Page 19 of Defending the Post (The Complexity of Love #3)

“You’re making us late for our date being stubborn,” I said as I stared.

“Take Bella on the date.”

“Didn’t I tell you I didn’t want her?” I reminded her of my messages.

No one said anything. Erin stared at my parents, who tried to stay out of it. I stood circling the coffee table, sitting next to Erin, but she wouldn’t give me her eyes. She tried to vacate her seat, but I stood nudging her to me. I tried to kiss her, but she pulled her face away.

“Why do you allow women I don’t care about to get underneath your skin? You preach best friend but get upset if I have a friendly conversation with another woman,” I asked.

Erin folded her arms, but I pulled at her elbow and her stance collapsed. I sat in the chair and pulled Erin down to my lap. She motioned to lift herself and I propped my feet on the table to block her immediate departure.

“Marquise, what has gotten into you and Malcolm?” Mom asked.

Erin glared down at me, but I could see the surrender in her eyes. She knew my statement was right, but she banked on me taming myself because of my parents. I wrapped my hand around her waist and went in to kiss her cheek, but she moved away.

“In the car, you held me down and kissed me. Now you’re acting funny,” I said.

Erin snapped her head around to me. “You kissed me first,” she said.

“Son, you got your first kiss?” Pops interrupted and moved toward me. We slapped hands as I replayed the taste of Erin’s lips.

“Marquise, you kissed someone,” Mom questioned as she wrestled with Khaira.

“Erin forced me,” I said, and she turned to me.

She tried to vacate her spot again, but I pulled her back down.

“Stop lying to your parents. You kissed me and I’m not your first kiss,” Erin said with crowded brows.

“Yes, you are,” Mom and Pops sounded in unison. Erin’s eyes traveled from my parents back to me.

“I’d never kissed a woman in the mouth before you. Forehead and temple only because they didn’t mean anything to me. We gon’ be late for our date,” I said as I peered into her big beautiful brown eyes.

“I told you to take Bella. ‘Oh Marquise’ ,” she mocked, and I chuckled.

“Alright, we gon’ sit here,” I said.

Erin turned to me, “you gon’ sit here. Mrs. Anissa said she would take me home,” she said.

“That’s fine, I’ll follow then we’re going on our date.”

Khaira whined as she wanted to get down, but Mom didn’t want her running.

“Erin, you are welcome to ride with Anissa,” Pops said. “Marquise is going to get himself together,” he continued.

I glared over at Erin, and she rolled her eyes.

“Son, conference room,” Pops said.

Erin stood, and I exited my seat. I followed Pops, staring at his blue suit jacket as we walked into the conference room. We both secured a seat, and he stared at me.

“Marquise, what are you doing? Watch your tone talking to your lady. I know she’s your first kiss, but what you did was not okay,” Pops said.

I peeped over at Erin playing with Khaira.

“I would never hurt or put my hands on Erin. You taught me better.”

“And it will take an army to get me off your ass for hitting a woman,” he said.

Thoughts of the fight between him and Branden replayed in my head at the family BBQ. I knew I didn’t want no issues with Pops.

“I’ll apologize but she is mad over nothing and being stubborn. Erin’s been dogging me out for a week. Bella, she is jealous over Bella.”

“And she has a right to be upset. Once she calms down, it’s still her choice to talk to you. Do you understand me?” Pops asked, and I agreed.

I leaned my back in my chair, resting my head. Erin continued to confuse me. She showed me two versions of herself, depending on the location. When I’m home, everything is cool but the moment I board the plane, she wants to be friends.

“Where are you and Malcolm getting this assertiveness from?” he asked.

I sprung forward in my seat and glared at him. “Do we need to revisit the surveillance cameras?” I asked.

Pops dropped his head at my comment. “Your mother and I...”

I tuned Pops out as he tried to justify the way he bullied his way into Mom’s heart. He could dress it up in polka dots and it’s still the same. I didn’t get it at first, but with Erin showing me mixed messages, I understood.

“Son, be gentle with your lady. I’ve gotten further with your mother because I’ve learned to be softer,” he said.

I agreed before we left the conference room. As we approached the lobby, I re-adjusted myself as I sensed Erin’s guarded nature. Pops said be softer and at this point, I didn’t have any other options. This woman being upset with me bothered me more than missed free throws.

I stopped short of her chair taking in her over-edginess. “Erin, would you please leave with me? I have a fun date planned for us.”

She gave a slight eye roll, but I’ll take it.

“When you apologize, I will consider it. You’ve been tripping all day. I’m not the one, Marquise. I want to be soft, but you keep pulling on the mean side of me,” she said.

My mother shook her head in agreement with Erin’s statement as if she didn’t fold like a lawn chair for Pops.

“I’m sorry, Erin,” I said, properly apologizing for my behavior.

She crossed her legs as she studied my body language. Everything about the curve of her lips and folded arms spoke to me.

“The only reason I’m leaving with you is because I don’t want Mrs. Jefferies to go out of her way. And Need-A-Ride will take too long,” she said.

My mother supported her statement by making a grunting noise before she laughed. I ran my hand over my faded beard as she gloated in my discomfort.

“Again, I am sorry, Erin,” I stated, softening my stance. I batted my eyelashes and protruded my bottom lip, giving her a sad face.

“Whatever,” she agreed, annoyed but not with the same anger.

