Page 9 of Fervor

As I watched her, I felt someone sit next to me. When I turned to see Jungle seated there, I turned straight. “I know who you are. Hopefully, you ain’t here on no bullshit.”

I frowned slightly. “What’chu mean? I didn’t doubt that you knew who I was. Vegas too.”

“He remembered you hustling for us but didn’t know that Mo was your father.”

I frowned harder. “I mean, I wouldn’t even call that nigga my father. More like my sperm donor. How you knew?”

“Ice. He always told me everything. Yunique is my homegirl, practically my sister, and I think you should stay away from her.”

“Nigga, what?”

He nodded repeatedly. “You heard me. I will dip back in the game real quick when it comes to family. Don’t think I forgot or that I’m rusty.”

I stood, and he did as well. We were staring each other down. Something was going on. His voice sounded hostile, but I didn’t see that same shit in his eyes. “Hey. What’s going on?” another woman that resembled Yunique asked.

“Nothing for you to be worried about, Sasha. Harlem was just leaving.”

I turned my lip up and nodded. When I saw Vegas approaching with a frown on his face, I gave him a head nod and made my way to the exit. I was clearly outnumbered. There were at least six other niggas watching our interaction. I had Vegas’s number, so it wouldn’t be the last they heard from me. I wasn’t angry, but I knew there was some shit in the past that I wasn’t privy to.

When I got to the exit, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Vegas standing there. “What’s up?”

“Man, I didn’t fucking know. I never saw you around his shady ass.”

“That’s because I didn’t have dealings with him. So thank you for ridding the earth of his ass.”

He frowned hard. “What’chu know about that?”

“The streets talk. I know it was you. I don’t give a fuck either. What all that shit got to do with me talking to Yunique?”

“You remember Yonkers?”

“Yeah, vaguely. He was in Ice’s firing squad. Why?”

“That washerfather.”

I slowly shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. “Is that supposed to be something significant?”

“You really don’t know.”

“Know what?”

“There’s some trauma there. It’s not my place to say, but Jungle is right. You pursuing Yunique won’t end well. I can promise you that.”

With that, he walked away, leaving me scratching my head trying to figure out what the fuck they were talking about.

When I got to Arranged Hearts, I could feel my palms sweating. I was so damn nervous. Giselle told me that I would have butterflies and nervous jitters, but once I was inside the interviewer’s office, that would all fade away. I had requested Kerri, the same woman she interviewed with. I approached the front desk and let them know I was here for my appointment, then had a seat in the waiting area.

The other night had been weird as hell. Sitting there talking to Harlem had me feeling more sensitive than I had in years with a man. However, while I was dancing and stepping with Alexz and Skyler, I saw him leaving. I wasn’t sure what had happened, but whatever it was, it had to be for the best since I was coming here anyway. There was no point in me paying all this money if I was going to try to get to know him.

“Doctor Mott? Kerri is ready for you.”

I stood from my seat, trying to shake off the nervous jitters, and followed her to Kerri’s office. My mind was still on Harlem and the way he stared at me a couple of nights ago, and it was driving me insane. I didn’t know if he was serious about going through Arranged Hearts or not, but if we got matched, I would die a slow death. It would make me face my fears about ex thugs and street niggas. Was I ready to do that and to that extent?Probably not.

When the receptionist got to her office, the door was open. “Kerri, Doctor Mott is here.”

She smiled big and stood from her seat. “Hello! Welcome! Have a seat wherever you’re comfortable.”

I smiled back, and my nerves seemed to relax for the moment as I said, “Hello. Thank you.”