Reece made her rounds, delivering orders to the vendors she allowed to sell her buckles and jewelry, making sure to spend time talking with them because she wanted their experience to be personal.
She appreciated their business and needed them to know as much. I fell back unless she personally brought me into the conversation. She made a point of introducing me to pretty much everyone she came in contact with. After the first introduction as her man, I let it ride. I assumed because I didn’t object when she claimed me publicly that I was cool with it. I was…
I respected that. Reece was a whole vibe. People loved her because she gave them a type of energy that was sweet and genuine. I watched her all morning and afternoon, knowing I could easily settle into a life where everything I did was in pursuit of keeping that beautiful ass smile on her face.
That was proven when we went to drop off gifts she’d made for her homegirl. Whatever the day was, I was going with the flow.
“Oh shit, that line is crazy. I need to help because Meleck looks like he’s struggling and Amara is MIA. Can you give me a minute?” she said, shoving the bags she carried in my direction. Along with speaking to the vendors selling her pieces, Reece didn’t miss an opportunity to grab a few things she wanted. I loved that she ran up a tab and didn’t object or give me push back when I stepped up to swipe my card.
It felt good knowing she was already comfortable with my role as her man. I would give her anything she wanted, and right now, it was a bunch of random ass holiday stuff that kept a smile on her beautiful face.
“Yeah, go do your thing.”
She jumped right in, helping with the line. She was close to Wren. Reece had already explained their friendship, but seeing them together made me truly understand how deep their bond was. It also allowed me to see another side of Reece, where she was unguarded because she was in a space where she could truly be herself. Knowing she had the same smile and energy with hergirl that she did with me, further confirmed she wasn’t on any bullshit or performing when it came to us.
What I also loved was the way she kept checking in. Every so often through the rush, her eyes were on me, making sure I was straight. I wasn’t pressed about Reece helping her girl but appreciated that she respected me and my time. A woman who would consider my needs was damn sure a win because I would always consider hers.
“Baby, the bag.”
Hearing Reece’s voice made me realize I had been lost in my head because she had eyes on me with a big ass smile on her face, waving me over. I shifted everything I was holding and handed the bag off before speaking to everyone. Reece’s homegirl handed her one too then we were heading back down the sidewalk with Reece tucked at my side.
“Thank you for that.”
“You don’t need to thank me. That’s your people. I would never get in the way of that.”
“I know but still.” She grinned. “And that right there is why I don’t set up my own booth. I did that my first year and was stuck at a table the entire time I was out here. The only thing I got to experience was the tree lighting because it was so busy.”
“That’s a good thing though.”
“It is but I missed Jubilee. The next year, I talked to a bunch of the vendors and asked if they would be willing to carry my pieces. They were more than happy to do so and I still sold out, but I got to do all this.” She flicked her wrist at all the stuff around us.
“Wait, I’ll be right back. Let me go make sure Lara got her order. You can stay here so my hips don’t work their way into the conversation,” she said dryly, making me laugh.
“Go ahead.”
Reece was happy as hell to be in the middle of this damn Christmas explosion. Jubilee was some TV type vibes but I fucked with it. There were vendors everywhere, Christmas decorations, and kids running their little bad asses through the street and up and down the sidewalks. The entire time I watched them, I thought about being a parent, yelling at my son or daughter to stop running and pay attention to the other people moving around.
That shit had a smile on my face because I could damn near picture the entire thing and see their faces clear as day. In my head they looked just like Reece’s pretty ass. The thought had me looking toward the ice rink where she was talking to the couple who owned the wood place we’d gone to.
While she was gone, I got a call from my boy Draemen. He called to check in and gave me shit about getting stuck here in Miller’s Pointe when I filled him in on everything that happened. I was quick to tell him I wasn’t stuck. There wasn’t a damn thing forcing me to be here; this was all by choice. One I gladly made because ofher…
I watched as she made her way to me and walked right into my chest, prompting me to close my arms around her. She dropped her head back and I leveled mine over hers. “How much longer do I have to freeze my ass off out here, Reece?”
“They don’t light the tree until later, but if you want to leave…”
I shook my head. “And have you sitting around the house pouting and mad at me? Nah, I’m good. I’ll survive.”
“Smart man, but I do have something that will help. I think it’s time for Cocoa Express.”
“That shit sounds very PG and that’s not what I was thinking.”
She grinned. “It’s hot chocolate with a twist. It will warm you from the inside and help with the cold.”
“Damn sure not what I was thinking but I’m down.”
Reece laughed and lifted onto her toes, stealing a kiss. “Stay here, I’ll be right back. I’m going to surprise you.”
She pulled away from me and headed to the truck parked not far from us and someone else filled her spot. I glanced at her briefly but went right back to the woman I couldn’t seem to get my fill of. The line was long as hell and Reece waited patiently, talking to the woman in front of her. While I watched Reece, Melvina watched me watching my lady.
