“I wish you would stop introducing me as such, daughter. You are a real Mrs. Wilson too or else that son of mine wouldn’t need to protect you with an armed guard. It’s necessary to keep you safe.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mama. I know your bias is to me, but you still gon’ defend that man. If I ever felt like I lived in a prison, it’s now. But enough crying about something I can’t change, do you want coffee too?”
“Oh dear, we can’t win every battle we bring to the table, sometimes the best thing is for us to lose. How about we stop by Brewed Bean on the way, my treat? I can’t have you pouting while we’re playing dress up. We’re making your Queen Royal dress. Turn off Johnni Wilson and give me my strong-willed woman, Johnni Lourdè.”
Johnni chuckled then blew out a few breaths as she closed her eyes as if she were transforming.
“Okay, I’m ready.” It was crazy how I saw the visible shift in her energy through her eyes. My mission when I first came over here was to surprise my woman with a date and I planned to stick to the plan.
I pulled out my phone to help set up part one.
Me: Yo, fool are you on the island?
Lando: Naw, why you headed up?
Me: Damn all in my business.
Lando: Nigga, you want to know my whereabouts. Hell yeah I’ma ask why.
I chuckled as I started the truck before going to open the back passenger door for the two ladies now making their way out of the house.
I waited until I had them both in before texting him back.
Me: I’m on my way down later. Just wanted to see if the family was down there.
Lando: Not this week, but soon.Can you stop by the house for me though?
Me: I got you.
Lando didn’t even have to ask because he didn’t know that was my destination already.
SEVENTEEN
Johnni
We had just left my fitting and were now making our way to drop Mama Steph at home.
“Mama, I can’t believe you walked over to the house.”
“I don’t know why not. I told you, y’all stay too close for me not to take in some of this fresh air sometimes.”
We did, but it wasn’t a quick next door neighbor setup, more of a good fifteen minutes down the road from her house.
“Because anything could happen.” She waved me off as Courtland parked so he could let her out.
“Johnni, don’t know nobody want me but that man. I love you and I’ll call you later.” I leaned over a bit to hug her goodbye just as her door came open.
I watched as Courtland helped her all the way up her walkway and paid close attention to him coming back to the truck. He truly was a fine ass man and I loved seeing him outside of his classic black suit.
Once he got back in, I pretended to be focused on my phone that only had my email open.
“Lou, do you need to go anywhere else?”
“No. That was the only thing on my agenda today.”
That was all he said as he backed out. I sat there silently, fighting hard to keep my eyes in my lap. This was the first time we’d been alone since this morning. When we drove past my driveway, I frowned.
“Wait, Courtland, you passed my house.”
