“Morning, sleepy head,” he said. “Well, afternoon.”
“Hey,” I greeted, walking over to him.
“You hungry?”
My head shook. “Yes, but I don’t know if I should eat. My stomach is hurting a little.”
He chuckled. “That’s what your ass gets for knocking all them shots back like that.”
“I wasn’t feeling them at first, so I kept drinking until I did,” I whined.
“Mhm,” he hummed with a smile, turning to face me. “Burger and fries?”
“That would be perfect! Are you going to order it for me?”
“Yeah, but I figured we could go out and get it.” Though I was cool with that, the idea of going somewhere with him threw me off. Last night, he kept his distance until a man approached me, then he’d run him off. That was partly why I drank so much last night too.
“You actually want to be seen with me?” I confirmed in disbelief. “So last night wasn’t a one off thing?”
Sighing, Wicked motioned for me to sit at the island. I did, and he put a mug of coffee in front of me. It would curve my appetite, and since it was black, hopefully help with my slight hangover too.
“I meant it when I said I missed you, Jelai.”
“You don’t have to,” I grumbled.
Wicked sat next to me. “I came in yesterday to give you an update, but I didn’t want to lay something heavy on you since you had plans. I haven’t confirmed who the informant is, but I have a lead. One of our members left town shortly after your father was murdered. We didn’t think too much of it initially because he said it was a job transfer, but when I talked to Pops about it again, he said he remembered Eric needing to be bonded out a week or so before the shooting.”
Gasping, I clutched his wrist. “It’s him, Wicked. It has to be. Where is he now?”
“We don’t know. I’m trying to track him though. If I find him, I’ll let you know.”
My breath came out shaky as I nodded. “Thank you for trying.”
“You’re welcome. I was thinking we could go back to Sunny Cliffs. Maybe take a hike and grab lunch at the café next to the cave. I looked at the reviews and the cheeseburgers look good as hell.”
“I’d like that,” I agreed with a smile. “And when we get back, I can do your hair.”
“Cool. I’ma head home to shower and change. Call me if you need me, Jelai.”
“I will. Thanks again.”
I watched him as he walked away before finishing my coffee. I wasn’t sure how things would end between us today, but this was progress, and I was looking forward to spending some time with my man.
The Next Morning
I woke up alone, but I didn’t go to sleep that way.
Yesterday, Wicked and I went to Sunny Cliffs and spent the day in The Hills County. We hiked and had lunch, then he took me shopping. After that, we chilled on the beach and played volleyball with some strangers before having drinks and dinner. Our day ended around a bonfire as we smoked before we went back to my place. After I did his hair, I fell asleep in his arms, yet I woke up alone.
I tried not to feel a way about it as I got ready to start my day, and I was glad I stayed in good spirits when I went to the kitchen and saw him sitting at the island. From the looks of it, he’d gone home to change and came back, which made me happier than I wanted to admit.
I wanted to tell him he might as well pack a bag and stay a while, but instead, I settled on, “Morning.”
“Good morning, bae. How’d you sleep?”
“Great since I was next to you.”
With a smile, Wicked used my hand to pull me between his legs. “Would you have chosen me? Us?” After he repeated the question he’d first asked me the first time we went to Sunny Cliffs, I decided to be honest with him and myself.
