Page 17 of On Everything

“Really, Hov? You still on that?” I stopped my foot.

“Tell me that you will never do no shit like that again. We not moving on until I hear those words come off those pretty ass lips.”

I licked them and then rolled my eyes.

“Ok, okay. I will never do no shit like that again, Hov. Are you happy now?” I folded my arms, and he showed his pretty ass smile.

“Good girl. Now, what I wanted to ask is what you wanted to do for your birthday. I know it’s in a few days.”

“How do you know my birthday is coming up?”

That question caught me off guard because I hadn’t even thought about my birthday myself much the past few days. Shit, how could I when my life was turned completely upside down.

He hesitated before he answered, so I wasn’t sure that the answer would be truthful. People sometimes hesitate to come up with lies.

“Bitches and their Facebook profiles. Y’all tell the world everything down to the first five letters of your social security numbers.”

“I don’t even post on that page anymore. You were looking for no reason.”

“Why don’t you post?”

“Because my life is boring. What would I post besides going to work, eating my favorite foods, and taking care of my plants?”

“I don’t know, anything. The word interesting is subjective. What may not be interesting to some, may be a goal lifestyle for others.”

Hov sat down in the bamboo chair I had sitting in the corner.

Two of my prettiest plants were right next to that chair and were the ones I sung to the most. Of course, Kairo hated them and wanted them gone.

He called my plants clutter instead of realizing they were a living species, just as he was.

Only my plants were loyal to me. I didn’t have to worry about them sneaking around or being beautiful in front of anyone else.

They were mine, and all mine for the rest of their lives.

Lord, send me a man as loyal as my plants.

“Hov why don’t you participate on social media, if I may ask?”

“I do.”

“Hov, you have an Instagram with one post on it.”

He chuckled with a smile so beautiful he should be ashamed for not smiling more.

“So, you been stalking me too? Good to know.”

“I wasn’t stalking you. Stalking is showing up at a stranger’s door unannounced.”

“So, I’m a stranger to you?”

He sat up in his chair.

“No, I, I mean. We aren’t familiar with one another like that, like that.”

“If that’s the case, then come here. I want to start getting familiar with you.”

He waved his fingers towards himself.

After playfully rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms and stepped over to him, caught up in a physical attraction both metaphorically and physically.

“Yes?”

“Look, I don’t want to be a stranger to you. I want to be your nigga, your man, the person that knows you the best.”

Hov stood up to his feet now, towering over my 5’6 frame.

He smelled so fucking good, and his diamonds were so out of place in this project apartment that it looked like he wasn’t supposed to be here.

Like he wasn’t really here. As if he was a figure of my imagination, which more or so convinced me that this is really a dream.

It has to be because of what he was saying, the way he is looking at me.

This shit can’t be real. Not Hov of all people.

“I still don’t get why you want me. What is it?”

He turned me around to face my ten dollar Walmart mirror leaning against the wall. The only reason it didn’t look as cheap as it is because I’d made it my own by pasting flowers from the dollar tree all around it.

“Now that you can see what I see, do you have the same questions?”

“To be honest, I do. I mean, I get it. I’ve been told I was fine my entire life. I have had men tell me I am going to be with them, even though at the time I was in a happy relationship, at least I thought I was. But it’s happened my entire life. Just no one like you.”

He shook his head.

“But you didn’t give them a chance, which means you are loyal, which is also a plus.”

“Loyal because he was my husband. I was supposed to be.”

“So, you two were married? Huh. I don’t blame him.” I heard him sucking his teeth like he was eating a good meal behind me and the shit sounded so sexy.

“Yeah, we are married. Still married, unfortunately. Don’t you have a girlfriend? Cashmier?”

“Yeah, I do, but that part of my life is coming to an end, that’s why I’m exploring new shit. When you ready for that part of your life to be over with your husband, all it takes is a few signatures. Don’t forget that. A stroke of a pen won't be too hard.”

He chuckled to himself.

“Can’t you have any girl in New York? Like any other girl?”

I could see him shrug his shoulders in the reflection. Because he was taller than me. I could see his face as clear as day in the mirror. It was easier to look at him this way because it wasn’t as intimidating as looking straight on for some reason.

“I don’t know what it is about you, but that’s why I’m around to find out. Let’s go somewhere for your birthday, and you can get to know me while I figure out why I want your pussy on my mouth and you in my bed every day. So…” he traced his fingers up my arm.

“Can I pick you up on Wednesday at 6:00?”

“Sure.” I shrugged my shoulders and gave him the okay.

“Alright, well, I’m going to bounce. Got some shit to take care of, but I’ll be back here Wednesday at 6:00 to get you. Oh yeah, where is your phone?”

“Right here.” I took it from my pockets and he snatched it from my hand. After tapping on it for a few seconds, I heard his phone ring and then he gave it back to me, leaving out of the room without saying another word.

Once the door closed, I heard Pernelle’s feet running to the back room.

“Bitch! Let me call Emoney and tell her to not come get me for the next couple of hours. We have to talk! Bitch, the Hov! The fucking Hov was just inside your apartment!”

Pernelle seemed to be more excited than me.

“Yes. Call Ebony. Hold her off. We do have a lot to talk about. I think I'm finally about to step out step out, and to be honest, I'm excited.”

Pernell started jumping up and down cheering like she was at a football game.

Hov was right when he said that I was too loyal to Kairo, but now it’s time that I be loyal to myself.

No more doubting or running away men because of his ass.

When my birthday comes, I'm going to see if Hov is worth my time, but I’m going to keep an open mind about him, because I’m just exploring right now.

I will not be blinded by Hov’s smooth words, fly clothes, or money. I’m too old for that shit. If he lacks truth, substance, and real interest, then I’ll have to forget that the King of New York City once wanted me.