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“Yo, you want to run an errand with me right quick?” Jude asked.
I had just arrived to pick up the keys to my new condo. We were scheduled to have lunch to celebrate. Although I had closed on it, I had not moved out of Bethany’s and my home yet. We had called a truce and kept our distance from one another, with her on one side of the house and me on the other. Now, I was ready to leave Bethany and the home for good.
“Cool. Where are you headed to?”
“My boy’s wife called and asked if I’d be interested in taking on an emergency client. Apparently, her sister’s complex burned down this morning, and she has no place to go.”
“Yeah, I saw that on the news. That’s screwed. One of the residents fell asleep with the stove on, and she had some kids.”
We talked about the fire as I followed him to his car from the condos.
I had just finished doing my walk-through and accepted the keys when he stepped away to take the phone call.
“Man, I don’t know what people be thinking. It’s like, you’re putting more lives at risk than just yours when you do stupid shit like that.”
“True, JR, but I try not to judge. I mean, I’m sure she wasn’t trying to hurt her kids or leave them homeless. Who knows? Maybe she’d worked a double shift somewhere and was tired, but she had to feed the kids. If she hadn’t gotten all her rest and she was worn out, I could see that happening.”
“I hear you, dawg, but still.”
“Yeah, it’s a fucked-up situation. That’s for sure.” I agreed as we pulled out of the complex.
“So, what’s up with you and Beth? You legit leaving her ass?”
“The divorce is final, man.”
“I thought you loved that girl, man.”
“You heard Tina. What’s love got to do with it?” I laughed.
He chuckled, and I continued. “I loved her, but I was never in love with her.”
“Yo! Why niggas always saying that shit?”
“Because that’s really a thing. I used to feel the same way that you do. You can love a woman, want what’s best for her, and try to be there for her to support her and give her the world. But as far as feeling that she completes you, that she makes you better, and you can’t imagine life without her . . . Yeah, I’m not feeling all that when it comes to Beth.”
Jude glanced at me from the corner of his eyes. “You said ‘when it comes to Beth.’ Then who do you feel that way about, my nigga?”
“Nobody.”
“Come on. This is me.”
“Like I said, nobody. I’m in love with myself these days. That’s why I’m doing the shit that I’m doing. The business. The condo. The divorce. It’s all about me and improving my life.”
“Nigga. How the fuck are you a millionaire a few times over and talking about improving your life?”
“Doesn’t matter how much money you get, JR. There’s always room for improvement. Besides, I don’t think . . . This iswhere my doctor works.” I peered out the window as we pulled into the medical complex.
“Word?”
“Yeah. Remember I told you that Beth had signed us up for marriage counseling?”
“Yeah. Clearly, that shit didn’t work.”
“Nah, she made it a joke. It appears that it was all about getting me to change. Ain’t that some bullshit?”
“Hey, women have been known to do worse,” he replied as he parked the car.
“Yeah, I guess.”