“My fault. I’ll let you wallow next time.”
I threw my napkin at him, which he allowed to hit him in the face. “Just say you don’t like me and get it over with.”
“I don’t like you, Ling, I love your fine ass.”
My spoon dropped back into my soup, and I slowly raised my eyes to look at him. He was looking at me with a mixture of hungry, adoration, and a bit of fear on his face. Like he’d been waiting to say something but was now scared at how I was going to respond.
The tears were in my eyes before I could think to stop them. When they fell down my cheeks I didn’t bother to wipe them away because my mind was on being brave enough to tell him I feel.
“I love you too, Aldrich.”
“Not enough to call me Money though.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes at his never being satisfied. “That’s reserved for special occasions.”
“Facts. Call me Money when I’m putting in work like they do when I’m on the field. I can’t think of one more special than right now.” He moved from his seat and when he got on his knee in front of me my brain began to go haywire. Ain’t no way in hell he’s about—
His fingers went to my waistband before he looked at me questioningly.
I nodded my permission as I lifted my legs grateful that he wasn’t doing something rash and also happy that I was going to be flying really high soon.
He spread my legs wide and eased my panties down my lips. “Let’s see how long it takes for you to scream, Money,Tesoro.”
ALDRICH
“MY DAD USED to always say the most encouraging things. Not like he was some crazy positive person but he could keep you focused on what was going on in your life. At least he could for me. When I would get down or discouraged, he had a saying for me or a story that would make my perspective switch and then I was back to being focused.”
We were lying in bed after we’d gotten through making love to one another. I’d eaten Sterling after I’d eaten and it was a sampling of what was to come for the rest of the night. We did the family thing and got Ami down for bed. I was exhausted, but never too tired to spend a few hours with Ling before I absolutely had to get to bed. Between meetings, workouts and practice, my days were full but I would always do what I could to make time for my family. Talking about my dad with Ling as she lay on my chest in the silence of our room was the type of vulnerability I didn’t think I’d be able to tolerate at the beginning of the year.
“I have to say that you’re that way too. At least the glimpses of you I see when you’re not letting the world beat your ass.”
She giggled softly as she talked shit about me like it was no big deal. I looked down at her and couldn’t keep the laughter out of my tone. “What you mean?”
“I’ve gone back and watched your games. Your ads. Seen the way you always had an easy smile and were never bigger than the program. Your teammates all speak so highly of you, and so do your coaches. You’re a likable guy, Aldrich and in this dayand age that’s scarce. In your sport, it seems like you’re a fuckin’ unicorn.”
“Not a unicorn I just don’t let another nigga’s bullshit weigh me down.”
“Tell me about him.”
“Why?”
“Because I can hear the pride in your voice when you speak on him. And right now I think you need one of those pep talks or stories from your dad. Just because he’s not here to give it doesn’t mean that his good advice was laid to rest with him.”
She had her hand running over my chest and it was about to put me to sleep or have my head back between her thighs if she kept on being fresh with me. I knew it sounded crazy but seeing how Sterling loved Ami made me want to give her a football starting lineup of kids. She did this nurturing, caring, loving thing like it was easy and despite having the background she did, she never felt like caring for us was beneath her. In my eyes, she was the total package and even more than I could’ve wanted in a woman and a partner. Anthony and I had been talking and we were both of like mind that Aphrodite and Sterling were it for us.
“You're trying to put me to sleep the way those nails are scratching my chest. Keep on and I’m gonna need them digging in my back again.”
“I’m not sure if you’re trying to get me to stop or go harder,Money.”
She knew what she was doing and as I leaned down I knew her lil pussy would be leaking again. “You shouldn’t even have to ask.”
She giggled again but didn’t still her hand. The room was just cold enough to make our cuddling comfortable even after the workout we’d had. “Back to what we were discussing.”
I settled into a more comfortable spot on the bed and shifted her even closer to me. Our legs were still intertwined and I loved how her body felt on me. “My father’s family is from DR.”
“There's lots of crazy shit going on there.”
“Always. The craziest part is the way they keep trying to act as though they’re better than Haiti. Same land just different colonizers. My father actually discovered that one of our distant ancestors was with a Haitian man so we have no clue why this intense disdain for them still permeates.”
