Page 26 of Pills and Potions: Kase

I laughed under my breath, dry and bitter. “I run a club. I got women throwin’ it at me every weekend. You over here with cartoon socks and a damn water bottle, and somehow, that’s what stickin’ in my head.”

Why the fuck I keep takin’ your stuff? Why I care if you eat? Why I pay attention to your damn lotion scent?

I stepped back, running a hand over my face. I was pissed. For some reason, I couldn’t shut the fuck up. Everything I thought just came out truthfully. It was like my mouth had a damn mind of its own.

“I talk shit to keep you in your place. ‘Cause if I let you know what I really think? You’d have too much power. And I don’t give nobody that.”

She still didn’t move.

“You ain’t my type,” I said again, softer this time. “But I want you anyway. And that fucks with me.”

Worse part? I trust you more than half the people I call friends.

A long silence stretched between us. Then I whispered, “You make me feel shit, I don’t got no business feelin’. And if I wasn’t so caught up in what people expect… I’d be slidin’ them glasses off and fuckin’ you right now. Soft at first… then rough enough to make you forget every line I ever crossed.”

Her lips parted, breath shaky. But I didn’t wait for a response.

“I’m scared you might be the first thing I don’t wanna break,” I admitted.

Blyss just tilted her head slightly, like she was processing whether that was supposed to be sweet or stupid. Then she said, “Well, in the next ten minutes, I can’t wait for you to go back to keeping the truth to yourself, ’cause some things are better left unsaid,” she muttered, not even looking at me, like she was talking to herself more than to me. “Should’ve never went to that old man.”

Before I could question what Blyss meant, she stormed out of the kitchen, away from me. Truth was, I ain’t wanna hurt her. She was sweet, too sweet. But a girl like her couldn’t handle mylifestyle. She liked quiet shit, reading books, going to the library, visiting museums, listening to classical music, like that was fun. Me? I lived loud. Flashin’ lights, VIP sections, private bottles, and makin’ sure I stayed the number one club owner on this side of the map. I couldn’t slow down for nobody, especially not for a girl who still thought love songs and fairy tales meant somethin’. She was soft and couldn’t handle a nigga like me or my lifestyle.

Chapter 8

Blyss Monroe

It had been a few days since the truth wore off on Kase. Ever since that night in his damn kitchen, I’d been avoiding him because I was emotional as hell. Just like the old man in the alley warned me, it brought everything to the surface. Kase actually liked me, but because I was, in his words, “geeky,” he didn’t want anything serious. Said it would mess up his image. That was the most shallow, self-absorbed shit I’d ever heard. I couldn’t believe that arrogant bastard. Judging me over some damn glasses, like that, made me any less worthy. Meanwhile, he kept entertaining them superficial hoes in tight-ass clothes with half their titties out, lookin’ like dollar-store video vixens. Yeah, I was pissed. I knew it too, ’cause I was cussin’ like a sailor. But still, that wasn’t right. And it damn sure didn’t feel like kindness when he said it with the same mouth that kissed me like I was the only sweet thing in his bitter-ass world.

My feelings were hurt, but I went to work and tried to stay positive anyway. Walking into the library, I couldn’t help but smile as the familiar scent of old books wrapped around me. I dropped my things behind the desk and got into position. Not long after, an older white woman approached, asking about a book. I searched it in the database, helped her find it, andhanded her the copy from the shelf. She gave me a warm smile and strolled off. When I turned around, I slammed right into Griffin, my coworker. The one with the massive crush on me. He’d asked me out a few times, but I’d politely declined. He just wasn’t my type.

“Ughhh. Hi, Blyss. You look extra delightful today.”

“Thanks. I just washed my hair.”

He leaned in slightly, took a sniff like a damn bloodhound, and said, “Smells like raspberries… and extra love.”

Then he snorted. After that, he adjusted his glasses. I did mine too, just out of habit, and then we were both standing there, awkwardly mirroring each other like some kind of nerdy rom-com standoff. I gave a quick wave and ducked out before he could start sniffing again. It was a slow day, which I appreciated; less chaos and more peace. Once my shift ended, I grabbed my purse and headed out. I made a quick stop for gas. While I was standing there paying at the pump, I suddenly felt something press against my back. Not a tap. Not a poke. A presence. Then a voice spoke, cold, low, and way too close to my neck.

“Take off them motherfuckin’ glasses.”

I froze. “What?”

“You heard me, bitch. With lenses that thick, you can’t pick me out in a lineup.”

“Seriously?”

“Deadass. Glasses off. Now.”

“You know I’m blind without them, right? Like, legally. I might walk into traffic.”

“That ain’t my problem. I’m tryna be a respectable criminal. Help me help you.”

I sighed, pulled off my glasses, and before I could blink again, he tossed them to the ground and crushed them beneath his shoe. Then he snatched my purse. Even though I was terrified, I didn’t fight it. But when he shoved me to the ground and jumpedinto my car, something in me cracked. I watched, devastated, as he sped off, with the gas pump still hanging from the tank, like none of it mattered. LikeIdidn’t matter. Tears welled in my eyes. I had just been robbed and carjacked all in one go. And to make it worse, my phone was in my purse. I pushed myself up and began doing the blind walk towards the gas station for help. Lord, I bumped into the trash can, and smacked into the glass door, before making inside. As I approached the counter, my vision was so blurry I could barely make out the guy standing behind it. He looked Indian, or maybe Middle Eastern, but I couldn’t be sure. Before I could say a word, I dug into my pocket, pulled out my inhaler, and took a deep, shaky puff.

“I need to use your phone,” I said, breathless. “I just got robbed.”

His eyes widened. “Oh hell no. You gotta pay first.”