Torn Read Online Free Page B

textbook when suddenly the potent smell of flowers hit her nose. Following the scent, Mo looked up and was pleasantly surprised to find Quan standing before her with a dozen pink tulips in hand.
    Automatically, her face brightened with a smile. The man looked good enough to eat in a Nautica T-shirt, creased jeans and white leather classic Reeboks. His hair was braided to the back and a Turkish chain with a Q pendant swung from his neck.
    "He-he-hey, Quan," she stuttered as she lifted the top up on the dryer.
    "What you stuttering for? You must know you in trouble."
    "What? What I do?" Mo pretended, playing dumb.
    "I should kick yo' ass, you know that?" He took a seat next to her.
    "What I do?"
    "You've been duckin' and dodging a nigga, that's what."
    "I haven't been dodging you. I've just been busy. You see me studying, don't you?"
    "Yeah, right. You playin' games, ma, but it's cool. I got you these." He handed her the flowers.
    "Ahh, thank you. They're so pretty."
    "What you got on the agenda for today?"
    "Nothing, really."
    "Well I want you to take a ride wit me when you finish getting' yo' wig fixed."
    "Okay."
    "Don't be on no bullshit, Mo," he warned.
    "I won't." She smiled, looking into his pretty brown eyes.
    "A'ight ... I don't want to come back and find out yo' ass done already burnt out."
    "I'ma be here, I promise."
    Just as promised, when Quan returned Mo was right where she said she would be. She looked even better than she did before. Her shiny black hair was flat-ironed straight, with a part in the middle, which gave her an even more exotic appeal.
    "So where you taking me?" she asked as he opened the door for her.
    "Don't worry about it. Just sit back and chill." That night, Mo and Quan spent the entire evening together. Two months later, she lost her virginity. Quan arrested the coochie and her feelings got cuffed, but Mo still tried to play hard to get. It was of no use, though. Cupid hit a bullseye and the arrow landed directly in the center of her heart. Anybody with eyes could see that the girl was in love.
    She had no idea that the feelings she had for Quan would go from a flame to a full blazing inferno. Sometimes she found herself so deep in love that it hurt. He wasn't the man that she'd envisioned as a child, but in reality he was as close to perfection as she would get. She knew that Quan was trouble with a capital T, but for some reason she thought that she could tame his bad boy ways. Despite his selfish attitude, Quan showed her another side of life.
    Quan gave Mo what she was longing for the most - a mother. As soon as his mother, Mrs. Mitchell, met her, she fell in love. Even though they had an age difference, Mrs. Mitchell knew that Mo was the one for her son. She had a sincere sweetness about her that most of the girls he brought home didn't.
    In return, Mo showed Quan that even though he was having a good run in the streets, being on top in the dope game wouldn't last forever. He would either wind up in jail or dead.
    Knowing she was telling the truth, Quan flipped some of his money and went semi-legit. He and Mo were living the fairytale life she always hoped for. Or so everyone thought.
    Quan was nothing like the ebony prince in her daydreams.
    Her mother never told her that they would curse, cry, scream and lie. She never told her that his royal kiss wouldn't awake her from the evil reality that she would be left alone to pick up the pieces. She never told her that he wouldn't make all her dreams come true. Mo didn't know what part of the story this was.
    Sometimes she wondered why she even loved Quan so much. Maybe it was the way he made her feel special and showered her with attention, or the fact that his family welcomed her with open arms. The only thing she knew for sure was that nine years, three miscarriages, numerous flings, heated arguments and a few knock-down drag-out fights later, she was further deep in love and more confused than ever.

3
    Wifey Material
    The next morning, Mo