“What are you threatening to bring?”
“Something you ain’t ready for.” I dropped my head back off the couch for a moment, resting my eyes.
“Shouldn’t I be the one deciding what I’m not ready for?”
“Probably.” I felt crazy even discussing this with her, because I had never been this way about a woman. I didn’t fuck with it at all. Selah wasn’t just a passerby or a momentary thought. This shit was uncomfortable and happening at the wrong fucking time.
“Then how do you know I’m not ready for whatever you bring?”
“Because what I bring will erase every bit of that nigga out of your life. Fucking with me will make you lose recollection of a history you once cherished while building a future you need to live in. Fucking with me makes the nigga who hurt you obsolete. You are not ready for that, and it’s okay.”
“Indiri.”
I lifted my head and looked at her, sitting up and resting my elbows on my knees. Our eyes locked, noticeable fire blazing from hers.
“Stop talking to me in riddles and talk to me.”
“I’m not speaking in a riddle. I said what I said. I’m not offering to heal what that nigga did. I’m telling you that if this is what you want, him and everything in connection doesn’t exist. I’m telling you that it’s okay if you’re not ready for that. I’m not rushing you, ’cause we’re chilling right now.”
She nodded, stepping forward. But instead of getting into my lap or on the couch, she took a knee to the floor right in front of me, her face a few centimeters from mine.
“See, told you, bullheaded and extremely stubborn, but I think I like it.” A smile was now on those full lips.
I palmed the side of her face, bringing her face toward mine and pressing my lips against hers. This was new for me, the type of territory I actively avoided. Yet here I was, standing tall in the unknown.
Chapter
Seven
Selah
Most of my time this week had been spent in my original bakery, putting together orders and making sure everything still had that same touch. Best Kept Secret would always be my baby, because it was the first real thing that showed me what I was made of. Now I had two locations, and though it was stressful sometimes, I still managed. I was able to do what I loved every day, without having to wonder how I would eat. I was feeding myself.
Today I’d tried a new recipe inspired by a certain boxer who was very serious about his regimen and his diet. I admired that about him. He was dedicated and determined to put in the necessary work and time to succeed. From what I had seen, he was disciplined and had self-control. He was nothing like Nathanial. Even though I didn’t mean to compare the two, sometimes I couldn’t help it. They were like night and day, which had me wondering a lot. It also made me realize Nathanial and I had grown apart a long time ago, but I just refused to see it. We weren’t teenagers planning our futures anymore, we were adults living them. It was hard to see at first, but so clear now. I didn’tfit into his life because he didn’t fit into mine. We were totally different people, which was okay.
My phone vibrated in my back pocket and I pulled it out. It was Indiri, letting me know he was outside. We were talking yesterday and he brought up the red velvet brownies. So with his extremely strict ass diet in mind, I figured I’d show him how to make this recipe I’d found online.
I answered, putting the phone on speaker before I gave my space another once over. I had all the necessary ingredients out to make the red velvet protein brownies.
“We’re out front.”
“Coming to the door now.” I moved from the back, going straight for the door. Once I had it open, he and Bigs were filing in, running from the evening showers that plagued the city.
“I knew I knew you from somewhere. I came in here and got a Super Donut before,” Bigs pointed out. This was probably the first time I’d heard the big man speak.
I giggled. “Somebody doesn’t believe it, but I make them better than the company and it’s their recipe. Do you want me to bring you one?”
“Hell yeah.” Bigs took his jacket off and got comfortable in the booth near the door. Even though the door was locked and it was only us in here, he was here to secure and that was the best vantage spot to see everything except the kitchen.
“It ain’t that I don't believe you, I just can’t tell you that because those donuts got me through school. Respect to the school donuts.”
I laughed. “Fine.”
“Now what is it you wanted to show me?” he asked once his damp hoodie was draped across a chair.
I led the way to the kitchen. “Tonight, we are making red velvet cream cheese protein brownies.”
“Say what now?”
