Page 81 of Adonis Gates

After shutting down my computer, I collected my things and headed to the breakroom to get my leftover lunch. I’d been cooking so I could bring my food because now that I was settled in my place, I wanted to get a new car. I’d put the task off long enough, and got comfortable in Adonis’s Camaro, but now it was time for me to get my own.

I sighed heavily when I noticed Bonita and her little clique in the breakroom. All of their eyes locked on me when they spotted me, so I rolled mine then trekked to the refrigerator.

“So, y’all were in Don G’s section all night?” I heard Bonita ask, so I slowed up a bit to hear what these bitches were talking about.

“Yes girl. There were bottles and weed everywhere,” Franny, her little minion, answered. “The niggas were choosing, but you know who I had my eyes on.”

“Did you get to talk to him?”

“Briefly,” she answered. “He said he was chilling and didn’t want to be bothered, but that was the most he’s ever said, so I’m hopeful.”

“Yes, you know niggas be in their zones in the club. I’m sure you’ll score next time.”

I knew they were trying to get a rise out of me and they wanted a response, but they’d keep wishing. I didn’t have it in me to go back and forth with them because we all knew that they didn’t stand a chance with Adonis Gates.

When she realized that I wasn’t going to reply, she tried a different approach.

“Oh, Jruelle,” she called out.

I paused my strides to glance back at her. “What?”

“I wanted to give you this.” She walked over to hand me a small envelope. “It’s an invitation to my baby shower.”

I eyed it then her. “And you think I’d come?”

“Well… yes,” she smirked. “I don’t see why not.”

“I can think of a number of reasons, but I’ll settle with I just don’t want to.” I smiled, dropping it to the floor, then picking up my stride out of the room again.

“Oh, you must still be in your feelings about Derrick,” she said to my back, and I paused again.

I shouldn’t have given her ass the attention she so desperately wanted, but I had a little time to spare, so I entertained her.

“In my feelings about a man who won’t leave me alone if I paid him to?” I smirked when her smug ass smile began to fade. “I don’t know if you or him got the memo, but I’ve been done and over his ass.He’sthe one that’s still finding ways to contactme,despite me changing my number and work emailtwice. Hell, you should be grateful I’m declining. It wouldn’t be fair forthe baby’s dad’s attention to be on anyone one other than you, right?”

“You’re lying.” She narrowed her eyes, glancing back at her friends probably to see if they were convinced of her words because she damn sure wasn’t.

“Oh, I know you wish that I was.” I grinned. “Don’t worry though, I don’t reply because my nigga is nuts and would blow up the world if he even got a whiff of it.” I gripped the strap of my purse because even though I was past the situation with Derrick, I wanted to slap her ass for trying to send her friends at my man. I was satisfied enough seeing the look on her face. “You know, Bonita, you were so gung-ho on getting pregnant by a man that you knew didn’t want you, just to get at me, but it didn’t do anything but make you as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside. Line that up next time.” I tapped my top lip to gesture at her thick mustache and giggled before walking out.

I checked my phone on the way out and saw that Adonis texted to ask me what time I was getting home. I was about to reply before I heard Derrick’s voice calling my name. I looked up to find him hurrying my way.

I rolled my eyes and picked up my own speed, but to no avail. He’d caught up to me, grabbing my arm in the process. I quickly snatched away, his sharp nails scratching me in the process. I covered the spot with my hand as I scowled at him.

“I just want to talk to you.” He lifted his hands in mock surrender.

“I don’t care,” I snapped. “I don’t want to talk to you and I don’t want you touching me.”

Greg appeared behind him, stalking in our direction but I subtly waved him off. I was at work and didn’t want a huge scene outside.

“Oh, now I can’t touch you?” he snapped.

“No, you can’t.” I rolled my eyes, trying to step around him to go to the car, but he moved with me causing me to narrow my eyes at him. “Move, Derrick.”

“Come on, Jru.” He sighed. “You’ve carried this on long enough. It’s been months. You’ve changed your number. You’ve moved. You won’t email me back,” he said and I laughed. “This is funny to you?”

“Actually, yes.” I chuckled. “There is no way you think that after all this time, this is a front.” I shook my head.

“I didn’t do anything differently than I normally would have, Jru. You were good with our arrangement before...”