“No,” she whined firmly. “I don’t want you to leave me.”
“Then I won’t.” After pausing and kissing her forehead, I told her, “When you’re ready to talk, I’m here. And if you need to talk to a professional, let me know, and I’ll set that up for you.”
Her breath came out shaky as she passed me the blunt. “Thanks, baby. Right now, I’m just in disbelief. I’m relieved to know what happened to my dad, but I’m hurt to find out Chris was behind it. I just . . . want to rest my mind.”
“If that blunt don’t put you to sleep, I’ll roll another one then give you a massage.”
I prayed for her too.
Silently.
Because I didn’t want her to laugh at the way I talked to God.
When I was done, I accepted the blunt as she offered it to me.
A few seconds passed before she asked, “Did you pray for me?”
Smiling, I nodded. “Yeah. Why?”
“Felt it in my spirit.” Jelai lifted my hand and placed it on her chest. “And in my heart.”
“I love you, Jelai. Had I lost you today?—”
“You didn’t,” she interrupted me to say, placing her pointer finger against my lips. “You saved me, yet again. No one could ever change the way I love you, respect you, and feel safe with you. I know God gave you to me. I love you so much, Yates Harris. Thank you for always protecting me.”
Our lips connected, and not too much time passed before I was putting the blunt out so I could focus completely on her. My dick hardened, but the last thing I wanted right now was sex. I might not have been able to stop my body from reacting to her physically, but I was determined to give her what her mind and heart needed more.
Lowering us into the bed, I pulled her onto my chest. As I caressed her hair and rubbed her back, I alternated between humming old songs I remembered my mama singing to me when I was a child and praying. And about an hour later, my gal was sleeping peacefully.
Just Under Two Months Later
I appreciated everyone showing me love. I’d gotten my patch tonight, and I was an official member of The Wilted Roses. Southern Delightz catered the occasion, and surprisingly, Diane stayed behind at the clubhouse to help us celebrate. She’d warmed up to me, and we had a good relationship. More than anything, I think she finally learned not to judge a book by its cover, and she was grateful I was dedicated to keeping her daughter safe.
Jelai was still working through what happened with Chris. She was grateful he was gone and no longer a threat, but I knew it would take her some time to get over it completely. As Hamilton said would be the case, The Outlaws were no longer an issue. There was complete peace between us, and I hoped it stayed that way. All in all, things were great.
The only thing that was going to make it better was growing my money and my family with Jelai, but I was a patient man. Being sat down for a decade taught you how to be patient. It also taught me discipline, dedication, and appreciation. Appreciation for who I was, what I had, who loved me, and what was to come.
“From bloom to bone,” Pops chanted, handing me a shot.
I was so sick of taking shots at this point, but I accepted it. It seemed like everybody in the club wanted to take a shot with me to celebrate.
“From bloom to bone,” I repeated before we knocked the shots back.
“I’m proud of you, Son. Not just for staying true to your journey here, but I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I’m proud to be your father. I hope I get to live a good long life to see everything you’re going to accomplish now that there aren’t any obstacles standing in your way.”
“I been drinking too much for you to be putting me in my feelings, old man, but thank you. That means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
Pops laughed as he patted my back, like always. “Look around, Son. You got your patch now, and one day, this will all be yours.”
I looked around the main room of the clubhouse. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t have some ideas in mind that could make the club better, but I was cool with playing the background for now. My eyes landed on my future wife, and my priorities and goals swirled around in my head. My goal of having a bike shop, car lot, more auto shops. More business investments. Marrying her. Giving her babies . . . lots and lots of babies. That’s the thought that made me smile.
As if she felt someone looking at her, Jelai looked around the room. When our eyes locked, I shot her a wink, and she smiled. After excusing herself from the conversation she was having with Whitney and Heather, Jelai made her way in my direction. Pops’ words were going in one ear and out of the other as I watched her make her way to me. This woman had me wrapped around her finger since I was fucking fifteen-years-old, and I didn’t mind if it stayed like that forever.
My man lookedsodamn good. I’d plaited his hair so it would look fresh and clean for his twenty-eighth birthday celebration. While we had plans to head to California in two days for a week, The Wilted Roses refused to not turn up for Wicked’s special day. He’d just come from our bedroom after getting dressed, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
The all white outfit was accented by his TWR leather jacket and the matching Nike dunks on his feet. With the low sitting snapback that covered his head, my attention kept going to his dark eyes and juicy lips. Wicked was truly a dark-skinned god, and as mean as he could look with that sinister smile, I loved how sweet and kind he could be toward me.
“Damn, birthday boy. I can’t wait to get you home tonight for another round of birthday sex. You look so good, baby.”
