He snatched his arm free of my grip, and Carl flinched and tried to curl into a ball.
Mall security rolled up at that minute, and I knew someone must have called them when they saw Carl accosting me.
“Nigga, you’re lucky. Don’t let me see you on these streets and my woman ain’t around. Ain’t a security officer or a cop gon’ be able to save ya ass,” Harlem warned.
“Everything okay here?” the security officer asked as Harlem took a step back.
“It’s all good,” Harlem replied and stepped back.
Carl nodded, wiped the sweat off his face, and replied, “Yeah, we’re fine. Just joking around.”
Harlem wrapped me in his arms, kissed the top of my head, and checked on me.
“You good, Baby? Did that nigga do anything to you?”
“No, he didn’t. What are you doing here?”
I was still partially bewildered by Carl’s behavior and stunned by Harlem’s sudden appearance.
“I was checking on a little business venture here at the mall. My afternoon is free, so I was about to head over to the shop so that I could see you. You good, though?”
I knew that his business took him all over town, and sometimes to other cities in the area, but I was glad that he was planning to come and see me.
“Yeah, I’m fine, now that you’re here. Thank you, babe.”
“Always. That’s my job. Where are you heading?”
“I was gonna pick up something to eat because I missed lunch and then head back to the bakery, but I don’t really feel like going back to work.”
“You don’t have to. Listen, let’s stop someplace and pick up some dinner. I’ll drive you home. We can take your car because I know how you get about your li’l princess.”
I laughed. “You’re right, but what about your car?”
“I’ll get someone to pick it up for me.”
“Babe, that’s not necessary. I can drive, and you can just follow me.”
“Nah. It’s very necessary. I just want to make sure that you’re good and that nigga doesn’t try to follow you. I want you in the passenger seat, and I’ll be holding your hand until we get home. Literally holding your hand.”
“I doubt that he’ll follow me.”
“I may come from a wealthy background, Baby, but I’ve spent time in the streets too. I put nothing past no one. Niggas be on some shiesty shit.”
“Fine. You can take me home,” I agreed, handing him the keys. He unlocked the trunk, placed my bags in there, and then opened the car door for me. Once I was inside, he buckled me in.
It was always the little things for me. I loved how he took such good care of me. My stomach rumbled, and as much as I wanted to grab something to eat, I wanted to be home even more.
We didn’t stop for anything to eat, because I was ready to go home. He told me to place an online order for ribs and all the fixings to be delivered from Off the Bone, a popular barbeque spot in town.
By the time we arrived at my house, I was exhausted. Harlem grabbed my bags from the car, unlocked my house, checked it out, and then allowed me to come inside.
“This is for you.” I shyly handed him a gift bag when we were sitting in my room.
The other bags contained a cute little shirt that I saw for Palmer, some earrings for my mom, and a couple of lingerie sets for me.
“What’s this?”
“Open it and see,” I encouraged, smiling at him.
