“Thank you, Dr. Coco. I’ll do better.”
The doctor got up, took those gloves off, then washed her hands.
“Ay, before you go, tell her to throw that damn bell away, too.”
Doc and Naomi laughed but I was dead ass serious. I ain’t no butler. I helped my baby get dressed before we grabbed her things and headed out. She seemed to be in a better mood, and I really hoped things stayed that way.
“You hungry?”
“Absolutely.”
“We can grab something and go back home so you can get in the bed.”
“I would like to go out and sit somewhere. I need the fresh air.”
She passed that test, and I was happy. I just knew she was about to say take her to a drive-thru then back home.
“Thank you for not giving up on me. I can be a handful, and I just want to say that I’ll do better and that I love you, Jamison.”
“It’s my job to always stick beside you. No matter how many times you ring that damn bell, I’ll always come running. And just know, I love you more and that will neva’ change.
CHAPTER 11
ZOO
Chicago was tough on the Pelicans. Pen and her team came back to Pensacola with a final game five looming over them. One thing I could say, Pen was playing her heart out. She didn’t see me in the stands, but I was there.
Flying in and out of Chicago without Sin and Brooklyn on my ass had been trying to say the least. Sin sent me about a hundred scriptures a day, telling me how I needed to forgive Pen and move on. At least he was taking the high road. Brooklyn, on the other hand, was being big petty by sending me pictures of niggaswho were “scoping out my woman”. That was the caption he used for every text. Nigga was getting on my fucking nerves.
“Welcome to Lucas & Co— Oh, good morning, Mr. Smith!”
I waved at the brown-skinned sister, who I’d seen a few times before but could never remember her name without looking at her name tag.
“‘Sup, Cuchianna.”
Her nose slightly went up as she giggled. “You always pronounce my name wrong. It’s not Coochie-anna. It’s Cuh-shauna.”
“Oh, my fault. I was taught to sound it out, so it’s a lil’ confusing.”
She giggled again, then pointed to the back.
“Luc is waiting for you.”
“Thanks.” I headed to Luc’s office and didn’t even knock before I walked inside. He was sitting at his desk, smoking a cigar.
“Smith!” his loud ass boomed. No matter who it was in my family, he referred to us all as Smith.
I dapped him then sat opposite him.
He pulled out a box and whistled. “This piece hadmeshook. Whoever it’s for, she’s gonna be one happy lady.” I took the box and opened it, pleased with what I saw.
“Yeah, I fuck with this,” I confirmed. We dapped again, I paid him, then left.
Back at my office, I tucked the piece into one of my safes.
An hour later, I’d just completed a conference call when the front desk assistant walked into my office, placed a gift bag and card on my desk, then sailed out as quick as she came. Eyeing the pink card, the handwriting on the envelope was unmistakable. Quickly snatching it up, I ripped into the card.
Animal,
