“Why are you looking like that? Who’s at the door, Reminisce?”
“If I tell you, are you gonna let me beat his ass?”
Confusion swept her features. “Reminisce.”
With my hand still gripping the doorknob ready to unlock, I tilted my head, waiting for an answer from her.
“Yeah. Now who is it?”
I smiled so hard my teeth threatened to shatter, but in the same second I had the door open and I drew back and sent my fist in ol’ boy’s direction so fast he stumbled back into the decorative chair Karim kept in the corner of her porch.
“Ouch! What did you do that for?” he all but squealed.
“’Cause I’m tired of fucking seeing you. The grocery store was probably a coincidence, but right here. You planned this but didn’t realize how bad of an idea this was. Not until now.” I watched him struggle to stand to his feet. “See baby, that’s how you throw a punch. Nigga still dazed, fucking up the warning I’m tryna give him,” I called over my shoulder.
“Yeah whatever, close the door.”
“I am.” Then I looked at him. “The next time I see you, be it coincidence or on purpose, I’ma fuck you up. As a matter of fact, every single time I see you it’s on sight. Shit, I’d advise you to invest in one of those silicone masks because Chicago is only so big, and after the third ass whooping, you’re gonna start feeling like you’re healing slower than you’re receiving the beatings. As a matter of fact, if I were you I’d just move. But that’s up to you, enjoy the rest of your evening, brother.” I closed the door before he was fully standing.
What I didn’t expect was for Karim to be standing so close behind me.
“Now why did you do that? He plays police games, Rem.”
“Because he hurt you, and if he does, you better be ready to act dumb and bail me out.” I leaned down and picked her up. She immediately wrapped her legs around my waist.
“And you know I will. But was it necessary to tell him you’d beat his ass every time you saw him?”
“Yup, and that damn sure wasn’t no empty threat. It was loaded like a motherfucker.” I walked us over to where I’d set my bowl on the counter. “Grab that.”
She did as I asked and I walked us over to her couch. I took a seat with her in my arms.
“Why would you though?”
“Because he hurt you and I don’t like that.”
“So does that mean when I see your baby mama I get to beat her ass?
I chuckled, getting exactly where she was coming from. I didn’t like her being hurt by somebody, and apparently, she didn’t like me being hurt by anyone either. “Yeah, we’ll rock, paper, scissors ’bout it when the time comes.”
With the spoon from my food in her hand, she dug into the bowl and scooped up some chili, holding the spoon to my lips. “How do you know the time will come?”
“Because folks don’t know how to leave well enough alone. Folks is Pynk. She’ll be back, thinking shit is a game.” I accepted the spoonful of food.
“Bet. Now on another note.” She scooped more chili up for me, then held it to my lips, eyes locked on mine. This was probably one of the sexiest things I had experienced. Her in my lap, feeding me. My shit was bricked and I knew she felt it.
“I’m listening.” More food accepted while my hands caressed her soft thighs.
“My nephew’s birthday party is this weekend and I need you to go with me. Then my mother wants you at her dinner table next week.” She held more food to my lips.
“Youneedme to go to the party?”
She rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Yes. To meet my brothers. Are you okay with that?”
I chuckled. “The fuck I’m not gonna be for? Them your folks, but they’re mortal just like me. Unless it’s some alien shit going on they bleed red just like I do.”
She laughed, leaning over to the side to set the empty bowl on the end table. “Well. Then that’s settled.”
“It is.” I leaned forward, inhaling her scent. She always smelled like some sort of vanilla or cocoa. I could tell she loved warm scents, the ones that made her smell edible. “You about to come shower with me?”