“Baby, I think she is the one,” Mom said before smiling at Pops. “Erin, stand your ground with him,” she coached. I wanted to scoff but I knew Erin would flip on me.

We rode the elevator with her standing on the opposite side.

I wanted to pull her to me and press her full lips against mine.

Being that I’m on thin ice, I decided it was in my best interest to chill out.

I guided Erin to the car, opening her door.

After she settled in the seat, I returned her phone, placing it in her lap.

I rounded the car, mind racing on how I could shake this tense energy between us.

Nothing came to mind outside of apologizing.

I rested on the driver’s side pushing the start button, but I didn’t change the gears.

Instead, I observed Erin pin her body against the door, giving me the cold shoulder.

“Weirdo, come here,” I said in a softer tone instead of pulling her to me.

“Why?” she questioned, as she focused her attention out of the front window.

I unbuckled her seat belt, hoping to gain her attention but she didn’t move. She allowed it to draw against her body.

“Can you please move closer?” I again asked, determined for her to sit closer to me.

Erin eyed me before she removed some space, but not enough for my liking.

“Closer, please. You know where I want you.”

She slid over, leaving enough space for her arm to rest on the console.

As our eyes latched, my outburst upstairs bothered me.

This woman pulled at my hidden emotions, not allowing them to settle behind closed doors.

I’ve never cared to chase a woman, but Erin was my Weirdo.

If she left with Mom, it would’ve broken me.

“I’m sorry for trying to intimidate you.

I was on edge about you leaving me at Noise Level Shoes because I have abandonment issues.

Next time, can you please talk to me? Bella is my personal merch shopper.

I know her dude. I gift them tickets every Christmas.

No, I’ve never slept with her. I respect her as a professional, that’s it,” I said.

Erin’s eyes softened as she examined mine. I moved closer, pausing at our noses touching. I caressed her cheek with my thumb before I pecked her lips.

“You forgive me?” I asked, and covered her mouth with mine before she could answer.

Erin invited my tongue inside, and I followed her lead. We broke the kiss when a hand tapped the hood. I turned to find my Pops walking with my mom and Khaira. I acknowledged him with a hand gesture but returned my attention to Erin.

“Yea, I forgive you,” she whispered as the resistance left her eyes.

I smirked as my phone vibrated, and I lifted it to see the screen.

Pops

Have I ever led you wrong?

I pulled away from Prime Stride and we headed downtown to waste some time.

After my behavior today, I wanted to spend some money on Erin.

We pulled in front of Parker PK, and I opened the door for Erin before handing my car keys to the valet.

She walked ahead of me but paused at the glass double doors.

The motion alone sent a smile to my face.

I kissed her cheek before I opened the door.

“Marquise,” the salesperson Terri said from behind the counter. He circled the glass display cases as he moved in my direction. For the first time, I was relieved it was him instead of Paige. We greeted each other with a handshake.

“Can you get my lady here some new frames? No limit, get her whatever she wants,” I said and Erin peered up at me with a smile. I kissed her forehead and pulled her into me.

“I’ve been tripping all day. I’m not trying to buy you but please accept this as a gift,” I said.

Erin puckered her lips upward, and I pecked them as I gripped her ass.

“I wasn’t turning this shopping trip down. I was confirming I didn’t have a limit,” she said, and I chuckled because Erin was going to run my pockets.

Terri smiled at her statement. I witnessed his eyes transfer into slot machines right before me.

“My card is on file,” I said to Erin as she walked to the display cases.

She hoisted a pair of sunglasses in her hands before she shimmed her shoulders.

I joined her as she pointed to the items she wanted to see.

Erin had a signature style that she paired well with colored glasses and oddly shaped accessories.

I stood behind her placing my hands on the glass top, trapping her in my arms. Not being able to help myself, I kissed her ear again.

“Terri, create her a profile and add her to my account,” I instructed, and he smiled happily about his commission.

We left Parker PK after Erin hit me for two-hundred grand, but her smile was worth more.

She tried on several sunglasses, and I instructed Terri not to tell her the price.

I wanted her to shop without counting my pockets.

The atmosphere was light on the drive to our date with Erin giggling a few times.

The building we pulled up to appeared to be a warehouse on the outside, but the inside held my surprise.

“Where are we?” Erin asked, neglecting to unbuckle her seat belt. With her arm resting on the middle console, she stared up at me.

I leaned over, chasing the soft sensation of her lips again, but she rolled her eyes.

“I can’t have a kiss?” I questioned, licking my lips and she bit down on her bottom lip.

Kissing her had to be the best thing I experienced today. The texture of her tongue rolling around in my mouth pushed a surge of energy through me. It’s indescribable how a small expression introduced me to something personal.

“Best friends don’t kiss, Marquise. We need to get this back on track,” she said, waving her finger between us.

“Well, we do.” I said.

Erin moved her hand away from her mouth, and our lips collided again, briefly.

I opened the car door for Erin and led her into the building. My homie, Max, owned a virtual gaming business, and I rented a room for today. Stopping by the front desk, I texted him and he greeted us in the lobby.

“Max,” I said, and we embraced with a hand slap.

We looked over to Erin and pointed. “She’s the gamer?” he questioned.

Max stepped around the desk and loaded Blazing and Guns . We entered the largest virtual gaming room in the building. The space was black with neon lights aligning the wall. Erin smiled, excitement riding in her eyes before putting on the virtual headset.

“Let’s get that Alien Lord,” I said, and we dapped fists.