“Yeah, I know. So, tell me what’s on your mind.”
“It’s nothing, I promise. And don’t you have meetings to get to? I don’t want you to be late.”
“I’ve told you time and time again that shit doesn’t start until I get there. So, tell me what’s up.”
“I just don’t want people to talk about us in the office,” I said, sighing.
“Is that it?”
“Yeah, that’s it.”
Laughing, he replied, “Well, I can tell you now that they’re already talking. But, not in the ways you think. From what I hear, they actually think you’re a good look for me. They say you’ve made me nicer.”
“Really? I thought they would’ve thought that you were giving me favoritism since we’re together. I don’t want them to think that I don’t work as hard as everyone else around here does.”
“Do I give you favoritism?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Do you work your ass off the same, if not more, as everyone else who works here?”
“Yeah, I do,” I said proudly.
“So, tell me again, what the problem is.”
“Well, when you put it that way, maybe there is no problem.”
“Exactly. Now, if you’d like me to shut down all the talk around the office, I will. But you need to know that a nigga craves you all the time, so if I want to touch you, kiss you, or shit, just come sit in here to share the same space as you, then that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Trust me, I know. And no, if no one has any hidden animosity, then I think we’re good.”
“Cool. Now, give me a kiss so I can get out of here,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up to him.
SIXTEEN
SINCERE
“Everything was amazing, Tracey,”I said, meaning every word that I said to Kenedi’s mother.
Kenedi had been on edge all night with me officially meeting her parents as her man, and I didn’t know why. I was a cool dude, and most people liked me, unless they were flaw and then I couldn’t get with the fake shit. But when it came to her parents, I didn’t have anything to worry about. I was in love with their daughter, and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that they could see that when I looked at her.
I wasn’t afraid or worried about how hard I’d fallen for Kenedi. She was perfect for me, and come hell or high water, I wasn’t going to let her go. Shit, I had already been looking at wedding rings. I hadn’t made a purchase yet, but that was definitely where I was headed with our relationship. No matter how rocky shit might get with us, she was going to be my wife and the mother of my kids. We were going to build our empire together and live a damn good life. After all that we’d both been through, we deserved that and more.
“Son, let’s go outside and have a drink,” her father said, motioning for me to follow him over to the bar. Kenedi grabbedmy hand and attempted to pull me back to her. Instead, I pulled her up with me and kissed her cheek.
“Please don’t let him scare you away,” she whispered in my ear.
Laughing, I replied, “I’m never going anywhere. Plus, your pops is cool, I think he likes me.”
“He’s just a little…mean sometimes. But he doesn’t mean any harm,” she said, frustration visible on her face. Before I could respond, though, her father spoke up.
“Sunshine, let the man go. I promise I’ll bring him back in one piece.”
Letting my hand go, she wiped her hands down her dress and looked up at her father. “Daddy, please be nice.”
“I’m always nice,” he said, winking and then nodding toward the door, which was my clue to follow him.
“Do you remember when you dropped my daughter off here the night that she was too drunk to drive home?” He asked, wasting no time once we were both seated on the porch, to get the conversation started.
