“With nothing but respect, my G,” EJ replied.
“I’m saying, that’s my li’l sister, and we don’t play about her.”
“Yeah? Well, that’s my little sister, and we don’t play about her,” EJ replied, bobbing his head at me.
“I’ve been good to Baby since we met. I’ve done nothing but come into her life to enhance it. As long as you’re bringing that same type of energy to Court’s life, we’re all good.”
“I’m definitely coming with the same energy with Court. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have even stepped to her in the first place,” EJ replied.
“How long has this been going on?” Harlem asked.
“Since we started planning this trip months ago,” Courtney responded.
“Why didn’t I know?” Harlem asked Courtney, frowning at her.
“One, because I’m thirty. I don’t recall any grown woman ever needing permission for who they made friends with or dated. Two, because?—”
“Harlem, your ass has been so in love, can’t nothing on this planet touch you,” CJ stated, walking up to us and snickering.
“You knew too?” Harlem asked his brother.
“Everyone knew but you.”
“Harlem, I won’t make any apologies for how I’m moving when it concerns your sister. All I can do is say, sit back and watch. I have no plans on hurting her. I respect her and like her too much,” EJ clarified, taking Courtney’s hand.
“Harlem, baby, my brother is a good man. If it were Easy’s slick ass, then I’d say worry. EJ won’t harm her; if anything, it would be the other way around,” I interjected.
Harlem looked down at me and then at EJ. “EJ, we cool and all, but I’m not playing about her. I’ll fuck you up behind my sister.”
EJ smirked and replied, “As long as you know that I’m coming with that same energy behind Baby.”
“Let’s go back to the villa and take a nap before dinner tonight,” I remarked, rubbing my hands over my man’s chest. I needed Harlem to focus on me so that he could calm down andmove back into his place of peace. Although the conversation was cool, I could feel the tension radiating off him in waves; he was very protective of the women in his life.
“Baby saved y’all’s asses. I’ll see y’all later,” he declared, pointing at EJ, who was smirking and Courtney, who was snickering.
We walked hand in hand back to the villa, and I turned to him the moment the door closed on him.
“Are you good, bae?” I asked, looping my arms around his neck.
“I’m good. Still can’t believe that shit.” His heavy-lidded, nut-brown eyes locked onto mine.
“She deserves to be happy, too, and if anyone can make her happy, I’m sure it’s my big brother.”
“Glad you got so much faith in his ass. You do realize this is my baby sister we’re talking about, doncha?”
“And you do realize that I’m his baby sister, doncha?”
“I would never do anything to hurt you. I’ll burn the world down behind ya ass. Ain’t got a problem fucking nan nigga up over you, either.”
“That’s all I’m saying. He’ll hold that same energy for your sister. I know my brother, and I trust that man with all that I have and am. Don’t make this rough for them, Harlem. Nobody made it rough for you. Just like we’ve been blessed with an easy love and happiness, they deserve love and happiness too.”
“You’re right, dulzura, but that don’t mean that I won’t have my eyes on him.”
“That’s fine. Just give him the grace to prove himself and them the space to get to know each other,” I suggested, releasing him to head to the shower.
“Where your fine ass heading to?” he asked, following me as I stripped my bikini off.
I tossed a glance over my shoulder without answering. He followed me to the shower and quickly stripped out of his swim trunks as I adjusted the water. When we stepped inside, I lathered his washcloth and washed him off before I paid the same attention to myself, as he washed himself a second time. Once we were finished, I turned and locked my arms behind his neck.
