“Don’t touch that door, Halo.”
He kissed my cheek before stepping out and coming around to open the door.
“Thank you, my love, for another amazing day. Facetime me later? When you get settled.”
“Of course. I’m finna fly back to Charlotte. Enjoy the rest of your day and go spend my money.”
“I still can’t believe you did that.”
“It was you who said distance is only a problem if we let it be. When I wanna push up on you, I am. I’m never going to miss the chance to come lay eyes on you, kiss that button nose, and smack that ass. Oh, and feed you.”
“Daddy, am I your baby?” I joked.
He grabbed a handful of ass, and his hand was so big his fingers were everywhere, in my folds, causing a flood in my panties. “You know you’re my baby.”
“You always start off good, and then it just goes left, and then you come back for the save. A genius.”
He grinned, brushing his thumb across my jaw. “Can’t help it. You make me wanna act right and talk crazy in the same breath. If I didn’t have a flight to catch, I’d be knee deep in that pussy right now, but I gotta get us some more M’s, mama.”
I laughed, shaking my head as he leaned down and kissed me one more time. When we finally pulled apart, I could still feel him everywhere.
“I’ll call you when I land,” he promised.
“I’ll be up waiting.”
He gave that half-smile, then got in the car as I got in mine.
All week I’d been trying to talk myself out of this. Trying to call it luck, timing, distraction, whatever made it feel less real. But standing there with his taste still on my lips, I knew better. This wasn’t fear. This wasn’t a mistake. This was the kind of man, and the kind of peace, I’d been praying for.
???
The next afternoon…
By the time Omni and Tessa showed up, I’d already cleaned my place top to bottom and tried to talk myself out of being soft about that man. It didn’t work.
The knocks came again, more insistent this time.
“Coming!” I called out, setting down my duster and heading to the door.
I figured it was either Omni or Tessa, maybe both. Since DaVinci had given me money to shop, I planned to get that out of the way today. I still had a while before the next game, but I wanted to hang out a little for more girl time since the man had interrupted us yesterday. Not that I was complaining—lunch had been perfect—but I missed my girls.
“Come in!” I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
Omni stepped in first, looking effortlessly chic in an oversized blazer, jeans, and heels. Tessa was right behind her in a tracksuit with her hair freshly done in goddess locs.
“Good afternoon,” Omni said, giving me a hug.
“Hi,” I said cautiously. “What’s happening?”
Before either of them answered, my phone rang.
My One and Only.
I didn’t even try to hide the smile.
“Hey,” I said, answering.
“Hey, baby.” His voice was warm and easy. “My sister should be there by now.
