“Sit with me,” he says while extending his hand. I accept, and as soon as I’m up, he pulls me into him. The minute I inhale himand feel his arms around me, all my tension dissipates. “Let’s get in my ride,” he says after kissing me tenderly. I turn back, grab my cell and tumbler, then we step over to his ride. To my surprise, he opens the back door. “More room in case you need me to hold you,” he explains.
“I like that,” I admit before sliding into his Silverado. Xai slides in beside me then closes the door. On the console is a bag from Sushi House. My smile gets big as hell. “If there’s a Blue Ocean roll in that bag, I’m going to kiss the hell out of you,” I gush.
His hand slides behind my neck and he pulls me toward him. “Then give me my kiss,” he says before running his tongue over my lips. With all the passion I have, I kiss him.
“You know it’s not just about the roll. It’s just you. You always know what I need when I need it.”
“That’s what I’m supposed to do,” he assures me. “Now, make your little concoction so we can eat and you tell me what had you sounding sad.”
“Mad,” I correct him. “But yeah, sushi first.” He grabs the bag, opens his middle console, and grabs a pack of disposable wipes. We both use one then I pull out the rolls. He has my favorite Blue Ocean roll, a Shrimp Tempura roll, and their delicious Kani salad. He opens it all while I make my mixture of wasabi, eel sauce, and soy sauce. He jokes but he likes it too. After tasting everything, I inhale and exhale, savoring the umami. “Okay. Now, I’m ready.”
“I’m listening,” he says, then places his chopsticks down. He turns, stares into my eyes, and gives me his full attention.
“It’s Rushmore, my baby daddy, and his family,” I begin.
“That lame from Redmond’s approached you again?” he grits with a tight face.
“No. No. He didn’t,” I say and his face visibly relaxes. I inhale and exhale again before saying my next words. “It was hismom but I need to give you background perspective first. I’ve never told you this outright but I lost my mom in January, car accident,” I say then swallow hard. It hurts each time I speak that reality out loud.
“I’m so sorry. I really am,” he says so apologetically.
“Thank you. I’m still dealing with it. It’s been hard but it’s been easier these past few months because of you.”
“Don’t give me credit for that,” he says solemnly.
“I am and I will. You have been a much-needed distraction and you actually brought my smile back. I thought I’d lost it until you. Don’t diminish your positive impact in my life because I don’t, not at all,” I assure him. I grab his hand and squeeze before continuing.
“My mom left me her house and a nice-sized life insurance policy. Because me and the girls moved, Rush knows about the house. I was still allowing the girls to have weekly video visits with him at the time. He just guessed about the policy and he’s been begging me for money since. His family doesn’t know about the policy. They believe he left me some crazy amount before he went in, which is absurd. He didn’t have shit. I paid the bills and the two stacks he left me were no doubt stolen but I put half of it on his books and spent the rest on my girls’ tuition. That was five years ago.
“The real issue is I cut him off. As big as his damn family is, not one of them has done shit for him since he’s been locked. I was the only fool because he’s their father but that girl is long gone. Rush is one hundred percent out of our lives and he hates it and so do they. Especially his mother. She has to face the fact that she raised an ain’t shit man that she now has to take care of. Which is why she came to my job today.”
“Did she hurt you?” he asks.
“No. Erleen can’t do anything but talk shit. She just pissed me off for even coming to my job with her bullshit.”
“Was she alone?”
“Yes. Just her. His family is aggravating as hell but they are not stupid. After you checked Mekhi, he won’t say shit to me again, and for real, his mother is harmless. All bark no bite. She’s just used to the old me giving in when it comes to Rush.”
“We just need to talk to them together,” he says sternly.
“No, we don’t. That’ll only make it worse. Trust me,” I say, then lean in and touch the side of his tight face. “Smile. It’s really nothing for you to get mad or concerned about. I was just upset at her disrespect. Smile,” I repeat before kissing his lips. He’s stiff at first but eventually relents and kisses me back. “Let’s finish this good lunch and change the subject. Are you ready for the music festival?”
“Adora, I don’t like this shit with your ex. Let me take care of it.”
“Xai, there’s nothing to take care of.”
“I’ll go to the source and deal with him. That should shut his fucking family down before they try any other sneak up on you shit.”
“Deal with him how? You are a businessman who’s trying to open up his second location.”
“A businessman raised in the streets. That shit don’t just fade away ’cause I make my money the legit way now. The Manor bred me; it’s who I am at the core. I promised you I’d never hurt you and I’m already in the hole. I’m not about to let anyone else hurt you.”
“In the hole,” I question, but he keeps speaking.
“Rush ain’t a man. He’s a bitch ass nigga for sending his family to harass you. That shit ain’t cool at all. At the end of the day, he’s violating you and you are mine. Mine to take care of and mine to protect. He’s threatening that, so he’s got to see me.”
“Rush has nothing. He’s nothing so he has nothing to lose. You do and I don’t want you risking that over nothing. Ifanything else happens, and I don’t think it will, I’ll let you know and you can try to talk to Rush.”
