“Shopping is not domestic, and you eat at home, so it’s not new to you.”
“Yeah, it is, and I hardly ever go to the store unless I’m buying liquor or condoms. I pay for a service to do this shit right here for me. It’s easier.”
“Seriously?”
“Hell yeah, seriously.”
I glanced over my shoulder and watched him send a text. I ignored it and scanned the shelves, trying to find the perfect wine for tonight. Sophie was pregnant, so I would be drinking alone. Well, the wine anyway. I was sure the guys would be finishing a few bottles of something stronger than I cared to drink.
I grabbed two of my favorites, placed them in the buggy, and turned just in time to see Carlos frowning at his phone before he mumbled something I couldn’t make out and slid it into his pocket.
I tried not to let it bother me because he was always dealing with some type of business issue, but we were still new, so I was often curious if he was still dealing with other women.
“I have to get dessert. I think maybe a cheesecake,” I said and started walking. It came out a little dry, which I hadn’t intended but it was too late.
“Aight, cool. Get chocolate. I love that shit.” He kissed me on the cheek and walked beside me. He hadn’t noticed I was in my feelings about him being on his phone nonstop since we’d left the house hours ago.
The bakery was our next stop, and again, Carlos had his phone in hand, really engaged in what he was reading and sending.
“Chocolate topping or filling?” I asked, trying to get his attention.
“Filling,” was all he said before he tucked his lip between his teeth in concentration, but didn’t bother looking up at me.
I grabbed one chocolate and plain before I left him standing there and headed toward the front to get in line.
There was no wait in line, so by the time he joined me, it was time to pay. I was in the process of pulling my card out whenhe walked up, glanced at the total, and removed cash from his pocket.
He didn’t say a word but I could tell he was irritated. Carlos was very easy to read most of the time because he didn’t try to hide how he felt about things. He lifted the two reusable bags filled with our things and started toward the door. He stopped and let me exit first after they opened then followed me.
Once in the car, he turned and looked at me.
“You need to ask me something?”
“No,” I said dryly. I wasn’t in the mood to argue with him simply because I was feeling insecure. Richard had made me that way by constantly cheating and it was hard to let go of that.
“Then I’ll tell you what you’re too afraid to ask. That’s business. I have to always be available and I make sure I am. I have a lot of shit going on right now because I just made some changes so I really have to be available right now. We ain’t married or anywhere close to that, so if I wanted to talk to another woman I could and wouldn’t feel any type of way about it. I damn sure wouldn’t hide it, if that’s what I wanted to do.”
Carlos was always blunt and straightforward and I was still getting used to that. As much as I hated it sometimes, I appreciated that I always knew where I stood with him.
“I didn’t think it was another woman,” I said before pulling my seatbelt to secure it. I wanted a distraction to keep from having to look at him.
He leaned across the seat and pecked my cheek. “Yes, the fuck you did. Lying ass.”
Carlos smirked then started his car. I couldn’t help but smile with him because he knew me, even when I didn’t want him to.
“You’re not gonna burn down my kitchen, are you?”
“I can cook, and better than you, which you already know.”
“Shit, you crazy as fuck. You can cook, so I’ll give you your props. My mother probably heard this all the way out in Rochester and she’s cursing your ass out right now as we speak.”
I laughed, admiring his sexy physique as he dashed in and out of traffic. This man was simply too much. His golden bronze, sunkissed skin, hazel eyes, damn near perfect body, and brusque attitude. I laughed to myself thinking about it.
“Your mother?” I questioned.
“Hell yeah, my mother. She made sure I could cook. She always said a man should be able to do anything—cook, clean, take care of himself. I hated it growing up because it made me feel like a pussy, but the older I got, the more I appreciated her for teaching me. She hooked a brother up, so I can do shit on my own.”
“So, you don’t need me then?” I said with a slight grin.
