Page 34 of Platinum Pressure

“I am, though. I gave you your space. I backed off until you started teasing me again. I ain’t intervene once while you flirted in my face until you made it a point to twerk for me to see, then you spoke to a nigga who looked like a knock-off version of me. I felt disrespected.”

I rolled my eyes. “You felt disrespected. But you thought it was cool to have two bitches in your face all night long. You know what . . . Why are you out here? Why are you bothering me? Let me book my hotel, and leave me the fuck alone, Platinum.”

“Nah, we finna clear the air. Ain’t no more bottling this shit up. We’re long overdue for this conversation. My thing is you have said several times you are going to open your private practice. I gave you more than enough money to invest in your dreams and live comfortably while you go through the process. You can’t lose your license if you’re the boss, making your own rules. If you’re scared to take a chance on loving me, just keep it real. Stand on the fact you don’t want me for real. You want the perks of being in proximity to me, like every other bitch I’ve fucked with in the past.”

His words stung. I physically flinched and clutched my chest. He didn’t understand that if they suspended my license for any reason, I couldn’t practice anywhere under any circumstances or open my private practice legally. I was tired of talking to a brick wall. My fight was gone. He grouped me in with the women of his past, and there was really no coming back from that.

“Okay. You’re right. I’m wrong. I’m the villain. It’s all my fault. You win. Is that what you want to hear?”

He ran a hand down his face. Before he could respond, the rest of the group headed our way.

“Dow!”

I heard Evie’s voice first. I quickly wiped my eyes and took my phone out of Platinum’s hand while their presence distracted him. I took a couple of deep breaths, cleared my throat, and greeted her with a smile.

“Hey, Sister! You had fun?”

“Hell yeah. Low is so funny. He’s had me cracking up all night. This is the most fun I’ve had all year. Thank you so much for inviting me out tonight.”

“You’re so welcome, my love. I really love that you enjoyed yourself tonight, boo.”

I looked over at Aida. She and Eddie were glued to the hip and giggling among themselves. She enjoyed his playful banter too much to notice my mood had changed, which I was grateful for. I wanted to disappear into the background and pretend this was all a bad dream.

Seddrick unlocked the door, and they all climbed in. Platinum paused as the girls from the section tried to ride back with him. I spared myself any more pain and sat in the front with Seddrick.

“You good?” he asked as he brought the sprinter engine to life.

I shrugged. “Just ready to go home.”

“Heard. You can adjust the AC as you need to.”

“This is fine. Thank you, Seddrick.”

“Fa sho.”

I looked out the window as Platinum climbed in without the girls in tow. Part of me hoped he’d invite them back to his place so I could leave like a thief in the night. Instead, I felt even more conflicted.

The whole ride from Houston to Cade’s Cove went by in a blur. My mind replayed our discussion repeatedly. His words haunted me. My eyes released streams of tears while I stared out into the darkness of night, trying not to bring any attention to myself.

When we returned to Platinum’s mansion, Aida and Evie gathered their things, hugged me goodbye, and drove off into the night with Eddie and Lay Low. I made a mental note to check both of their locations before I went to bed and when I woke up in the morning. It was the protector in me that needed to make sure my girls were good. Seddrick pulled the sprinter back into the garage and headed home too. It left me and Platinum alone again.

I decided it would be best to give him his space instead of igniting the fire from earlier, so I headed down the hall without another word. I pushed open the poolroom door and tugged off my clothes. I wanted to shower and lie in bed and really sit with my feelings.

Tonight was supposed to be light and fun. Tonight was supposed to be a breath of fresh air. In reality, it was dark, heavy, and suffocating. In reality, I was ready to call it quits on the job. He was far enough into his recovery that any trained physical therapist or the staff on the team could handle his regimen without me.

I took a shower for what felt like an hour. It mostly comprised of me crying under the spray of the shower head. I dried off, brushed my teeth, moisturized my skin, and wrapped a towel around my body. I went back over to the bed and sat on the edge.

A light tap against the door made me jump.

“Yeah?”

“It’s me.” His voice was deeper than usual. I assumed tonight was just as heavy for him. We’d argued like a couple when we were both very much single. Even after he hurt my feelings, I still empathized with him. It was stupid of me—foolish of me, really.

I stood up and opened the door. Platinum stood in front of the door shirtless with a diamond chain around his neck, basketball shorts hanging low on his waist, and slides. He smelled clean, smoky, and minty. His eyes were low and red but held so much emotion.

“Meadow.” The sound of my name coming from his lips made my body quake.

“Platinum.”