Page 5 of Terrez and Shalene (D-Ville Projects #4)

A small smile broke through and I couldn’t help but laugh.

My mood was starting to lighten and I was happy I decided to come here instead of going to my empty apartment.

I had no intention of going out to have drinks, but I was tired of sitting around being depressed.

Brevin had shown me multiple times that he’d moved on and no longer valued me as a woman.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready to jump into a relationship anytime soon, but it was time to start living.

Standing from the couch, I headed toward Pat’s laundry room.

Whenever I happened to wash anything over here, she’d fold it and place it on the rack that rested above the dryer.

“Shit. Let me go jump in the shower and get ready before you change your damn mind.”

“You think Miss Lena will mind keeping Amayah?”

“Girl. I just peeked in the room. Both of them are already asleep,” Pat informed me.

“You sure? I don’t wanna just leave her here without asking.”

It was true. I appreciated Miss Lena too much to take advantage of her. It didn’t matter how long I’d known her; I’d never take her kindness for granted.

“Shalene, if you go in there and wake that lady from her sleep to ask her that, I’m gon’ laugh when she tells you off. Now, get ready so we can go. It’s almost ten-thirty and this is when the crowd really starts coming in.”

Doing as she asked, I went into her guest bathroom and got myself together.

Since I’d already showered, I was dressed and ready a few minutes before Pat.

When I stood back to look in the mirror, I told myself that once I was settled into my new place, I’d be prioritizing my health.

I knew I was beautiful, but I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin.

My face was naturally round, so this added weight only made my cheeks look even bigger.

If I stuck to a routine for a few months, I was sure I’d be back to myself by next summer.

I was only thirty-one and owed it to my daughter to be the healthiest version of myself.

Less than ten minutes later, Pat and I were leaving the house and settling into her car.

Once we were in, she pulled a small joint from her purse and lit it.

Back in our college days, the two of us would smoke more than chimneys.

I slowed down when Brevin and I got together since he didn’t care for it.

“Oh, you really trying to turn up tonight.”

“Girl, you know this isn’t shit compared to what we used to do. If your ass didn’t have a big move to be up for in the morning, I’d have you out here drunk off your ass. You can’t tell me you’re not in need of a girls’ night out.”

“It’s overdue. Once I get settled in and get Amayah on a consistent schedule with Brevin, I’ll be ready to make that happen,” I stated as I took the joint from her.

“I’ll be here and ready. You know it’s whatever when it comes to you, girl.”

“I’m scared as fuck, Pat. Like, you have no clue all the thoughts going through my head right now. I haven’t been single in so long that it feels weird to even say the shit out loud. I’ve been wearing my ring so long that my finger still has the indent,” I expressed before taking a puff.

“What exactly is going through your head? Like what is it that’s bothering you the most?”

“Bitch, you gon’ laugh when I tell you.”

“I may joke about a lot of things, but I’ll never laugh at your pain, friend,” she responded sincerely.

“I keep thinking I’m gon’ be alone for the rest of my life. I thought I’d found my person. So, for shit to have turned out like this, it makes me feel like maybe true love isn’t a thing,” I admitted.

Sitting back in her seat, Pat let out a sigh before she spoke. I braced myself because I knew her well enough to know she was about to say something I didn’t want to hear. Even if that was the case, I appreciated her for keeping things real with me.

“I understand why you feel like that. I truly do. But Shalene, none of what Brevin is doing is catching me by surprise. He’s always been an asshole.

His behavior was just subtle before your mom passed away.

I know this is a new journey for you, but I feel like he did you a favor.

He let you be free to meet your future husband, the real one.

You could meet your new man tonight for all we know. ”

“I doubt that. I’m not looking for anything serious, let alone at the bar,” I said as I passed her the joint.

After we finished smoking, Pat sprayed her car and pulled out of her driveway.

When she turned the radio on, “Phone Sex” by Trina was playing.

The effect of the weed had already set in.

I was singing along word for word and ready to get to the bar.

