“Watch how you talkin’ to me, girl,” I said, grinnin’. “Take some of that bass out yo’ voice.”
She huffed but I could hear the smile creepin’ in.
You need anything?” I asked.
“Nah,” she said. “I just need you to get your ass over here.”
I smiled and bit my bottom lip.
Before I hung up, I said her name. “Renaissance.”
“What?” she asked.
“I love you.”
She ain’t hesitate. “I love you too.”
When the line went dead, I sat back in the seat and exhaled slow. Reni always trippin’ about me hidin’ her, but she wasn’t hid. She was protected from my crazy ass family. And one day, when I was ready to put the world in our business, I was gon’ do it my way.
Until then, I was on my way to my girl, smilin’ to myself, thinkin’ how crazy it was that after all the shit I done seen and survived, this thick, fine ass woman was the one that had me movin’ like this.
Life was funny like that.
SOLÉ GARDENS
By the time I pulled up to Reni’s spot, a nigga was smilin’ wide as hell. It was that smile that come from knowin’ you about to see somethin’ you like and somebody who don’t play about you even when they attitude be spicy as hell.
I cut the engine and sat there for half a second, lookin’ up at her place with the lights glowin’ soft behind the curtains, already knowin’ she was finna answer the door with that look on her face like I done got on her nerves just by existin’. That thought alone had me amused, ‘cause if Reni ain’t slightly irritated, then somethin’ was off.
Soon as I knocked, the door swung open and there she was.
Baby had on a tank top with her bare legs out, her hair laid but effortless and those green eyes sharp as hell like she had already rehearsed the look she was gon’ give me. She looked good without even tryin’, which was dangerous ‘cause it made a nigga forget what time it was and why she probably had an attitude in the first place. I ain’t even say nothin’ at first. I just leaned in and wrapped my arms around her like that was my right, pullin’ her into my chest and breathin’ her in like I had been missin’ somethin’ all damn day.
She tried to stiffen up, but that shit ain’t last long.
“Renza,” she said, drawin’ my name out like a warnin’.
I laughed low in my chest and went to kiss her, and sure enough she lifted her hand and pressed her palm to my mouth like she was stoppin’ traffic. Any other nigga might’ve backedup or got offended, but I just kissed her hand. Then all over her palm like that shit was made for my lips.
I kissed her fingers, the inside of her wrist, and the side of her hand, just to be petty. I felt her sigh before she even said anything, and that told me everything I needed to know.
“You childish,” she muttered.
“Only with you” I said against her skin, still kissin’ her hand like I ain’t have a care in the world.
Her hand dropped eventually, and she melted right into me like I knew she would, her arms slidin’ around my waist while I tightened my grip on her back and held her close. That attitude didn’t disappear, but it softened, which was a win in my book. I kissed all over her face then, her cheek, her jaw, down her neck, lettin’ my mouth linger there ‘cause I knew it drove her crazy, and when I finally lifted my head and found her lips, I kissed her slow.
While I was at it, my hand slid down and grabbed a full handful of ass, squeezin’ it like I been missin’ it all day, then smackin’ it once just to hear the sound and feel her jump.
“Stop playin’ with me,” I whispered in her ear, my voice low and amused.
She pulled back just enough to look at me, that spark in her eyes lettin’ me know she wasn’t no punk. “Don’t play with me,” she shot back, her brows lifted like she meant that shit.
I smiled, ‘cause that was my favorite version of her.
“Baby,” I said, smooth and calm, “I’ll play about my mama before I play about you.”
She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck, but that smile crept out anyway, the one she tried to hide when she wasn’t tryna let me know I said the right thing. I kissed her again real quick, then stepped inside and closed the door behind us.
