Page 7 of Defending the Post (The Complexity of Love #3)

“It’s rude to come to my parents’ house and not sit with the host,” I said, and pointed to the seat next to me.

I earned two sets of eyes, Erin’s and Pops’ but I ignored him.

Suspicion settled on her face as a crease formed in the middle of her forehead.

She moved next to me without disputing my claim.

I’m glad she didn’t because I made it up on the fly.

Erin put enough space between us for a small child to grab a seat, and it bothered me.

“Don’t be shy in front of Pops. You’ve been flirting with me since last night,” I said.

Erin’s mouth parted as she twisted her body in my direction.

“Marquise, you are trying it. I got some choice words for you when we go to the pier,” she said.

Pops cleared his throat, pulling the attention to him.

“Sorry, Pops, where is. . .”

“Marquise, your sister is asleep,” Mom said, as she entered the living room.

Naturally, she sat next to Pops, and he kissed her cheek. After Khaira was born, my parents worked from home more and to me, Mom was less stressed.

“Erin, speak to my mom,” I said, tugging on her elbow.

She crossed her legs as false anger shimmered in her eyes.

“Marquise, I’ve already met Erin and where are your manners?” Mom corrected, passing me a heated stare.

“Hello, Mrs. Shaw-Jefferies,” Erin said.

“I’m okay with Anissa,” mom said. My parents’ conversation was light as I continued to bother Erin. I pulled on her hands and competed for her attention, drawing in her intense brown eyes.

“Erin, please tell me more about you. Marquise. Stop it,” Mom said.

“I recently graduated from college with a degree in music management and public relations. I’m also a self-taught graphic designer and an only child,” she said.

Smart and beautiful, I thought to myself.

“Really, do you have any examples of your work?” Mom asked.

Anissa Shaw-Jefferies was always scouting for new talent. Erin moved next to my mother with her phone in hand, showing her portfolio.

“I also went on tour with Jhae, Big G, and KC, organizing tour dates, social media and a few other background things,” Erin said.

“How was it to be on tour?” Mom asked.

Erin inhaled a hard breath before exhaling. “I prefer to only go on tour with women,” she answered, but didn’t go into detail.

Something about her answer pulled on my protective nature and triggered my trauma. A rapper or his flunky made her uncomfortable.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re only allowed to tour with women from now on,” I said as I focused on Erin.

She rolled her eyes as we entered a stare down.

“Marquise,” Mom said, and we both turned in her direction.

“He’s been a grouch from the moment we met, and it’s only been two days. Tell your parents how you tried to make me change my clothes. He also didn’t want to sit next to me in the car. Go on, tell them,” she said.

“Son, outside,” Pops said.

Erin smirked as if I had gotten in trouble. I stood on my feet with our eyes still locked.

“I’m twenty-four years old,” I said to her, and she hunched up one shoulder.

I followed Pops through the back door and down the brick path. We landed at the fire pit for privacy. I turned off my phone before we started talking.

“She got your nose wide open. You have never brought a woman to our house. I didn’t recognize you in there, playful and shit.

You can’t keep your hands off her. It’s rude to come to my parents’ house and not sit with the host,” he mocked.

“You made that shit up, but it was slick, though,” he said and I shrugged.

“I barely know her, but she got me acting out and shit. I see myself doing it and can’t stop it. It’s been two days and check this,” I said, tapping Pops’ arm. “I couldn’t get off this morning without imagining it was her. Fix me, Pops,” I begged as I gripped his arms.

Pops chuckled as I dropped my hands from his body.

“Son, you’re done,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I questioned.

Pops shrugged while surrendering his hands. “She got yo ass. You can try and fight it but it’s a losing battle,” he said.

I tossed my head back and glared up at the sky. “It’s been two days,” I reiterated again.

“Tell me the truth,” Pops coached me as I took an empty seat.

He stood in silence as I shuffled through my tangled thoughts.

“I want her fine, timid, mean ass. She so fucking thick in those jeans. Those plus size women get me every time. Shit, but she comes with requirements. At least, I think she does. I want to spoil the fuck out of her and treat her better than everyone else. The sensation scares the hell out of me. People be leaving my life and I’ll lose it if she rejects me,” I said.

“Is there more?” Pops asked.

I sighed, “yea. I don’t know if I’m ready to be with one woman, but I don’t want her talking to anybody else. It’s selfish as fuck, but that’s where I’m at,” I said.

Pops took the chair next to me, slanting his body in my direction.

“Let’s unpack. First, get your ass back in therapy with Dr. June. You have to deal with your abandonment issues. Didn’t I tell you I got you? I meant it, but you have to meet me halfway.”

Pops has been on my ass about getting back into therapy. I’ve told him countless times I was going back but never scheduled the appointment. Pops offered to go with me, and I still hadn’t made a move.

“I know where you are. Niecy and I did the same thing. We were best friends with no boundaries but do better than me. Don’t bully her—instead, be open,” he said, and my head sprung forward.

“Son, I’m trying to be careful with my words because I don’t want to influence you. In my opinion, you’re using those women to fill a hole. I’ve done the multiple woman thing, and I was still empty. But your mother fills me in ways I can’t explain,” he said.

Pops was right; as soon as whoever I fucked left, it was as if I bottomed out. There were times the emptiness lingered during the sex, leaving me no escape. I wanted a woman’s company, but not at the expense of being hurt.