It felt good to have my mind at ease. I’d be pushing my troubles to the side and enjoying a night of being kid free.

When we pulled up to the bar, the parking lot was packed and there was a short line of people waiting to get inside.

Thankfully I didn’t have heels on and it was warm out.

Before we got out of the car, I checked to make sure I looked okay one last time.

I was more self-conscious since I had no intention of going out tonight.

Surprisingly, it took no time to get through the line and into the bar.

“Planez” by Jeremih and J. Cole was coming from the speakers so hard that I felt the bass in my chest. Four different pool tables were occupied with several standing around them, both playing and not.

There was a large crowd surrounding the bar, but the three bartenders seemed to be keeping up.

When Pat tapped me on my shoulder, I followed her pointer finger to the empty booth toward the back of the bar.

Like there was fire under our asses, we walked quickly before anyone else could take it.

“I’ll go order our drinks. I just wanted to make sure we got the table first. You want a Long Island or a Sex on the Beach?”

“Sex on the Beach. I’ll buy our next round.”

After waving me off like she didn’t want to hear it, Pat turned and walked toward the bar.

Letting out a sigh, I relaxed in the seat and took a good look around.

My eyes seemed to be roaming all over until my gaze landed on a familiar face.

I couldn’t remember where I saw him, but I knew for sure I knew him from somewhere.

My brain was working overtime to figure out where I’d seen this fine ass man.

I could never fix my lips to say Brevin was bad looking because he wasn’t.

But this mystery man was in a league of his own.

I could tell from his large frame and bulky build that he’d mop the floor with Brevin’s ass.

“Okay, friend. I see you staring a hole through that man’s side profile. You’re looking so damn hard I’m surprised he can’t feel it,” Pat joked as she set our drinks on the table.

“Damn. I didn’t realize I was looking that hard. I was only staring because I know him from somewhere, but I can’t remember where.”

“Your brain must’ve been occupied when you saw him. That man is so damn fine that I’d definitely remember where I saw him.”

A bell went off in my head as soon as she said that.

“Oh shit! Girl, he lives in my building… I think.”

“What you mean you think?”

“The day I got the keys to my place, my dad went over to look at it with me and I saw him,” I stated with a tilt of my head in the mystery man’s direction.

“Damn you’re lucky. His tall, chocolate ass looks mean as hell, but that only adds to his sexiness.”

I nodded because I was thinking the same thing.

The first night I saw him, I’d been crying my eyes out for obvious reasons.

I was so consumed with my own shit at the time that I didn’t care enough to feel the shame I felt now.

That man had seen me at my lowest point and that wasn’t the image I wanted a stranger to have.

Especially a stranger as sexy as him. Pat and I danced in our seats as we drank and caught the vibe.

This feeling was one I didn’t know I needed.

I always felt like being out and around people would make me feel more depressed, but it was the opposite.

I was already floating on cloud nine from the weed, but this drink was surely taking me over.

“Oh shit, this is our shit,” I shouted as the music played.

The DJ was now playing “No Hands” by Waka Flocka and the song brought back so many good memories of Pat and me in our younger days. I hadn’t danced this hard in so long that I needed a break mid-song.

“I’m going to get some water!” I shouted in Pat’s ear over the music.

The man she was throwing her ass back on was so fine that I couldn’t blame her for barely acknowledging me.

Making my way through the crowd, I was glad to see the bar wasn’t too busy now.

Right now, I needed cold water like I needed air to breathe.

After telling the bartender my order, I sat at the empty stool and waited.

In no time, the water and Red Bull I requested were placed in front of me.

When I reached for the tab, my head whipped to my left when it was grabbed.

My heart fell to my stomach when I realized who’d taken it.

“Sir—”

I cut my sentence short when he looked up at me.

I was about to state the obvious about the bill being mine, but the “don’t insult my intelligence” expression he gave me made me think twice.

He knew exactly what he was doing. My statement would’ve been pointless.

I sat my ass back down as I watched him give the bartender his card.

