I mocked him then chuckled. Instead of answering him, I reiterated my warning. “Stay away from my family unless you have a death wish. Understand?” He nodded, but that wasn’t good enough for me. “Nah, I need to hear you say it so I don’t flinch if you decide to test my gangsta again.”
“I’ma stay away from your family. You don’t have to worry.”
I smiled. “Oh, I was never worried, but you should be. I’m not new to murder.” I chuckled darkly then pushed him back on the ground.
I heard him yelling after me about having his wallet, but I kept going. I hopped in my truck, cranked up, then sped away without a backward glance. If he was smart, we’d never see that nigga again.
I pressed my weight into the door frame while I waited for El to let me into the house. As soon as the door opened, I pressed play on my phone. The beat to NBA Youngboy’s “You the One” began playing on cue. El tried to hide her smile, but she couldn’t help it, so she buried her face in my chest instead.
“You’re not mad at me?”
I cupped her chin and tilted her head back so she had to look up at me. I started rapping the lyrics, paying her question no mind. “You the one that I want in my life. You the one that I want every night,” I sang off-key. She had the goofiest smile on herface. “We playing this at our wedding,” I told her while wrapping my arms around her waist.
I backed her into the house, then kicked the door closed with my foot. “That is so ghetto.” She laughed, but then she said, “But you the one I want in my life too, so I’m cool with that.”
My phone continued to play similar music, so instead of letting her go, I wrapped her tighter in my arms. We stared lovingly into each other’s eyes. “Can I admit something?” I asked barely above a whisper.
She nodded. “Of course, baby.”
“I always wanted you,” I said without pause. “But I thought you would never give a hoodlum like me a chance, so I went with the girl who I felt was more my speed.” A goofy grin appeared on her face. “What?” I laughed, feeling giddy all of a sudden. But when I was around my girls, I always felt lighthearted and playful. They brought that out of me.
“I always wanted you too. I would’ve went,” she blurted with a grin.
I shook my head, “Damn, . . . So you coulda been mine, huh?”
“Beeennn!”
We shared a laugh before I sighed. “Well, it doesn’t matter. We’re here now.”
She nodded. “We are. You’re perfect, and our daughter is precious. I couldn’t be more blessed.”
“I want to live together.” I blurted my thoughts.
“Like you move in here?”
I shook my head. “Nah, like we buy a house.”
She paused. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish before she finally found her words. I knew I caught her off guard, but it was on my mind heavily. “You sure, Perfect? There’s no rush.”
I nodded. “Yes, there is. I already missed the first two years of my baby’s life. I don’t want to ever miss anything again.” Itightened my grip on her and pulled her into my chest. “So, what do you say? Ready to start a life with me?”
Instead of replying, she lifted on her toes to kiss me with every fiber of love in her body. Somewhere during the kiss, I started to taste her salty tears spilling into our make-out session. I released her to wipe them away, then I leaned my forehead on hers.
“I’m ready,” she finally replied. And that was all I needed to hear as I hiked her around my waist and carried her to the bedroom so we could celebrate our love and what was next for us.
I giggledat this quote I saw on social media, then posted it to my story just as a knock came on my office door. “Come in!” I yelled, leaning back in my seat.
I allowed my head to fall backward because I was tired. Between motherhood, entrepreneurship, and being a little slut for Perfect anytime he wanted, I was exhausted. We had started the process of house hunting as well, which kept us a little busy with our realtor. All I really needed was a little pause on real life so I could remember what it felt like to breathe deeply. In no way was I complaining about having a perfect life, but I was running on fumes.
The door swung open, and Mani came flaunting inside. “Well, hello, little miss bitch,” she greeted me with a frown.
I burst into laughter because who said things like that?Mani!That was who. “You got beef with me?” I asked when I finally stopped laughing.
“That’s what I was trying to figure out. Since your baby daddy came back in town, I don’t never hear or see your ass.” She came closer to my desk and pressed her hands into it. “If you need help, blink twice, friend.”
I couldn’t stop laughing at her shenanigans. “If you miss me, just say that,” I teased. “But I know I have been a little MIA. I just have a lot going on right now, best friend.”
She pouted before coming around the desk to plop down in my lap. She wrapped her arms around my neck like the little spoiled brat she was. “I know, but I need you too.”
