July's Lover

Chapter Two

"Where do we run to again? These people are everywhere," I said. I took a deep breath, allowing the cool conditioned air to fill my lungs.

"I will just sign the contract on my terms."

"You would do no such thing, I don't give a f**k about the terms," She yelled as her grip tightened on the steering.

"I have to, Ice," I punched my thigh.

"The marriage would be kept secret from my family," I said, my voice firm.

"We aren't done with the first secret and you want to keep another", she giggled and I rolled my eyes in near defeat.

"What will happen when Bill finds out?" She asked.

"I'll divorce him," I quickly responded.

"Especially now that he and my sister are expecting a baby."

"You do not have..." Ice started, but I interrupted,

"That is enough!" I raised my hand into the chilly air.

"I am in this mess because you did not allow me to divorce Bill earlier, and I will not let you put me in another mess."

Her eyes flickered to mine. "Don't you dare blame me," she yelled. "We both missed our free lives."

"I did but that did not mean I wanted any trouble from the mafias."

"Then go ahead and marry that lunatic but just so you know, your grandpa might die of hypertension if he finds out about the marriage."

"Leave that to me," I yelled.

"Fine!" She yelled back.

The car slowed and swerved into the street on our left.

"How do you intend to manage a secret marriage for six months?" Ice' calm voice broke the silence.

I shrugged. "I don't know, as long as it keeps me safe from assassination."

"You are not even afraid of the law?" Her voice rose and her eyes narrowed as the car came to a halt.

"Let us be real, girl, I would not just stab Dave for nothing. He attempted to r**e me, and my actions were legal self-defense." The memory raised goosebumps on my skin.

"I was with you that night, girl, so I know the story," she remarked as we got out of the car, the thick scent of damp earth filling the night air.

"Ice, no! I need to remind you because you have chosen to forget how I returned to the hotel room only to find one of Dave's friends ranting that Dave was dead and that he would find and kill his murderer."

The car locks engaged with a click.

"But I told you that I deleted the video," she said, her brows dropping.

"What prevented you from telling me before we fled fashion school?" I exclaimed, raising my hands.

"Hey, keep your voice down," she said quietly as she tiptoed towards me, her gaze darting to her apartment.

"What?"

As my gaze followed hers, I could only hear the distant hum of crickets.

"Someone is sitting at my doorstep," she whispered, as I noticed a figure in a hoodie sitting on Ice's doorstep, shrouded in darkness.

"By two a.m.?" I whispered as we remained motionless.

"July, is that you?" A familiar masculine voice called out from the figure's direction as he arose, and walked hastily towards us.

Ice commanded, "Get in the car, now," as she unlocked the vehicle with the remote.

My legs felt rooted to the spot, and my gaze was fixed on the approaching figure as I attempted to identify the owner of the voice. Suddenly, Ice seized my hand and dragged me to the car, whispering,

"We can not afford to wait."

"July, wait! Please don't go!" The voice yelled as the figure ran towards us, his quick steps echoing through the deserted street.

Ice quickly pushed me into the car through the rear door she had opened. Her jaws clenched as her eyes flashed with determination. She closed the door and got behind the wheel.

The figure stopped and pulled back his hood, but the moonlight failed to reveal his face. The car engine growled in the ignition, its rumble reverberating throughout my body. The headlights turned on, illuminating the figure.

"Damn it!" Ice said as we looked at the hoodie monster who turned out to be Steve.

She got out of the car without turning off the headlights as she walked briskly to him.

"What is he doing here?" I muttered, sliding out of the car with my bag.

As I drew nearer to them, I heard him beg, "I just want to talk to her."

"Well, she does not want to talk to you," Ice replied.

"July, I came to confirm if it was you I saw at the club," Steve's gaze shifted from Ice to mine.

Ice walked back to the car while I walked past him.

"And you came to my friend's house to do that," I chuckled.

"I saw you both leave together so I took the shorter route here," he replied as he walked beside me.

"Can we hang out tomorrow?"

"Are you out of your mind?" My voice, rising.

"I know I didn't treat you right, July, but I'm here now to make it up to you," he said. I refused to look at his face because that's where all his charms of pretense and lies laid.

"Honestly, Steve, I've got no time for your drama," I said as Ice hastily walked past us.

"How did you even change this much, though?" He asked.

Ice pushed the door open and went inside with me tagging behind her.

"Go home, wagwan, we need to rest," she yelled from the room while I held the door.

"Not even a goodnight kiss?" He spread his hands.

"Get that from the money Bill gave you," I said, as I banged the door shut, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.

"What audacity?" Ice yelled as she undressed in front of the mirror.

I sucked my teeth in response and collapsed on the bed with spread arms. My eyes drooped as I curled on its softness.

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The next thing I heard piercing the silence was the sound of a notification on my phone.

I picked it up and glanced at the screen. It was a w******p message from an unknown number.

'You have an hour more'

Attached to it was a selfie of Chris in front of my marital home.