I shook my head. “That’s fast, Love… we just?—”
“I don’t care,” he cut in. “I know what I want,” he added. “And I know what I’m not gonna have my girl worried to leave her home, work, whatever.”
I shifted in my seat, my heart picking up a lil’.
“Love…. I don’t?—”
“Are you gonna let me protect you?” he asked flatly.
My brow raised. “I’m letting you protect me.”
“Nah, baby girl, if it comes down to it, are you gonna let me really protect you when it comes to this nigga? I get you might still have a soft place in your heart for him?—”
“I don’t,” I said, cutting him off. “And yes, I want you to protect me.”
Love smiled at me. “That’s all I needed to hear, baby girl. I’ma handle it.”
We left the restaurant and went back to my place. Love rolled up and smoked while I hopped in the shower. When I finished, Love was in bed waiting for me.
He tapped the bed while smiling at me, and I climbed in and cuddled up under him.
“What do you need from me?” he asked.
I paused and thought about it.
“Hold me.”
He nodded and did just that. Holding me tight in his arms. I felt relaxed. I felt comfortable. I felt… protected.
I fell asleep in his arms and woke up around four in the morning, needing some water.
I slid out from under his arms, went into my kitchen, and fixed myself a glass of water.
I was wide awake and went and stood by the window, looking at the city still moving. I was thinking about everything, from my mom to my friends, to Gio and Love. When I felt hands around my waist and soft kisses on my neck.
I smiled to myself, feeling what I was feeling when I heard, “You feel so good…”
My eyebrow raised, and the hair on my arms stood up. I slowly pulled away, turned around, and let out a scream I never heard come from my body.
Gio.
He was in my house, in my space, smiling at me, laughing at me.
“We ain’t over, girl, fuck you thought it was,” he said.
I kept screaming, and suddenly, I had no air. Nothing was coming outta my mouth, but I could hear Love’s voice.
When I finally woke up, I was in bed with Love, sitting in front of me with his hands on my shoulders, shaking me.
His eyes were wide, as wide as mine felt. I pulled him into my arms and started crying.
“I’ll move!” I damn near screamed at him. “I will move in with you.”
Love wrapped his arms around me and rocked me side to side while telling me it would be okay.
But I didn’t feel it, not even a lil’ bit.
Chapter 29
