“So, you get the shakes if you don’t have a cup of coffee?” I asked with an eyebrow raised.
“Yup, and I’m a whole lot of bitch. Before you ask, blame my mama. You saw when she was at my place this morning, she didn’t have shit done but that Café Bustelo. It’s probably hereditary.” She shrugged.
“Rim, I got the pad so we can play.” Romance’s voice announced her presence in the kitchen.
I sipped from my tea then looked at the Alexa monitor near the fridge for the time. “Nah, baby. You ’boutta eat and chill out before your bath.”
“But, Daddy,” she whined and I sighed. That “but daddy” shit was gonna be the end of me.
“Let the iPad charge and eat. You can play after that.” I’d never bargained so much in my fucking life. It required patience.
“Umm. Okay, You’re gonna play with me, right Rim?” She looked from me to Karim.
“Of course. Go make sure it’s charged so we can play all night.”
“Okay.” Romance left the kitchen seconds later.
My eyes immediately went to Karim. “Yo’ lying ass.”
She laughed. “How do you know I was lying. I had every intention of playin?—”
“Nah, ’cause yeen come over here for her. You here for me.”
She laughed. “Selfish much?”
“Damn right. Now c’mon, let me feed you and her lil greedy ass.” I moved around her and went to wash my hands. Once finished, I grabbed paper plates from the cabinet and handed one to Karim before making Romance’s plate. I finished just in time for her to come back into the kitchen.
Once I got my baby set up at the table to eat her food, watching ol’ girl with the overalls, me and Karim ate at the island in the kitchen. I was completely obsessed with this woman and it didn’t dawn on me until I stopped fighting it. Maybe I wasn’t fighting shit, but instead afraid of fucking up whatever this was before it started.
Chapter
Six
Karim
Never in a million years did I ever think I’d be here at Reminisce’s home, in his space and enjoying his company. I told myself repeatedly I couldn’t get too comfortable too fast or get too into him, but how could I not? He was showing me a different side of him. He was really trying, and so far, I was in awe.
“Romance, it’s time to go to sleep, baby girl.” His voice carried from the kitchen to where she and I currently were playing the game I’d introduced her to back at the restaurant. I was an auntie, so I knew all the cool shit from Roblox to the apps.
“But, Daddy, one more minute please.” She held her little index finger up, signaling that minute.
“Nah, that was five minutes ago. Karim don’t know shit about games. Why yeen ask me to help you?”
“Because, Daddy, you don’t play games. Rim do, and she’s good at them.”
The expression on his face had me cackling instantly.
He cut his eyes at me, making me laugh even harder. How was he gonna be mad that she didn’t want him to play the gamewith her? “Bed now, Romance,” he repeated, this time with a little more bass in his voice.
“Okay. Can we play in the morning, Rim?”
I was about to respond, but he did. “Naw, now give me the tablet so I can put it on the charger.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was pouting.
I watched her stand up and walk to the end of the couch before hopping down. She then handed him the tablet. “Daddy, can Rim tuck me in?”
He threw his head back in shock, then looked from me to her. “Yeah, I mean, if she wan?—”
“Yeah, I got it.” I was on my feet in seconds. “Where is her hair bonnet?”
