This is perfect.
My new car drives like a dream; I don’t even care that it’s used. I’m still so grateful that Dante was kind enough to buy me something as huge as this. I’ll spend the rest of my life figuring out how to repay him, even though he’s made it more than clear he doesn’t want anything from me but my unconditional love.
We drive around the city for a few hours, just to get out of the house and enjoy the nice weather.
Luckily, Dante and I both have amazing bosses who put our needs first, and they’ve allowed us to take as much time off from work as possible. We both plan to go back to work next week, although Dante really doesn’t want me working anymore.
“Why?” I’d asked when we were lying in bed a few nights ago.
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. “I don’t want you to work so hard, Essence. You’ve done enough; it’s time to let someone take care of you.”
I get where he’s coming from, but I’m used to working for what I have. I’m definitely not opposed to staying at home, but I’d rather we were at least married first.
And I don’t think I’m quite ready for such a huge life event, so going back to work it is.
A few hours later, I pull up to Ebony’s house so she can see my car.
“Hey, sis!” I yell as I run up the driveway to greet her. She wraps her arms around me and holds me tight.
“Matthew has been so lonely without you,” she says as we pull away.
I pout. “I miss him. Is he still at school? We brought Lunchbox.”
She nods. “Chris just left to go get him, but he has swim lessons today so they won’t be home for a while.”
Her attention travels over my shoulder, and when I turn around, I realize she’s looking at Dante. My heart skips a beat as I watch his tall frame get out of my small car. He rolls his head around and stretches his neck, and I instantly feel bad for making him drive around with me for so long. I hadn’t taken into consideration that he might be uncomfortable, and of course he didn’t say anything because that’s who he is.
Ebony hums appreciatively and crosses her arms over her chest. “I take it things are still going well with the hunky firefighter?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows.
I laugh and roll my eyes, but I feel my cheeks burn. “Yeah. He’s amazing, Ebony. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
She nods and runs a hand down my arm. “You deserve a guy like him, baby girl. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this happy, not even when you and Evan first started dating.”
I nod in agreement. “Yeah, but, uhhh—please don’t mention Evan around Dante,” I say quietly as he walks up the driveway to where Ebony and I are standing on the porch.
“Why?”
“He gets mad.”
Mad is an understatement, but she doesn’t need to know how dark Dante’s mind can get. I don’t need her worrying about me anymore.
“Okay,” she agrees.
When he reaches us, Dante wraps an arm around my shoulders and smiles politely at my sister.
“Hi, Ebony,” he says like a perfect gentleman. “It’s good to see you again.”
Ebony smiles. “Hi, Dante. Thank you for taking such good care of my baby sister.”
He looks down at me; my stomach does all kinds of backflips any time he looks at me like that.
“She’s my whole world, Ebony. I’ll always take care of her.”
He kisses me softly, but respectfully in front of Ebony, and the three of us chat for a bit before Lunchbox starts barking at us from the car.
Ebony follows us back to the car and stops to pet Lunchbox.
“I want to see you more, Essence,” she says, leaning against the driver’s side window.
