“Keys, please,” she says with a beautiful smile.
After pulling them out of my pocket and handing them to her, I kiss her. “I love you.”
“Love you too and I’ll be right back.”
Chapter 20
Adora
I’m so used to driving my Impala. However, next to Xai’s Silverado, my baby feels small. Once I’m inside, I have to adjust the seat, the steering wheel, and the side and rearview mirrors. Right when I start the engine, I hear my cell vibrating in my purse. Since the girls are with Kandi, I don’t hesitate to grab it, in case it’s her. I see two text notifications. As soon as I read them and look at the picture someone took of us at the waterpark, I roll my damn eyes. Rush’s dumb ass finally got hold of a contraband phone inside.
107-686-4433: U got niggas round my daughters now
107-686-4433: **picture of Adora, Xai, Romi, and Averi at Splash Mountain**
Although I vowed to never waste my breath on him again, I can’t help but respond. The audacity of his words is sending me. The man who never worried about my daughters before has the nerve to question me and who I have around them.
Me: I can have whoever the fuck I want around MY daughters!
107-686-4433: Who is he?
Me: My man.
107-686-4433: Okay. Man.
107-686-4433: Is he the reason u doing this dumb shit, cutting me off?
Me: I cut you off because I don’t want you in my life anymore. Like I told your momma and your cousins, I don’t owe you shit and I’m never giving you shit again. Call them and worry them. Just leave me alone before I tell them people you got an illegal cell phone, Rushmore Roberts.
107-686-4433: Bitch, u better be glad I’m n here.
Me: One more text and I’m telling. Try me!
My threat obviously lands because after my text, no more follow.He got the point.Moments like this make me appreciate the man in my life even more. Being loved properly, my girlsseeing me loved the right way, and watching my girls experience love from a man is so priceless one word can’t sum it up.
I might not be able to fully articulate the feeling but I wish it on every woman. We all deserve someone like Xai, a thoughtful and intentional man who genuinely wants to love and treat his woman right. Talking to me crazy or disrespecting me like Rush is something I never have to worry about with Xai.Never.
Although I’m blown at Rush’s words. I’m not going to let him or them affect my mood in any way, especially not today. It’s Xai’s grand opening and he needs me to get his key. Just like every other number connected with Rush, I block this one and place my phone back into my tote. Then I reach over and open Xai’s glove box to find his office keys. There are a few stacks of papers inside so I pull them out. When I do, something catches my eye.
Is that…?
Can’t be.
How?
Convinced that my mind is playing tricks on me, I snatch the phone I see in the glove out and flip it over. My heart falls to the bottom of my stomach when I see pieces of a red note taped to the back of the flip phone. I refuse to believe what I’m seeing but eyes aren’t lying and my mind isn’t playing any damn tricks. My mom’s handwriting and her partial directions are clear.1424 Cresis still taped to the back of the phone.
My mom’s phone.
In Xai’s truck.
Why does he have it? How did he get it?
What the fuck!
A million thoughts, questions, and scenarios race through my mind as my shaky hands and burning eyes examine the phone. It’s off but I flip it open and attempt to power it on. It works.He’s been charging it too.
The screen loads and I see there are eighteen new voice messages from me. Only eighteen. I sent eighteen alone the first few days after I found out she was gone.He’s been listening to my messages. He’s been eavesdropping on my private thoughts. Why would he do that? Is this why he’s with me? He feels sorry for me? He wanted to comfort the pitiful girl from the messages?
