Read Online Only the Strong by Jabari Asim - Free Book Online Page A

it makes me want to cry. Don’t worry, I picked out something I knew you would like. See?”
    Guts took a step back and saw that she had already mounted two paintings of ducks and had two more to install. The ducks looked nearly as real as the ones in Fairgrounds Park.
    â€œThey’re Audubon prints. Don’t the feathers look like you could just reach out and ruffle them? These are mass-market copies, but I figured if the frames were fancy enough they’d look just as good as the originals. What do you think?”
    â€œThey’re nice. How did you get in?”
    â€œI left the door unlocked because I knew I was coming back later to surprise you with these. The back door, like you insist. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were ashamed of me.”
    â€œYou left the door unlocked?”
    â€œIt’s a good thing I checked you out before we got serious. I’d suspect you had a woman hidden in here somewhere. Sealed up in a secret room or something.”
    â€œYou left the door unlocked?”
    Pearl left the third print hanging crookedly from a nail. She got down off the chair and put her arms around Guts’s waist.
    â€œRelax, sugar,” she cooed. “Who’d be crazy enough to break into Guts Tolliver’s house?”
    Guts didn’t return the hug. “Most people don’t know this is Guts Tolliver’s house. I aim to keep it that way.”
    Pearl dropped her arms. “You really trying to have an attitude about this? Sneaking me in and out through the back, changing the subject when I ask for a key. If anybody should have an attitude, it’s me.”
    â€œSlow down, Pearl. I told you, it’s about your safety.”
    â€œI am safe. You think I’m fragile because I like pretty things…. You’re right, though. Maybe we should slow this down.”
    â€œThat’s not what I said.”
    â€œBut that’s what you’re thinking.”
    â€œHold on, Pearl.”
    â€œHold on nothing. I’m getting dressed.”
    She hurried out of the room. Guts sighed and scratched the side of his nose with his index finger.
    Pearl emerged, carrying clothes. She sat them on the chair she’d been standing on. She put on her bra, glaring at him while she fiddled with the straps.
    â€œWhy do you think I’m decorating your house?” She picked up her panties.
    â€œYou said you do these things because you care for me and I deserve it,” Guts said.
    She shook her head. “It’s because I care for us and because we deserve it.”
    â€œI thought you were happy with the way things are. I thought you understood.”
    â€œLorenzo, you treat me like a goddamn secret.”
    Guts tried a gentle approach. He took her hands in his.
    â€œBaby,” he said with a smile, “at least wait until sunrise before you start cursing.”
    It didn’t work. “Lorenzo,” she said. “Let go of my drawers.”
    Pearl put on the rest of her clothes in a furious rush. “You claim to be looking out for me, but you’re really looking out for yourself,” she said. “You’re scared, and not of somebody coming to kill us while we sleep. You’re afraid to commit to a real-life, grown-up relationship.”
    â€œBaby.”
    â€œStop with the ‘baby.’ I’m obviously not your baby. Look, you can be a gentleman and drive me home, or you can watch the doorknob hit me. And don’t fret. I’m going out the back door.”
    Guts drove her home in silence. Pearl refused even to look at him, let alone speak.
    They arrived at her apartment far too soon. She put her hand on the door handle. “Violence follows you. I get that,” she said, looking out the window.
    â€œThat’s not it,” Guts said. He paused. “I am violence. Last night, a man almost had a heart attack just looking at me. I saw everythingI’ve ever done in that man’s