Page 17 of A Minute Past Midnight

“Y-you can't do this shit to me. You made vows to me. For better or worse!”

“I made vows to the woman you portrayed yourself to be. You've been lying to me since I met your crazy ass. You lied about your age, your career, your fucking last name, being pregnant, and about having a sick brother when you don't even have a fucking brother! I’m over these games with you, Ever. When I get back, you better have signed those papers and moved out of my house.”

I released her and continued with my task. She stood watching me with tears running down her face. Those tears did nothing to me but pissed me off more.

She had a lot of nerves, standing in my face pretending to be hurt when she did this shit to us. I wanted to get married only once, but now it seemed as though I'd have to find another woman who didn't play fucking childish games.

I continued packing and ignoring her sitting on the bed, face filled with solemnity. By the time I came out of the bathroom, Ever stood by the window, staring out of it.

I sighed, then walked over to her, pulling her into my arms. She wrapped her arms around my waist and cried, but still, none of it did anything for me anymore. The amount of pain she’d caused me over the years couldn't be erased overnight. Yeah, I was wrong for sleeping with Juliana while still being married to her, but I knew this shit between Forever and me was over.

I was a good nigga to her. Never once did I step out on her for the four years we’d been married, and I spoiled her to no end. Put up with her lies because, outside of that, she did have a fun personality, but I realized we were never really meant to go beyond a friendship.

I pushed her back some and looked into her eyes.

Forever was beautiful.

She favored Lisa Raye in her prime, but as beautiful as she was, she couldn't stop telling beautiful lies.

“I don't know what happened in your life, Ever, but I won't be able to do this no more with you. I was more than fair in the decree. You can have the home in Rosedale, your car, and a hundred K. I tried to stick it out with you, hoping you’d stop, but it never happened, and now here we are.”

“I-I’m sorry. I always felt out of your league. I felt like I had to lie in order to get you and keep you. You were always good to me, but I couldn't tell you the truth about my humble beginnings. I felt ashamed and unworthy of you, so I did and said what I thought was best.”

“You think I don't come from the same humble beginnings? I grew up on bologna sandwiches and Spam, shorty. Just because I got a little money didn't change the man that I am. If you felt inferior, you should have come and talked to me instead of lying.”

“I was scared, Samir. I didn't want to lose you.”

“And yet, you did that anyway.”

“We can work this out—” I quickly shook my head and stepped back.

“We can't.”

“We can. I'll stop lying so much⁠—”

“So much?” My eyebrow raised.

“You know what I mean, Samir. Just give us another chance.”

I shook my head.

“I'm out of chances, Forever. I hope the next nigga you get, you do him right. Please be gone before I get back. Be easy.” I grabbed my luggage and walked out. I had no more sympathy for her. She made her bed; now she had to sleep in that motherfucka alone.

“You finally left that schizo?” my brother, Quamir, asked as soon as I walked through my parents' door. Qua was two years younger than me, worked as my finance officer, and had a home out in Canton, Michigan.

Yet, he was always here, getting on our parents' nerves.

“How the hell did you know that?”

He smirked while biting into his sandwich. “She called Ma about fifteen minutes ago, crying and asking her to talk to you.”

I shook my head. “Where is she and pops?”

“In the back.”

I headed in that direction until I made it out onto the patio.

“What’s up, OGs,” I greeted.