“So what was that little maneuver I saw over there?” Ernelle asked as she stepped into the back room with Regina. They both got a half-hour dinner break two hours into their shift, but Ernelle had waited until Regina returned before leaving the bar.

“Just showing him who’s boss, that’s all,” Regina grinned.

“What did he want to talk about?”

“Wanted me to go back and sign the contract, that’s all.” Regina replied nonchalantly.

“Yeah, so what did you say?”

“I told him to fuck off! What do you think I told him? I mean the fucker says that I fucked him to get that deal when he knows I didn’t and then expects me to jump and do what he says to just so he could get out of trouble. I don’t play that game. I don’t care if I have to work here seven nights a week and get a job at a fast food joint to survive, I am not gonna go back there for him.” Regina said, completely annoyed at the whole situation.

“Then what was that out there,” Ernelle asked seriously.

“Fucker gets off on women who don’t want him,” Regina replied grabbing her water and taking a drink.

“But you do want him,” Ernelle added, completely confused.

“Ernelle, to tell you the truth. I don’t want that lovey dovey crap. The only person I wanted that with is Mario, regardless of how much he would never give it to me. I’ll never care about someone as much as I did him. Em’s a good fuck, that’s all. If I want a dose of love I’ll pick up a Nora Roberts and puke it up later,” Regina replied leaning back and kicking her feet up on the table.

“That’s a lie and you know it!” Ernelle choked.

“Yeah, I know I asked you if he was interested in me, but Ernelle, I’ve thought about it, I really don’t want that kind of stuff with him. Mario was the one guy I really cared about, but we can’t be together never could. I’m not gonna get into another Benny situation and that’s what this would be.”

“See, and that’s exactly why you two are perfect for one another!” Ernelle shouted with a grin.

“Ernelle, don’t push it.” Regina snapped.

“You are, I mean look at you, both of you denying that you want something to do with the other, and you have so much in common. You both rap, you’re both stubborn as shit, both have tempers that go off in a second, do I need to continue?” Ernelle asked.

“I’m done talking about this,” Regina replied giving Ernelle a sidelong glance.

“What about the fun stuff you two did together?” Ernelle asked.

“What, having him sleep with me, waking him up, going to lunch with him?” Regina asked.

“Yeah, didn’t you like that?”

“It was nice,” Regina said slowly, the image of Marshall’s sleepy face as she woke him up gently, floated in her brain. She smiled involuntarily.

“Regina, you and Mario are not going to get back together.” This snapped Regina back to the moment.

“I know that!” Regina snapped.

“Then why don’t you let this guy sweep you off your feet? Or at least knock you off the curb?” Ernelle said sheepishly.

“It’s hard Ernelle. I lived my life the one way or twenty years, and then, it was gone. And then, Jeremy, well, you know what happened with him. And Benny, he was just easy to be with. It wasn’t love, or anything like that,” Regina said shaking her head.

“He was just abuse, that’s what he was. Regina, come on, just because Maria died, it doesn’t mean you’ll never be happy again. It’s okay to want to be happy, and if Em does that for you, what the fuck does it matter to anyone else?” Ernelle asked.

“Quit talking like it’s some kind of option for me to be his girlfriend or something! I’ve only known him for a few days. Besides, he don’t care!” Regina said annoyed, She got up, threw her water bottle in the garbage and stormed out.