“Aight. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Malik and Stetson left with her to ensure she had no trouble getting back to the gala.
“You see that nigga, you could never. But check it, go home, and get some rest. At work, outside of work, I don’t care. I expect you to stay the fuck away from her. You see her coming, you go the other fuckin way. Because if I hear you fucked with her again, there won’t be any talking. I’ll have yo ass in the hospital for real. We clear?”
“We’re clear.”
“Repeat it, so I know it’soverstood.”
“We’re clear. I’ll stay away from her.”
“Langston, clean him up and send him with a care package to keep his fuckin mouth shut,” I said, my voice back to normal.
I walked back into the ballroom, and I immediately laid eyes on Halo. She was standing with Omni and my mom, still looking a little shaken but smiling at something Omni said.
Malik approached me, “See, that’s what the fuck I was saying... unhinged, primal, but they make it so worth it. Welcome to husband club, nigga.”
I smiled, knowing he had no idea how worth it. How worthy she made me feel. There was no way a nigga was about to disrespect her in front of me and walk away scot-free to talk about it. She was a piece of me at this point.
“Son, you better marry that girl, and remind me not to get on your bad side,” Stetson said with a grin.
“Just don’t disrespect my woman. That’s all you gotta do. And I understand. I plan to.”
Our gazes met across the room, hers searching mine, inviting me closer. I went straight to her and pulled her into my arms.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m better now.” She smiled, and it was genuine. “Thank you. For defending me. For handling that.”
“Always, Angel. Always.”
Omni appeared with ice wrapped in a cloth napkin. “For your hand, dummy.”
“Thanks, sis.”
I looked back down at Halo. She was trying to hide it, but I could read her body.
“You ready to get out of here and watch that derby footage?” I asked with a wink. She smiled, pushed me, and I caught her wrist.
“I didn't scare you back there, did I?”
“No. That's what his ass gets. I'd been trying to handle it, but they already don't like women being in certain spaces. I worried they wouldn't support me, believe me, or fight for me.”
“I’ll always fight for you. Don't care if it's a man, beast, or squirrel—everybody gotta respect you or deal with me.”
“Fire doesn't scare us, remember?”
He kissed my forehead. “Never has.”
“Oh, and we go together now. I need floor seats and a suite for home games as a WAG member.”
I laughed because I already had that shit ready to go for her. I'd been thinking of her as mine long before she said yes. That's how I knew this was different—I was planning for her before I even had her.
She grabbed my hand and led us out of the gala. I walked behind her, watching her hips sway and ass shake. I prayed to God she was on demon time when we got to the crib. I was ready to bury my face and dick as deep as it would go.
The second we got in the back of the Rolls, she was in my lap.
I didn’t pull her there. She climbed over on her own, straddling me in that dress, her hands in my hair, her mouth on mine. The partition was already up, but it wouldn’t have mattered to her.
