Flip Side of the Game by Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker Page B

me find out that you met Roger for lunch and see what happens.”
    â€œAnd what’s going to happen?”
    â€œI’ma leave your fuckin’ ass, plain and simple.”
    I was two seconds away from slapping the shit out of him. “Who are you talking to?”
    He looked around the room, with his arrogant-ass, and said, “Do you happen to see someone else in here?”
    â€œOh, so, you’re being smart?”
    â€œSometimes it’s hard to tell whether I’m being smart or being stupid! The way you act at times, you’ll make somebody hurt you.”
    â€œOoooh, so now,” I said, twisting my face, “you wanna hurt me? How could you love someone you wanna hurt?”
    â€œYour mouth is what will make someone want to hurt you. But since you seem to be in dire need to change the subject, and you want to know why I love you, I’ll tell you. I love you because every time I think, every time I breathe, I want it to be with you. I love being around you, the joy that you bring, the excitement of your spirit. I love you because the love you have for me is straight the hell up, and you’re not trying to be with me just because you hit a gold mine, because if the truth be told, you haven’t asked me for jack!”
    â€œSo, what does that mean? And another thing, your li’l punk-ass reason for love is weak! Because if I loved you, it would be because I’ve never met anyone like you, I’ve never felt the challenge of the heart, and being with you makes me think about brand new beginnings. And yes, I gotta thing for you! And yes, I no longer just like you, I’m straight feeling you, but so the fuck what? I’m still not committing to you.”
    â€œYou know what, baby? I just figured it out,” he said. “I need to give you exactly what you’ve been asking for, time and space. I’m not the one, sweetheart. I have less problems in the hospital emergency room than I have with you. When you grow up, call me. Until then, remember your little don’t-hate-the-player-hate-the-game line, and be sure to apply it to yourself!” He picked up his running Nikes, slipped them on his feet, threw on his throwback jersey, and headed for the door.
    â€œWhere are you going?”
    â€œI’m going to give you some time. You’re not ready.”
    â€œReady for what?”
    â€œFor me.”
    â€œYou haven’t even given me a chance,” I heard myself saying, which was the complete opposite of what I meant to say, which was “Kiss my ass.”
    â€œI give you a chance every day, Vera. Give me a minute to think. This shit is too much!”
    He slammed the door when he left, and my three-hundred-dollar silk pillows ended up getting tear stains after all.
    But this time, I couldn’t let him go. I ran through the living room and snatched the front door open. He was standing on the front stoop.
    â€œLook Taj,” I said, breathing heavy and out of breath. “I’ll try, okay? I’ll try.”

Step Six
    The gossip hour/book club meeting with the girls was exactly what I needed. I hadn’t spent any quality time with them since Lee blew up Pastor James’s spot. Shannon insisted that we have the meeting at her house, although we had no book to discuss.
    â€œYou were layin’ it down, girlfriend. Seems like Roger couldn’t deal,” Shannon insisted, while sucking the ice cream off her spoon.
    â€œSeems like it,” Angie insisted. “His ass was pussy whipped!”
    â€œYou three are about as educated as tramps can be,” Lee said, adding her two cents in.“You shouldn’t be messing with nobody’s husband anyway!”
    â€œLets not forget,” I reminded Miz Thing, “people in glass houses, et cetera, et cetera.”
    â€œNowadays,” Shannon said, cutting me off, “it’s hard to find a man that will give up the dick with no strings