“You know why I didn’t come home last night. I had money troubles and I had to get that straightened out. So you call yourself questioning me?” He asked with a sneer.

“I have the right to question you. You could’ve called and said you’d be out all night, Gino,” she informed, stepping out of the kitchen. “I’m your woman; the least I deserve is to know where you are and what the hell you’re doing!” Her octaves raised a height that Gino didn’t find presentable. This was his house, and no one was going to tell him when to come and go.

“Let me ask you something, Tameka,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “Who pays the rent here? Who gave you the luxury of not having to work? Who provides for you and gives you money to buy the clothes and hair that you want? It’s me, correct?” he asked as he smiled sarcastically. “That means I own all of this, including you, meaning that you have no right to ask me about anything,” he said as Tameka’s face grew hot. He was right and there was no telling him otherwise.

credibility had risen exponentially, he had been changing. He stayed out later, and would come home and not touch Tameka at times. That made her wonder, but who wouldn’t? Leaving the small argument in the wind, Tameka eagerly followed Gino to their room as she ignited her daily conversation. There was one desire of hers that Gino didn’t want to meet, but she was determined to try.

Tameka stood still, her feelings severed as he basically told her that she was like his dog. Dogs didn’t have to work and had not a care in the world except for its own well-being. Though Gino said he loved her sometimes, he treated her as if she was nothing but a product of him. Long ago she would talk back, but nowadays Gino had worn her down so much that she saw no use in trying to be smart with him. Ever since Gino’s street

“You still haven’t given me an answer on having a baby,” she said. “I just think it’s time we try.” She smiled uneasily, hoping for a polite answer with the word ‘yes’ running around in it. Gino, slightly confused at the quick turn in her mood, looked her in the face and shook his head.

“No, Meka,” he stated flatly. “I’m not about to knock you up right now. Everything is dangerous, and I don’t need anything to dent my bank account any more than you already are. Like I said the last time, you and I both aren’t ready for a kid. Babies are expensive.”

“But Gino,” she protested as he kicked his shoes off, “my maternal instinct has kicked in and I would love to have something to love and I want something that we can share. The child could be like a symbol of our love.”

“Look, I’ll buy you a little dog, okay?” he said. “We’ve talked about this a million times. Tameka, we’re not having a baby right now.” He pressed the activation button on the television remote. “End of story. No babies.”

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