“I saw you two kissing outside earlier. I mean, you’re a mother now. You have to think about your daughter and do what’s in her best interest. A man like Chris only wants one thing. You see how wild he’s been since he and Erica broke up. Rumor has it that she caught him cheating on her, and that’s why they broke up. You’re better than that, or at least you’re supposed to be. Besides, it doesn't look good when you’re being passed around the friend group.”
“Ashanti, don’t you have a husband to worry about? Last I heard, he had two other chicks pregnant while he’s supposed to be married to you.”
I shook my head as Ashanti stormed off.
“Are you okay?” Imani asked, returning to our table as Sawyer also finished with the mother she had been helping.
“I’m just fine,” I lied, pressing a smile to my lips.
I knew that I shouldn’t have gotten caught up with Christian. Conflict like that was exactly what I had wanted to avoid all along. Being confronted by Ashanti would just be the beginning. I glanced across the room to where she was on her phone. I knew she was talking to Erica and reporting back to her.
Yeah, it was definitely a mistake to mess with my ex’s best friend.
Chapter 12
Angel
After I finished making and editing my videos for the day and updating my scheduled posts, I dropped Belle off at my mother’s house, and I drove over to Christian’s. He had gotten off work earlier and had the next two days off. I wanted to talk to him about the incident that occurred at the volunteer event since we hadn’t had a chance to discuss it.
“Hey, baby.” He greeted me at the front door as he opened the door to his one-bedroom loft apartment.
Christian’s apartment was one gigantic space, and he used his furniture and rugs to create visually separated spaces. Upon entering his home, a small hallway led to the living room. Large glass doors to the right led to an intimate balcony with two chairs and a tiny table. To the immediate left was the living room that held an L-shaped sectional with a table behind it that backed against the wall. It was decorated with candles and tiny wreaths. There was also a chaise lounge with two small tables, the larger of which held two candles and a gingerbread house.
The chaise lounge and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree separated the galley kitchen from his living area. Opposite the chaise and the tree were fourteen steps that led up to his bedroom. The galley kitchen was divided in half by an island thatheld a nativity scene, and two red candles surrounded by small green wreaths. Christian could have used the other side of the space for a dining area, but he chose to leave it empty to hang paintings on the wall.
The wooden staircase with a black metal handrail led upstairs to the bedroom and bathroom. A king-sized bed and a sofa with matching cushions and pillows dominated that space. He had a TV mounted on the wall, but cream linen-paneled doors usually hid it. Barrel-shaped vaulted ceilings and a large curved window across from his bed gave the illusion that the space was bigger than it was.
The fireplace in his living room was lit, creating a cozy and intimate setting. In front of that, a baby blue and royal blue blanket was spread on the floor. It served as a table setting for two plates of food, two champagne flutes, an ice bucket with champagne, and little rose petals were littered around the blanket.
“We’re having a picnic-style dinner?” I asked in delight.
“Yeah. I thought we might do something different. Usually, you cook for me at your place, or we’re at a restaurant. I thought we might try something a little different tonight.”
“I like this a lot,” I stated with a broad smile.
“Come on then. You can wash your hands in the kitchen while I put your coat away,” Christian stated, taking my hand in his and leading me further into his apartment. He took my coat, and I washed my hands in the kitchen.
I noticed that after he put my coat away, Christian disappeared upstairs. I took a seat on the blanket in front of the fireplace and basked in its warmth and the ambiance created. Christian had done a wonderful job of decorating his place for the holidays. Pre-lit boughs of holly decorated the handrail to the stairs and the top and bottom of the glass partition that separated his bedroom from the living area. A large pre-litwreath with ribbons and antlers sticking out from it hung over the TV area of his bedroom.
On the couch, three red and white throw pillows with reindeer were scattered carelessly around, and a green, red, and white throw blanket appeared to be tossed aside on the couch.
I hopped back up when I noticed the three hand-knit stockings hanging from the fireplace. I fingered each one of them carefully. “Christian, Angel, and Belle,” I read as my heart exploded in my chest. “God, why is this man so sweet? Was he the one You made for me?” I whispered.
“Definitely,” he replied behind me as he wrapped his arm around me.
I jumped. “Oh my God! Don’t do that again, Chris. You scared me.”
He kissed underneath my jaw and replied, “You never have anything to fear when I’m in your presence. As much as I’m your lover and your friend, I’m also your protector.”
I turned in his embrace. “What’s behind your back, Chris?” I asked. He was holding me with one arm, and his other arm was behind his back.
“Oh, just some early Christmas gifts,” he replied, pulling his arm from behind his back.
He held a bouquet of amaryllis out to me. “These are for you, beautiful. I know women love roses, but they’re so cliché. You will get your roses, but I thought these were more fitting for the season.”
I poked my bottom lip out in a pouty smile and looked up at him with watery eyes. “Why couldn’t I have met you first?”
“Because I wasn’t ready for you. Although I was attracted to you, my spirit, my soul, and my heart weren’t ready to care for a gift as precious as you at that time. Jeremiah was a distraction in your life while God prepared me for you.”