Once he was done signing the receipt, he sat next to me and took a sip of his drink before speaking.

“It’s good to see you in better spirits, Miss Lady.”

Just like the first time he spoke to me, his deep voice sent shockwaves straight to my pussy.

My intrusive thoughts halted when I thought about the fact that he was just being nice.

I knew firsthand that just because a man complimented you or did something nice didn’t always mean anything more than that.

Furthermore, there were so many beautiful women in the bar I was sure he’d rather talk to.

He didn’t look like the type of man who would go for a woman that was considered overweight.

“I am. Thank you for paying for my stuff, but you didn’t have to do that.”

“I’m well aware of what I do and don’t have to do. What you just saw was me doing something I wanted to do. Now, you said thank you, so let’s move on from that. Why were you crying when I saw you the other night?” he asked bluntly.

“Sir, I don’t even know your name and you wanna know my secrets.” I chuckled.

“I plan to know more than just your name by the time we leave this bar. The reason you were crying is a little bit more pressing to me right now though.”

“And why is that?”

He took another sip of his drink before he gave me his attention.

From the way he stroked his beard, I could tell he wanted to ponder his words before he spoke them.

A man who thought before speaking was such an underrated turn on.

It meant he had a good deal of self-control, which was something Brevin lacked.

“I don’t like seeing women in distress. Unless there’s been a death in the family, I don’t think a woman should be crying. Y’all are God’s gift to earth. Most days should feel like a walk in the park. I’m well aware that’s not the case, but just how I feel.” He shrugged.

For a few seconds, I silently debated whether I should tell this man my business. I wasn’t the first woman to go through a divorce, but he was a stranger who happened to be my new neighbor. I didn’t want any bullshit where I lived, but he didn’t seem like the type to be pressed about anything.

“I’m newly divorced. I was crying because reality had set in that my marriage was over. Having to move into a new place solidified everything,” I stated.

“I’m sorry to hear that. It always feels like the end of the world when relationships end.”

“You’ve been married before?” I questioned.

“Nah, but I’ve loved a person so much that a marriage license wouldn’t have made a difference in how I felt.”

“I get that. Shit had gotten so bad that I no longer wanted the marriage, but it’s still hard going into the unknown. Especially with my daughter.”

“You’ll be good, Miss Lady. The way I see it, that nigga freed you for a reason deeper than even he knows.

You may be hurt right now, but alignment is important in a relationship of any kind.

Trust me when I say you’d rather be sleeping alone than sleeping next to someone you don’t know anymore.

It leads to nothing but misery. With you having a baby girl, showing her examples of what a woman should tolerate is important.

All relationships are tested but knowing when to pull the plug is the line between tolerance and happiness. ”

I wasn’t sure if it was the liquor I’d been consuming or if his statement just hit home that had me tearing up.

When Brevin first filed for divorce, I felt like a failure.

I felt like I let him and Amayah down. Now, here we were, and a stranger was giving me a different point of view.

Who would’ve known I’d get this type of advice by coming out to the bar tonight.

When he stood from his bar stool, I panicked. I wasn’t ready for our night to end. He also gave me a sense of comfort I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I hate to cut our conversation short, Miss Lady. I have work waiting on me. But if you take my number, I’ll call you in the morning.”

Without hesitation, I unlocked my phone and handed it to him.

“Text me when you make it in tonight. And that’s a demand, not a request,” he said as he walked off.

He was already mixed in with the crowd before I could say something about not knowing his name.

Just as I stood to go back to the dance floor, my phone vibrated in my hand.

When I looked at the screen, the name Terrez was there, and I smiled.

Now that I knew his name, I couldn’t imagine it being anything else.

Terrez: I’ll see you soon Miss Lady.

Deciding not to respond right away, I went on to enjoy the rest of my night with Pat.

I’d do as he asked and text him when we made it back to her house.

It was inevitable that we’d be seeing each other soon since he was my neighbor.

Even if the conversation we had tonight never led to anything else, I was happy Terrez had given me a new outlook on my situation.