in the home stretch.”

“I know, we get out of here faster with no blood shed and no illegal activities. Thanks.” I started to continue my rounds when he stopped me.

“So, you gon’ tell me what’s up? I saw you looking at your phone.” Tommy smirked. “What’d she say?”

I took a deep breath. “She isn’t on the pill.”

His eyes widened. “Well, ain’t that something right there.”

“Exactly.” I shook my head a few times to clear it. “Okay. I’m focused. Let’s do our jobs and get the fuck outta here. You with me?”

“That’s right, boss. I sure am.” Then he clapped me on the back and I circled the perimeter of the club.

By two thirty, I wasn’t taking shit from anyone.

“Let’s go. Take this party elsewhere,” I droned over and over again to those lingering even after last call. “This ain’t no weekend. You know you got to go to a damn job in a few hours.”

Tommy smirked as he helped me clear the bar. “Where’s the fire?” He teased. “I’ve never seen you so eager to get home before…ever.”

I nodded while I fumed. “Go home, people,” I said to group of guys hanging in a back corner. In the booth across from them, I found a couple making out. “Get a room or go to one of y’alls places, but you can’t stay here.” Then I waited there until everyone had stood and filed toward the door.

“Wow. Look at you, Mr. Motivated.” Tommy chuckled. “The last time you were like this was when you two were dating.”

I nodded sadly. “I know.”

“Hey, you was never like this over Camilla.” Tommy tugged at his chin.

“I know,” I grumbled.

“Tegyn is really cool though.” Then he whispered under his breath, “And hot.”

My nostrils flared. “You can stop messing with me any time.”

Once the bar was cleared, I looked at my crew. “Peace. I’m out.” Then I practically ran to the door. The whole ride home, I was thinking what she meant by her last text. Was I supposed to buy condoms? Was I supposed to pull and pray? I scrunched up my face. Lord, I know I’ve asked you for a lot over the years, but please if you could find it in you to let me build a life with this woman… What? Where was my bargaining chip? Church! I’ll go. I’ll raise my family in the church. I’ll be a Godly man. I mean, I like to think I’m pretty good already, but damn I love this woman. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.

Maybe it was just about saying it out loud. Maybe it was because somewhere deep down I still believed, even after I thought Camilla had turned my heart against religion. After all, she claimed to be deeply religious, but I’d spent the last five years being married to a hypocrite.

Tegyn…the first I’d heard about her going to church was in front of my mama, but every bit of her being made me believe in God again, because she had to be heaven-sent. I thought about how I felt staring into her golden-brown eyes, the scent of her sleek honey brown hair, and my stomach started to get all weird. I was too fucking old for butterflies, but damn sure I had them.

I pulled into the driveway and hit the remote to open the garage door. As it rose, I found Tegyn standing in the laundry room doorway, a coy look on her face. It was after three in the morning, and she was so eager to see me she didn’t even wait for me to enter the house. Instantly, I forgot how tired I’d felt. The guy who was dragging only an hour ago was now full of life.