Charmaine: Can’t wait
Karla: See you soon
Lisa: SYS
Then I texted Dez.
My Man, My Man, My Man
Going to lunch with the girls. Charmaine, Lisa, Imani, and Karla. Salvatore's at 1.
Taking security with you
Dez, I'm just having lunch
Non-negotiable. Matvey will drive you and stay close. Vincent is still out there and I'm not taking chances.
I sighed but didn't argue. After yesterday's bombs, I couldn't exactly blame him for being overprotective.
Fine. Love you.
Love you too. Be safe.
There was a knock at the door and when I peeped out, Matvey was standing there.
“I’m out here when you’re ready to do.” He said through the door.
I sighed in defeat. Then, relief filled me.
He loves me.
Because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be so damn overprotective. And secretly, I loved how much he fussed over me, even when it annoyed me.
“I’ll be ready in twenty.” I shouted out to him.
“I’ll be here.”
Salvatore's was packed when I arrived at 12:55, but we had a reservation—a corner booth with a view of the street and enough privacy for conversation.
Matvey positioned himself at the bar with clear sightlines to our table. He was doing that thing where he looked relaxed but I could see the constant scanning, the awareness of every person who entered. It’s not like he was far away either. It should have made me feel suffocated. Instead, it made me feel safe.
Charmaine arrived first, stunning in a rust-colored suit that complemented her dark skin beautifully. She wrapped me in a hug that smelled like expensive perfume and fierce affection.
"Tell me everything," she demanded, sliding into the booth.
"There's a lot."
"Then start talking."
Lisa arrived next, then Imani, then Karla. All of them looked professional and gorgeous and so perfectly themselves that I felt my throat tighten with emotion.
"Okay," Charmaine said once we'd ordered drinks and appetizers. "First question: how was the honeymoon before you had to come back?"
"Magical," I admitted. "Santorini is beautiful. The villa was perfect. And Dez—" I felt myself blush, "—was very attentive."
"I knew it!" Karla crowed. "Called it. Bent like a pretzel."
"Oh my god, stop," I laughed.
