He crossed the kitchen and lifted a piece of fish while they both watched and waited. Samari was anxious while Kendra was amused.
“Shit, baby, might be better than yours.” The smirk on his face was proof that he was just teasing his wife.
“Don’t get yourself into trouble you can’t find your way out of, Lee,” she warned.
“I know better than that,” he said and crossed the kitchen, dropped a kiss on her cheek ,and winked at Samari. He made sure to grab another piece before he left the two of them to the conversation he felt he’d interrupted.
Kendra turned her attention back to Samari. “The Delane men love hard. It’s in their nature to be protectors, you just make sure you love him just as much and protect him just as fiercely. Promise me that.”
Samari lifted from her chair and leaned down to hug Kendra. “I promise.”
“Okay,” Kendra said softly. The only thing either of them could control was the way they loved the men who loved them and that was a commitment Samari was more than willing to stand firm on. She didn’t need Kendra’s guidance when it cameto that because it was already deeply rooted in the need to give to Asao what he had easily become in her life, everything…
After she left Asao’s parents’ house, Samari made the hour drive to Crescent Cove and parked her car next to Asao’s Jeep. She smiled because they now had a routine. He occupied the left side of the small driveway, giving her the right. His reasoning was because that put her closest to the front door. She thought about his mother’s words. It was in their nature to be protective.
When she stepped inside, the kitchen was the first stop, where she tossed her keys and purse on the counter along with the two bags of food she’d left his parents’ house with. She yanked at the knot of one and removed a container that held several pieces of fish along with potato wedges then did a quick search to find her man.
After noting the bedroom was empty she stepped out back where she located Asao stretched out on the lounge chair with Sound Beatz on his head and his phone face down on his chest. She kicked off her shoes and made her way to him, placing the food next to them on the small metal table before she climbed in next to her man, who lifted his arm, welcoming her into his personal space the minute he felt her presence.
With his free hand, he removed the headphones and placed them on the table next to the food and lifted one of the containers, examining the contents.
“I’m pretty sure this is my spot,” Samari said while he placed it on his stomach and worked the lid free which took some effort because he used one hand.
“You want me to move?” He turned in Samari’s direction and kissed the top of her head, then lifted a piece of fish. She grinned and shook her head.
“I see them cooking lessons started,” he said, fully examining the fish which had Samari frowning.
“Why you looking at it like that?”
“Try to see which one of y’all made this, so I can set my expectations.”
She shoved the side of his head. “If you don’t eat that damn fish and tell me it’s the best you’ve ever had then I know something.”
He smirked and took the first bite which consumed half the piece he’d selected, nodding as he chewed. Before he gave his thoughts, he shoved what was left of the fish into his mouth and lifted a second piece.
“I’m going to have to tell my OG she got you right.”
Samari lifted her head. “How do you know she didn’t make that?”
“’Cause it’s straight but it isn’t hers,” he said with a smirk that had Samari reaching over him to snatch the container. He anticipated the move and grabbed it before she could. “Chill, I’m just fucking with you. I can’t tell the difference. You did your thing.”
He dropped a kiss to her temple and grabbed another piece before he returned the container to the table.
“Your mom’s worried about you.”
Asao nodded. “That’s not new, Mari. She’s always worried about me.”
Running the streets kept her up at night. She had given him that talk enough times for Asao to know it by heart.
You’re on a one-way street to prison or a grave, Asao. I can’t handle either. Please don’t make me have to suffer through that.
There wasn’t much he could do about her fears. He would never make promises he couldn’t keep.
“This kind of worry is different. She showed me the article about Cobra.” Samari’s eyes were on his but he only kissed her temple again and moved past it like what she said didn’t matter.
“How did today go with Kolby?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