I placed my elbows on my knees as I leaned forward. “You’re saying I should chase her?” I asked.

“You’re already doing it but I’m saying take your time. Be her friend. Get to know Erin. Do not lie, mislead, or approach her until you’re sure of your intentions.”

“Pops, I don’t know. What if somebody else snatches her,” I said.

It was only a matter of time before someone sniffed on my unmarked territory.

“You can’t control her dating someone else, but you can make it hard. Treat her better than any man could. Get to know Erin the person, and please do not sleep with her until you know for sure,” he said.

Pops placed his hand on my shoulder. “The best sex you will ever have is with a woman you care about. The intimacy and lovemaking is next level. Pleasing her will bring you joy and an orgasm you’ve never experienced. You will crave her and before you know it, that dog will stop fucking shit up.”

I chuckled and Pops shook his head as I watched him stroll down memory lane. Mom had Pops down bad running up on people’s cars and beating Brayton’s ass.

“I hear you, Pops. I’m slowing my ass down before I end up married,” I said.

“Please don’t. Your mother is still struggling with the Jhae and Malcolm thing. She can’t handle any more surprises,” he said as we stood.

The sun had set before we parked at the pier.

Erin reached for the door but drew her hand back and giggled.

Reaching in the back seat, I clenched my jacket and baseball cap.

I made sure to stop by my old bedroom to grab it.

Erin was wearing short sleeves, and I knew she would be cold.

She would be rubbing her arms before we made it to Pacific Park.

I put on a baseball hat as a disguise because I wanted Weirdo to enjoy the night.

Opening her door, I gave her the jacket.

“You being a gentleman. Let’s write it down,” she said.

“I’m being nice, you’re at the pier. I could be doing something else,” I lied with a smirk.

There was no other place I wanted to be than with her. Erin slid on my jacket and it swallowed parts of her, including her ass.

“If you wanted to be doing something else, you would. Let’s go,” she said.

We held hands out of necessity as the crowd thickened. The lights from the vendors and Ferris wheel illuminated Erin’s skin. Since talking to Pops earlier, she had become even more beautiful. As we approached the gaming area, she pulled me toward the basketball game.

“I want the green monster,” she said.

“How much you gon’ pay me? My services are not free.”

“Green Monster or I’ll reveal your identity,” she said, dancing her brows.

“Your weird ass would want the monster.”

I paid the vendor and knocked down the three shots with ease. He handed Erin the medium-sized stuffed monster animal. She snuggled it and her smile made it worth it.

“Funnel cakes, let’s go,” she said.

Giving slight resistance, she dragged me to the line with two other couples. The sight of her examining her stuffed animal provided me with a sense of satisfaction. Maybe Pops was right, I’m too far gone, but I don’t know. As the line moved forward, I replayed his advice.

“How many?” the older black man with a neat gray beard and white uniform asked.

“Two,” I said.

“One. Plain please,” Erin interrupted.

She turned to me. “I can’t eat a full funnel cake. Okay, pay the man for one cake.”

“How you come to the pier broke?” I asked as I pressed my phone against the payment machine.

“I’m not broke but you’re going to pay for being mean to me,” she said.

I shook my head as Erin giggled. She accepted the funnel cake handed to her through the window.

She passed me the bear and munched on her food.

She offered me a few pieces as we walked.

We finished the funnel cake before making it to the lemonade stand.

I followed behind as Erin stopped by a few additional vendors before we left.

“Thank you, Marquise,” Erin said as we traveled home.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll send you a bill,” I said before I shifted gears.

“Our friendship is starting out great already,” Erin said.

“Friendship?”

“Yes, friendship, as in bestie,” Erin said, before she shifted her legs to me. “Have you ever had a female best friend?”

I switched lanes, ignoring her comment.

“Of course not. This is going to be great, Marquise,” she said.

“I have associates, but friends is pushing it. Is it possible to be cordial and have casual sex?” I said.

Erin turned her head to me, intrigued by my answer.

“Keep talking,” she said, and I smirked.

“Women are so nosey. My exchanges with women aren’t always sexual. We sometimes have some dope-ass conversations, but I wouldn’t call them friends,” I said.

Erin placed her hand on the middle console as she stared at me. I wondered if her lips were as soft as I imagined.

“That’s interesting. So you’re only mean to me,” she said, and I didn’t respond. “I propose we be friends but without the sex. Maybe we could have some dope-ass conversations. Who knows, we could be great together,” she said and swiped my hand.

The taillights in front of me flashed as I played with her suggestions. I mean, it could help me to get to know her better.

“Okay.”

“Okay?” she questioned with widened eyes and impatience.

Committing to a friendship with someone I was attracted to wasn’t a smart move. This could be harder than winning the Basketball League Finals.

“I’m willing to try it. How does it work?” I asked to gain insight into her definition of a friendship.

If Erin knew what was good for the both of us, she better give me some rules or guidelines to follow. I could see myself easing out of the friend zone right into the gray area.

“This isn’t a test. We make time for each other, talk, hangout, hold each other accountable,” she said.

As the traffic loosened, I motioned my car forward as I thought about her answer.

“Erin, are you trying to trick me into a relationship,” I countered.

To keep from laughing at Erin’s tilted head, I focused on the road. My comment touched a nerve.

“Friends make the best lovers, but this is not that, bestie,” she said before turning her attention back to the highway.