“We’re already here.”
I looked around the back of the car, dumbfounded, realizing that the car had stopped.
“I told the driver to wait until I signaled for him to open the door.” His eyes gleamed with mischievousness. He’d discarded the used condom in a trash can that was thankfully on the floor of the backseat before tapping in the window. A second later the door opened, and Xavier quickly exited, pausing by the door with his hand out for me. I couldn’t even look the driver in the eye as I adjusted my dress and patted my hair once outside the car. A few mumbled exchanges were made before I heard the trunk close and the driver told us to have a good night.
“Home sweet home.”
Another round of tingles shot through my belly as I looked over at Xavier and realized he was staring at me and not his house. He took my hand in his and ushered us up the steps to his front door.
The rest of night he showed me exactly how glad he was to be back home.
Chapter Ten
Xavier
“You know, this thing is going to be all day. You don’t have to stay the entire time if you don’t want to.”
I glanced over at Chanel, who was sitting in the passenger seat while I drove.
“It’s cool, since you agreed to the double date with my mom and Todd later this week.” In speaking to my mother the day prior, I’d agreed to finally meet the new man in her life. When I asked Chanel earlier that morning, she’d hesitantly agreed to the double date. It would be an awkward situation, given the past between my mother and Chanel’s father, but one we needed to move past, since deep down I knew Chanel and I were in this for the long haul.
“Besides, I just got back after being gone for two weeks. You trying to get rid of me already?”
She gave me a sheepish grin. “Of course not. I just didn’t know if you had any other plans. You have been gone a while. I thought you’d maybe wanna check up on your other businesses now that you’re back in town.”
I cleared my throat, keeping my eyes on the road ahead, but took her hand in mine, pressing my lips to her soft skin. “I’m good. I kept in contact with all the managers of my restaurants while I was gone. They know I won’t be available this weekend, but also know how to contact me if anything they can’t handle comes up. A’ight?”
She nodded. “A’ight,” she mocked, doing a fake deep voice to imitate me.
“Now that that’s out of the way, tell me about this event.”
“Well, it’s a day where volunteers, employees and those who’ve used the services at the women’s shelters come out and enjoy themselves a little. They have one every year, so I’m told. This is obviously my first time attending. They’ve gotten donations from local businesses to hire estheticians and massage therapists, donated professional clothing, and enrollment counselors for women who want to return to school. There are toys and events for children, and food of course.”
“You should’ve told me beforehand. I could’ve had one of my spots cater for free.”
“You’re more than welcome to do that next year.”
“Bet. I’ll put it on my calendar.”
“You don’t have to do it. I was just teasing.”
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s a worthy cause. Anyway, you said Gabby’s going to be there?”
She nodded. “Yeah, she’s one of the estheticians that normally volunteers at the shelter. What’s that look?” she questioned when I gave her a confused frown as we came to a red light.
“What does she do at the shelter?” Not to be shady or anything, but it didn’t immediately make sense to me how an esthetician or massage therapist was of use at a domestic violence shelter.
The sigh that Chanel let out told me I was about to get yet another lesson in domestic violence.
“She helps the women there to learn how to pamper themselves. Many of the women have endured years of physical abuse, and been beaten down not just physically, but mentally. Teaching them self-care through massage, facials, and even meditation helps to build their confidence again. It can be restorative for someone who hasn’t experienced a friendly or loving touch in a long time. Some of these women have to relearn what it’s like to be touched in a loving way again. Gabby helps with that.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask if she’d needed the same thing after her ex.
“And yes. After my breakup with he who shall remain nameless, I had to relearn the same thing. Gabby was new as an esthetician and would use me to practice on, but I knew she was really helping me cope with everything.”
I clenched my jaw.
“And she started volunteering at the shelter because of you?” I asked.
