“Always.”
“I love you.”
“You—say that again.”
“I . . . love . . . you, Russell Rush.”
I had to sit with her words for a moment because even though I’d probably said those words to her thousands of times, not one time did she ever say them back. My heart told me the words her mouth never uttered but hearing them healed me in ways I couldn’t explain.
“You love me?” I questioned, urging her to repeat herself.
“I love you. I loved you before you told me the first time, but acknowledging my feelings was too much because I didn’t think we had a future.”
“Your mouth may not have said it, but ninety percent of the time, your actions spoke to my heart. I knew you were dealing with something that had nothing to do with your feelings for me, and sometimes it stifled your ability to accept my love and show me love in return. Hearing you say it changes the game, baby. You will never get rid of me now.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Does that mean you’re my woman?”
“I’ve always been yours, Russell.”
“Officially, meaning, you won’t be introducing me as your fucking friend.”
For the first time this morning, a smile crept onto her lips.
“But you are my friend, Russie. You’re my best friend.”
“Yeah. That’s cool and all. You’re my best friend too. But niggas need to know that you will soon be my wife, and I will end lives behind you. I don’t even fuck with social media like that, but I’m about to make a post to let everybody know how I’m coming when it comes to you.”
“Okay.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page. Let’s celebrate, then talk about when you want to officially move back toThe Compound.
“What makes you think I’m moving back?”
I frowned as I said, “You get a kick out of pissing me off, huh?”
“I’m not trying to piss you off.”
“You really think I’m letting you go back to that apartment after what happened?”
“Oh, I’m not going back there, but those aren’t the only apartments in Onyx City. I kinda like having my own space.”
“Baby, I’ll build you one of those girly sheds next to my house, but you’re coming back toThe Compound.As a matter of fact, I can have all your shit packed up by the end of the week.”
“But I still have two months on my lease.”
“Fuck that lease.”
“Maybe we should go back to not having a title, because what you not gon’ do is?—”
I could tell by her expression that she was just fucking with me. Her words got caught in her throat as I gently grabbed the front of her neck. She looked up at me with mischievous eyes as her teeth sank into her bottom lip.
“What am I not gon’ do, Rose? Huh? Tell me what I’m not gon’ do.”
She didn’t respond, but I was willing to bet her nipples had hardened, and her pussy was moist.
“I’ve waited too fucking long to have all of you, and I refuse to have you living anywhere but with me. If you want to move back in with your sisters for a minute, and I mean for one fucking minute, I’ll allow it, but that’s it, baby. Are we clear?”
