Free twisted from side like the goofy being that she was. I couldn’t help but laugh when she kicked her foot up. “What? A chariot for little ole me?”
I nodded. “The world for you, if I got a say in it.” Turning to the truck, I opened the back door. “But on the real, I did hire thisdriver for us because you don’t like the way I drive, and I don’t like the way you drive either. Now, we can both feel comfortable when we’re traveling together.”
Her face blanched while her mouth popped open in surprise. “Stanley . . .”
I chuckled because she was sticking by that nickname like her life depended on it. “Yes, baby?”
“You got us a driver for our dates?”
“Well, actually, he can take you anywhere you need to go. I paid his salary up for a year.” She started stomping to the car, shaking her head. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, because she was mumbling under her breath. “What? You think I did too much?”
She paused with her foot on the side bar and her hand in mine. “What? No. I’m totally worth the effort. I was just preparing myself for sore jaws if this is what the rest of my life looks like. You really outdid yourself this time, Stanley.”
My chest puffed out a little more, hearing her say that. I helped her inside, and while her ass was bent over in my face, I smacked it. “Can’t wait to put my face in it. Call me Mr. Up The Score.”
I slid inside behind Free and slammed the door shut. She immediately cuddled up next to me with her legs crossed over mine. “No flowers?” she asked in shock.
I chuckled. I’d turned this girl into a monster, but I loved it. She kept me on my toes when she made sure I was never lacking on my job. “You about to see why in a minute.” I leaned forward, knocking on the partition to let our driver, Miles, know we were ready to go.
She hummed, burying her head into my side. I smiled down at her, loving how affectionate she was. My baby thrived off physical touch, so I never denied her the chance to get close tome. It actually made me appreciate my decision to get us a driver a little more. Shit, this was the life as far as I was concerned.
My pockets were laced. I was about to make shit with Free official. We had a chauffeur, making it easy to enjoy the presence of my woman and the views of the city while R&B played in the background. I literally only expected life and love to get better—richer from here.
“Good evening. Welcome to the Bud Business. My name is Niylah, one of the florists and owners of this Black-owned family business.” Free was giddy next to me as her eyes jumped from flower to flower, taking it all in. The shop was a mixture of florals and a sweetness I couldn’t label, but I was rocking with it. “From my understanding, tonight, we’ll be making arrangements. How does that sound?”
Free clapped her hands together. “Like a dream come true. I love flowers. My last name is Flowers,” she joked. “I want to be a flower!” Niylah laughed with her while I was too focused on watching her every expression.
Every time Free smiled at me, I tattooed it on my heart. I never wanted to forget it, always wanted to see it. She yanked me forward, and I followed like a good little boy. Free wasn’t too different from the other women in my life, always telling me what to do. I guess, in a way, they were preparing me for the woman I was inevitably going to crash into.
Niylah took us into the craft room, where she had buckets of flowers nearly everywhere. They were all pink, which was Free’s favorite color. The lit candles across the room created a romantic and cozy vibe in the space. I pulled Free’s seat out before taking a seat across from her.
Niylah walked us through the process of what we were doing. Free really loved the history she shared with us about her family’s business. “I love a good love story that becomes something that lasts for generations,” she shared with stars in her eyes.
Niylah nodded. “Girl, me too.”
Not too long after Niylah ran down some more information, she told us we could start. I was a man on a mission, so I already had a vision for my bouquet. The bouquets could be as big or small as we wanted, and of course, I was going for the gusto.
“I can turn on some music while you work. What would you like to listen to?” Niylah asked with the remote to the speaker system in her hand.
I glanced at Free to find her tapping her chin. “Beyonce.” Niylah nodded before tapping away on her phone. Seconds later, the intro to “XO” began to play.
“Not my favorite Beyonce song came on first. I am really God’s favorite.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “You’re my favorite too.”
She winked at me before fanning herself. “Stop, you’re making my head bigger.”
Niylah chuckled from where she stood, watching us. “You guys are too cute. How did you meet?”
“She crashed my mother’s surprise birthday party,” I shared with her.
Free burst out into laughter. It was a running joke between us at this point. “Oh my goodness! Stop telling people that. I did not crash her party; I was invited.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “You’re standing on that hill, huh?”
She nodded. “Yes, until the day I die. I was invited,” she mumbled again. She flicked her eyes toward Niylah. “Tell her.”
Turning to Niylah, I said, “She was invited to the private party where she knew no one and had never met any of us a day in her life.”
