I know y'all are wondering, "Why is work in quotations?"

Well, I know Jerome isn't really at work. He's at his other girl's house - Tyana. Truth is, I don't even know where and when he works. I just know he's raking in enough dough to keep me and his high maitenance girl together.

Lately, Tyana's been getting more demanding: making Jerome spend more time and money on her. Or maybe - I contemplate in the shower - Jerome is moving off of me.

The warm water runs over my practically virgin body. Jerome is my first and only, and recently, he hasn't been touching me - forget about sex, I'm talking hugging, hand holding, cuddling. Hell, he barely kisses me anymore.

I turn off the water and step out of the shower, walking to my sink. I wet my face with cold water and look at myself in the mirror. A memory passes in my mind. It was a time when Jerome used to kiss me tenderly from my neck up to my lips, while holding my waist.

Back then I was dolled up, high maintenance... 

Maybe that's it. I'm not as high maintenance as before. Now my hair (or weave depending on the day) is always in a loose bun or ponytail, my nails are always french tipped, and I don't really dress up or do my makeup anymore.

I brush my teeth and get dressed in a cute bodycon jumpsuit, some furry slides, and a gold chain. I pop on some gloss, do my eyebrows, and brush down my weave into a low ponytail. Maybe this is what I need to do to get him back.

I know y'all like, "Girl, leave this fool! Why you stuck on him?" And I get it, but I'm in love. It's killing me inside but I can't function without this man. There's something about him that makes me deal with all this shit he's putting me through.

I don't think he knows I know but he knows I know something. Inside the laundromat, I attract a lot of attention. Men catcall and eye my jatty and my nipples that poke through my jumpsuit. 

I have to admit it, it feels nice. When I'm done, I get back in the car and drive around. I pause at a pizza spot and get me a slice, then I pull up to a street ball game.

One of the players pushed up on me afterwards, then one of his homies told him I was taken. The player - Shaws - still pushed up, but it wasn't as serious.

"So, who's yo man?"

I pause, my smile falling. Shawn furrows his brows, "Like that?"

"Yeah," I say in a tone usually reserved for Jerome. Shawn drapes an arm over my shoulders, "What a waste. You too bad to be wit' whoever ain't treatin' you right."

"I know, I just... It's hard, " I admit. The cutie nods, "Well, I'm here Sierra."

"Thanks," I sigh. Shawn removes his arm and taps my butt a little forcefully. I widen my eyes and gawk at the caramel cutie before me. He says in all seriousness, "What? It was there."

Did I roll my eyes to the sky? Yes. 

But I still couldn't help the smile on my face.