I spun around. A line of servers fled the kitchen. Soon enough, I realized why Genèse knew Montana would show. Another girl, same big ole bag—but her knockoff blouse couldn’t hide—strolled into the restaurant. She took a corner booth with Montana, and she knew him too well.
Virginia came to my side. “Journey, you was supposed to save me fromdat!I done laid hands, threw holyearl. She still come around smelling like sin and lobster biscuits!”
The Louisiana Creole she hid well when managing the place got thicker than a roux.
I glanced at her and sighed. “C’mon, don’t shame the girl. She’s happy?”
“Bébé, Adele’s happier than a mosquito at a blood drive on a nudist beach.” Virginia’s muttered words about sugar and salt wiped the grin off my face. Sounded wise. But what did she mean?
Days later, my heart tried to vacate my body when Montana popped up on us at the grocery store like he’d been hiding behind the canned chili. He apologized—sort of—said he didn’t mind our banter. Said we can talk anytime, just not about that. Then somehow, he negotiated his way into dinner.
Since he was behind the night-shift rotations to keep us safe, I had to forgive him. Plus, he’d exploited Darius’s weakness. Pizza and ice cream.
The second we entered Chuck E. Cheese, I tugged a cone-shaped birthday hat onto Darius’s head. Okay, it didn’t alter his appearance, but we’d keep a low profile.
Once the pizza arrived, we settled into a booth overlooking the arcade. I would’ve commended Montana on the spot, but he didn’t know about our discreet lifestyle.
While I ate pizza, Montana gave Darius a random blue gift bag that he’d brought inside the restaurant, and then he placed a pink one near me.
Suspicion lifted my brow. “You’re weird.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Ohhhhh!” Darius pulled out a stuffed brontosaurus. “Montana, can I name him?”
“Yep.”
“Brody.”
“Makes sense.” Montana nodded. “My baseball bruh, Lachlan, his father and brother share that same name.”
“Do they got spikes?” Darius asked.
“Nope.”
“Sharp teeth?”
Montana’s brow arched. “Nah.”
“Didn’t think so. My Brody is better.” He hugged his dino, and I darn near melted.
Smiling, Montana gestured to the pink bag.
With a smirk, I slipped my hand inside. My breath caught. Paper. A … book.
The present faded. Images of Darius’s father flashed in my mind, his voice in my ears.
“Zuri, you’re the only woman I know who loves to enrich her mind. Can I buy you diamonds?”
“No,” I’d chuckled, pulling the older, more distinguished doctor between my thighs.
montana
. . .
Atear slipped down Journey’s cheek. A single tear.
One too many. My chest locked up like the ninth inning, bases loaded, full count. Tighter than yesterday when Nike threatened to kill my shoe line. Only, this wasn’t no game I could swing myself out of. Or another board meeting where my ego matched my numbers andsales.
