“I sound ridiculous, right?” Inari dropped her hands at her side.
“You sound like a worried mother. It’s normal. I know your son, though. He’s the same little boy who came around here to help me set up my stand before everybody got here. When I go to his basketball games, he makes sure to come and greet me with a hug and kiss on the cheek, no matter who’s watching. You’re raising him right, Nari. You have to know that.”
“You know how to put some shit in perspective, Lace. You know that?” Inari simpered.
“It helps when you know the players.” Laci shrugged. “I’m sure your mama and daddy are looking down on you with pride. You have come a long way from that teenage girl who thought she knew it all. The world and everyone in it was your enemy for a long time,” she reminded her.
Inari reached for a few bills to pay Laci. Before she could pull them out, a whiff of a very intoxicating cologne stole her attention.
“Laci, put her stuff on my tab,” Moose’s deep, smoky voice requested.
Hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts, he felt her raking her eyes over his muscular arms, every inch covered in some kind of ink. Locs still pulled back in a barrel style, he glanced Inari’s way but reverted his attention back to Laci.
“Good morning, Morgan,” she greeted him by his real name, and Inari hiked a brow. “I have your arrangement right over here. It’s very nice of you to pay for Inari’s things.” Laci stepped away from the table.
“He’s just trying to make up for the fact that he permanently branded my son,” Inari voiced tautly. “I can pay for my own stuff.”
“Oh, he went to Morgan? Well, he is the best. That means he was in good hands.” Laci brought over a bright arrangement of orange, yellow, and white flowers to hand to him.
It was gorgeous, and Inari couldn’t help but wonder who they were for. Moose looked over at her smugly, and Inari’s nostrils flared.
“Really, Laci? You know him?”
“Of course I do. I’m Laci.” She snickered.
“He doesn’t look like the type to frequent the farmer’s market.” Inari skimmed him once again, this time, noticingthe large reusable bag in his hand filled with what looked like produce, cheese, wine, and some more shit.
“You making a lot of judgments for somebody who don’t know me.” Moose tittered and shook his head as he nodded to Laci.
“Moose is a healthy eater. He gets all his produce from down here. He’s an investor in one of the largest farms around here, too, so he gets the discount price on everything.” Laci winked at him.
“Hey, you ready?” Ayla strolled over, out of breath as she paused at her sister’s side where she and Moose had locked eyes intensely. “Hey, Laci!” She waved at their family friend and smiled.
“Hey, Lala.”
“Definitely ready.” Inari finally broke eye contact with Moose, who once again shook his head and chucked his chin at Laci before stepping away from her booth.
“Thanks, Laci. I’ll see you next week.”
“You’re welcome, Moose. Tell Audiemar I said hello.”
“Here you go.” Inari held some cash out to Laci, trying not to watch Moose walk away.
The nigga was annoyingly fine, though. Now, she was curious as hell about him.
“Who was that?” Ayla nudged her from behind.
“The thug who tattooed your nephew,” Inari told her.
“Oh, he’s fine!” Ayla noted.
Inari turned her nose up and looked at her over her shoulder.
“What? The way you was looking at him, you think he is too.” She twisted the cap off the bottle of fresh raspberry juice that she’d copped at a nearby booth.
She got to watch them make it in front of her and everything. It was so refreshing as it went down her throat.
“I’m not taking your money, Inari.” Laci shoved her hand away. “If Moose said he got you, he got you.”
