Ishmael’s hand on my arm brought me back to life. Something inside of me died every time he vanished. I closed my eyes, remembering happier times. When there was Richie and Chemistry, and I didn’t have to watch him leave. And, our time together wasn’t brief. He could stay longer. He could stay forever.
“Are you okay?”
I shook my head, turning into his chest. “No. I’m not. But, I will be.”
“Talk to me.”
He pulled my chin toward him.
“Another day, Ish. Today is your day.”
“For you,” Roulette said, handing me a glass of champagne. “And for you.”
She handed Ishmael a glass. He accepted it.
“You’re drinking now?” I chuckled.
“I’m drinking now, my baby.”
“Good for you.”
“Alright everyone,” Cameron called over the loud chatter. “I would like to start this toast by congratulating the new mayor of our city. A beacon for change. A trailblazer. A waymaker. A selfless, genuinely caring man. I don’t think I could ask for a better boss. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work alongside of you. Matte–”
Matte raised her glass. Thankfully she didn’t attempt to put one foot in front of the other. She kept her back against the wall as she began.
“Mayor Grayson has shown me that nothing is impossible. I’ve worked the hardest in the last few months than I have in my entire life and it was because I knew this man deserved this spot more than anyone else on the ledger. It brings me great joy that we were able to make that happen for him. Our work doesn’t end here. Congratulations, Mayor Grayson… Royce–”
With wide eyes, I pursed my lips. Sensing my uneasiness, Ishmael positioned me in front of him.
“I–uh– I hardly believe anything is a coincidence. Ishmael has perfect vision, so him almost running me over feels more like fate than a mistake on his part.”
Giggles filled the space my words hadn’t.
“Nevertheless, I noticed so many special components about him then. One look into those big, dark eyes and something happened to my heart. I mean– it was immediate. He didn’t feel like a stranger.”
I pushed my emotions down my throat.
“He felt sacred. And, I felt like I’d been tasked with his safety. I had to take care of him. I had to help him handle things. I had to help him find his way. As much as I tried dismissing the urge, it stuck to me like glue.
“Shortly after our encounter, I was asked for a favor from someone I love dearly. If he asked, then the job was already done. It was that simple. To my surprise, I walked into the office of the man I’d been trying to rid my thoughts of since that perfectly imperfect night.
“And, I discovered why he felt sacred. I discovered why I’d been tasked with his safety. I discovered why I had to take care of him. I discovered why I needed to help him take care of things. I discovered why I was tasked with helping him find his way. And, I also discovered why the urge stuck to me like glue.
“Because, in the midst of my tasks, he had some of his own. He, too, felt as though I was sacred. He, too, had been taskedwith my safety. He, too, felt as though he had to take care of me. Take care of my things. Help me find my way. His urge wouldn’t allow our rough beginning be our ending.
“Ishmael is something fresh out of a dream. My dream. And, because he is so good to me, I don’t doubt for a second that he won’t be as good to Berkeley. He’s exemplified it time and time again. His commitment to the city is commendable.
“The time he spends with his boots on the ground is commendable. The passion and devotion to the youth is commendable. The love he has for single mothers is commendable. His knowledge is commendable. His head is in the right place and Berkeley is blessed to have him. So– cheers to you,my baby. Cheers to Mayor Grayson.”
“To Mayor Grayson.”
My glass touched Ishmael’s glass. However, it never touched my lips. He did. As quickly as he’d spun me around, he turned me back around. Positioning me on his rigidness.
“You got my dick hard, my baby.”
He slid his arm around my waist.
“Can you put ‘em down for me?”
