“What kind of promotion?”
“I mean outside of me I don’t have a manager and she’s damn good at her job. She knows how everything runs. She’s dependable. I feel like it couoldn’t hurt to at least try it out. Then maybe I won’t have to come in here every night.”
“I’m not mad at it and I’m sure Layla would love the upgrade.” I sat back in my seat. “Can you afford it?”
“What?” Asante stopped shoveling food in his mouth and looked up at me.
I didn’t beat around the bush or try to lie.
“You’ve got some past due shit that was on your desk. I didn’t snoop. It was just there.”
“Well, I still should be able to afford it.” He didn’t elaborate.
I slid my chair closer to the desk.
“How past due is shit around here?”
“It’s not that bad.” He took another bite of food. “I have some events and shit planned so it’ll all balance out.”
“And what about right now this second? How past due is shit right now at this moment?”
“Does it matter?” Asante lifted an eyebrow. “I’m taking care of it.”
“You’re not taking care of it because if you could have taken care of it, you would have.”
Asante set his food down and met my gaze.
“What does that mean, Bishop?”
“It means I respect you wanting to take care of your business on your own but as your husband, that shit’s not going to fly.”
“You’re not my husband yet.”
“You want to piss me off tonight, baby? Because I’ll snatch my food back so quick,” I jokingly threatened.
Asante chortled and shook his head.
“Man, I told you I’m taking care of it.”
“And I’m taking care of you. I’ll foot the difference.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Let?” I repeated. “You’re not my husband yet, remember? You can’t stop me from sending my money wherever I want it to go.”
“Bishop”
“When we get married we’re giving up the ‘I’ shit for ‘us’. You think my pops is making my mom get random part time jobs to bring in her spending money? You think King is letting Xavia’s cards get past due? Fuck all that. My money is going to be our money and I want you to get used to spending it. That’s what I work for. That’s what my family works for, to take care of ourselves and the families we create. For me, that’s you. You’re the base of this family I want to create and,” I shrugged. “This gon’ be half my shit anyway.”
Asante full out laughed at that statement.
“Oh. Word?”
“You ain’t ask me for no prenup so yeah. This is gon’ be my club ran by my husband and I’m gon’ pay our bills.” I watched Asante look off and absently tap his knuckles on the desk.“You’re not failing,” I said simply and he looked back at me. “Businesses go up and down but I know you gon’ get it back right and when you do you can put the money back in our account. That’s it.”
“So, it’s a loan?” Asante asked.
“If that’ll make you feel better.” I leaned forward, grabbed one of his fries and tossed it into my mouth. “After all the shit you do or did for me that you can’t put a price tag on, I’m not clocking you for a couple of grand, Asante but if it means that much to you, you can track it yourself.”
