Page 23 of Bern and Isley (D-Ville Projects #5)

Bern

Seeing Isley enjoy the block party made a nigga feel good.

She’d been through hell and back. Although I couldn’t do anything to take away the scars on her heart, I was doing everything I could to alleviate the financial burdens she faced while still in recovery.

My car wash business was flourishing, so I was able to pay all of the bills at Isley’s apartment and keep the fridge stocked.

Snow helped me keep meals prepared for Icey and Ms. Fee.

“Your girl looking good,” Antwan said.

He and Theo had joined me near the deejay while Icey was socializing with Snow and some of the other women from the complex.

I raised a brow. “Watch that shit.”

Antwan raised his hands. “Not like that… I mean like she’s recovering well and looks like she doing good mentally. Well, as good as she can be.”

“Oh… yeah, she’s taking it day by day.”

Theo chuckled. “Bern, you were ready to whoop his ass, huh?”

“Man, gone.” I held back my grin.

“She still ain’t addressed if she’s interested in a relationship?”

I exhaled deeply. “Nah. I haven’t bothered bringing it back up. I regret even bringing it up. The timing was shitty. But my emotions got the best of me seeing her laid up in that hospital bed.”

“I don’t agree with that. I don’t know if there’s perfect timing for that conversation. Y’all been friends for twenty years, so the topic was going to be a gamble no matter when you brought it up.”

Theo had a point. But it still didn’t make me feel any better.

Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” came on and the ladies began twerking to the music.

It was evident Isley was feeling herself the way she was throwing that ass in those khaki skirt.

I could see her ass ripple when she bounced up and down.

I glanced around to see young niggas gawking.

It took everything in me to not go over there and get behind her to hide her ass from the niggas staring.

Regardless of the limbo status of our relationship, she was off limits to anybody else. Whether she knew it or not.

“Oh shit, look who’s headed our way.” Theo nudged me.

I broke my glance from Isley’s ass to look up and was instantly annoyed.

“Hey, stranger,” Unique said as she approached me, completely invading my personal space.

I only threw my head back in acknowledgement while simultaneously taking a step back. I didn’t want her all in my face. And her cheap ass perfume was loud and offensive.

“Damn, you can’t speak?” She scrunched her face up and folded her arms across her chest.

“What you want, Unique?”

“Oh, so it’s like that?” she asked.

My jaw clenched and my brows furrowed. “Gone on, I’m not in the mood for bullshit. This is a family event. Respect that shit.”

Isley snuck up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I’m ready to go.”

Unique’s face reddened and her nostrils flared. “So y’all finally launching your relationship, huh?”

“Theo, Antwan, I’ll holla at y’all. We about to head out,” I told my boys, completely ignoring my ex.

They dapped me up. I grabbed Isley’s hand then strolled off, leaving Unique standing there foaming at the mouth.

I knew had it not been a DP sponsored event, she would’ve showed her ass, but she knew better than to cut up at the block party.

It would’ve been a gang of chicks around the way beating her ass.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” I asked, pulling Isley closer to me.

She smiled. It was the first time in a long time where her grin actually reached her eyes. “Yes, Bernie. I had a good time. Thanks for demanding that I come with you.”

I chuckled. “I’m glad you gave it a chance. I had fully planned to stay with you in the apartment all day if you refused to join me.”

“You were going to miss the block party for me?”

“What? Be for real.” I kissed my teeth. “I wouldn’t be able to enjoy myself knowing that you were up there by yourself. Besides, I’ve never been to the block party without you.”

“Can we go to your place? Aunt Fee is still at the party and I’m not ready to be alone.”

“For sure.”

I led her to my apartment, not knowing how our relationship was about to change.