Read Raw Honey | Black Lesbian Werewolf Romance :: Shitty Ex (JASMINE)

The next day, I asked Dominic out for breakfast.

Having breakfast with Dominic made half my day even better. We talked—well, mostly I talked, trying to find out more about her. She avoided some questions while answering the ones she thought were worth it.

I saw how she relaxed more, how her face softened when she looked at me, and how her lips pulled into a playful smirk whenever I said something flirtatious. I was just having fun with her.

I needed fun after my breakup with my ex. Dominic made it easy for me to be myself, even though we'd only spent a short amount of time together.

She paid the bill, despite me wanting to pay since I was the one who'd asked her out. She didn't want to hear it.

As we walked across campus, I don't think Dominic noticed she was walking with me to my class. There was a silence between us, but not the awkward kind where you feel the need to fill it with conversation.

I slowed down and stopped outside my department building. People were coming and going. Dominic looked around, gripping the straps of her shoulder bag, and then realized how far she'd come with me.

"Shit," she muttered. "It's not like I was walking you to class or anything, so don't get the wrong idea. I just... wasn't paying attention."

"But you still followed me," I teased.

Dominic smiled—a cute smile. She had dimples that weren't too noticeable unless you were looking closely. I didn't want to leave her yet. I still had a few minutes before class started.

"By mistake," she threw out.

"You don't just follow someone by mistake."

"Well, I did," Dominic said.

"Sure," I laughed. "Anyway, how's the kitten doing? I'm going to the pet store after school. Maybe we can go together? To get some stuff?"

"You're taking that thing home, right?"

"See, about that..."

"Hell naw, it's not staying with me!"

"Well, my cat's super old, and she's not going to want to be bothered by a kitten."

Dominic shook her head. "I'll just throw it out."

"No, you can't do that!"

"It was a stray when you decided to play Captain Save-A-Kitten. It can go back to being a stray."

I made a hurt expression, holding my hand to my chest. "Have a little compassion, will you?"

"It's not staying with me."

"Please."

"No."

"Please, please, please," I begged. "I'll even take the kitten on the weekends. How's that sound?"

Dominic thought for a moment. She reached out and patted the top of my head with a neutral look on her face. "Be lucky you're cute."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"If you were ugly, I wouldn't let it stay. I'd throw it out on its furry lil' ass to die."

I swatted her hand away. "Geez."

"Anyway," Dominic said. "Pet store, then?"

"Yeah."

I had to leave since class was about to start. When I glanced out the glass door, Dominic was still standing outside. She waved, and I waved back before heading down the hall.

The spring exhibit was getting closer, and I still didn't have any pictures to submit yet.

This weekend, I was planning to take some pictures of nature and wildlife in the forest behind my house. I needed to submit five photos before the deadline, and getting the perfect shot was going to take all day.

After class, I met up with Aaliyah at a smoothie bar. We sat outside under a yellow umbrella. The sun was shining, and the air smelled fresh and floral. Aaliyah wasn't saying much, which wasn't like her. She sipped her Green Power smoothie—kale, spinach, pineapple, and apples.

"Girl, what's wrong with you?" I asked, poking my straw into my drink.

"Is it obvious something's wrong?"

I nodded. "Yeah, girl."

She slumped in her chair. "It's Treyvon."

I sipped my strawberry banana smoothie, bracing myself for whatever drama was about to unfold. Aaliyah always found herself crazy over some guy who wasn't looking for anything serious.

"What happened?" I asked.

Aaliyah hesitated. "He... he told me something."

"Told you what?"

"I don't think I can say."

"Was it bad? Did he hurt your feelings? Do I need to fight him?"

"No, it's... it's nothing."

But it was always something with her. She fell too easily for the wrong guys—the ones who wanted nothing but a good time. She was a hopeless romantic who believed in love at first sight.

"Are you sure?" I asked carefully, leaving space for her to change her mind.

"He's different."

"Different how?"

She shrugged. "Can't say."

"Oookay... so, are you going to stop talking to him?"

"Oh, nah."

"Girl."

"What?"

"Is he even a good guy? Do you know that much?"

"He's better than the others."

"You've only known him for a couple of days, though. What if he isn't?"

Aaliyah sighed. "Jasmine, he is, okay?"

I couldn't judge her. I didn't want to push, but whatever Treyvon said clearly bothered her. After we finished our smoothies, we went our separate ways. She mentioned she had to meet Treyvon, and it took everything in me not to roll my eyes.

But I knew I'd have to be ready when things went south, and she shows up at my house at 3 AM with pints of ice cream and a DVD of White Chicks—her comfort movie.

I was walking across campus when I got a text from Dominic.

Dominic: Hey, are you done with class yet? We could go to the pet store.

Me: Yeah, but I have to stop by the library to pick up a book order. You can meet me in the parking lot. 😊

Dominic: K, be there in a bit.

I picked up my books and waited outside. Then Monica, my ex, appeared, running across the parking lot with a smile.

"Monica," I greeted, letting my annoyance show. "Why are you here?"

"To see you."

"How did you even find me?"

She squatted to meet my eye level. Her light blue eyes sparkled in the sun. Monica was a mixed girl—Black mom, white dad—but she looked white and was spoiled beyond belief.

"I have my ways."

"I don't like that," I said. "You know we're over, right?"

"Yeah, but I want to fix things."

"There's nothing to fix."

Monica was spoiled, always getting what she wanted. In our relationship, I'd put her needs before my own, and when she wasn't happy, I'd get the silent treatment. And of course, she cheated on me during one of her "self-care" trips to Korea.

"You're still mad about that?" she asked, tilting her head.

"I'm not mad. I just don't care anymore. Now, get out of my face."

At some point, I'd loved her, but when you can feel your love leaving, you know it's over.

"You can be such a bitch."

I decided to walk away, but before I could, Monica grabbed my arm firmly, applying pressure. She liked to get physical when she didn't get her way.

"Just hear me out," she said.

"I've heard enough."

She tightened her grip, digging her nails into my skin.

"Back the fuck off," Dominic said, appearing out of nowhere and pushing Monica.

Monica looked Dominic up and down. "You seeing her?"

"That's none of your damn business," I said.

Dominic took my hand, pulling me close. Her hand was shaking, but I knew it wasn't because she was scared.

"If I see you around her again," Dominic warned, "I'll beat your ass. No talk. Just hands."

Monica knew better than to test her and left. Dominic led me to her car, a sleek black Rolls-Royce. She didn't start it right away, just sat there for a moment.

"You okay?" she asked. "She didn't hurt you, did she?"

"I'm okay. and no, she didn't hurt me."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

We sat in traffic as I directed Dominic to the pet shop. I flipped through the radio stations but didn't find anything worth listening to, so I left it alone.

"So, who was that?" Dominic asked.

"A shitty ex."

"She wants you back?"

"Yeah, but I'm not taking her back. Any shitty exes of your own?"

Dominic signaled to change lanes. "No, more like I was the shitty ex."

"No way. What did you do?"

"The usual. Broke her heart."

"Shitty indeed. Why?"

"She found her mat—her person. It wasn't me. Neither of us could accept that."

"Why didn't she turn them down? If she loved you, she'd have chosen you, right?"

Dominic's voice had a hint of sadness. "Things didn't work out that way."

I let it go and connected my phone to play some Adele. After five repeats of Rumor Has It, Dominic begged for some YoungBoy or at least Drake.