“I’m not. I want you, Reigh. I need you.”
“You’re making a mistake, baby girl.”
She paused and frowned. “You don’t want me. I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t a question but a statement. My rejection had fucked with her head, and that was the last thing I wanted to do. I gripped her wrists as she pulled back from me.
“I’on know how you fix your lips to let that shit come out. I want you bad as hell right now, always have.”
“What do you mean ‘always have’?”
“Man, I used to have the biggest crush on you as a kid. I’ve had feelings for you since we were fourteen.”
“You never said anything.”
“Why? So you could shoot me down? Say some slick shit about my scars and shit?”
“I wasn’t like those other girls, Reigh. You know that.” She placed her hands over my heart. “Those scars never bothered me. They only bothered you, and I didn’t judge you based on them. I always saw your heart. I never said I liked you, too, because I wasn’t sure how much longer you’d be around before y’all left again.”
“Maybe it was for the best.”
“So is this,” she replied, locking her arms around me again, pressing her body against mine, and kissing me.
My dick jerked, and my balls ached. If she had been any other girl, I wouldn’t have thought twice about running up in them guts, but this was Dove. She was so much more to me than an easy fuck.
I gripped the back of her head and pulled her away.
“Nah. We ain’t going out like this, Dove.”
“Going out like this?”
“I will always respect you, always cherish you, and I will always treat you the way that you deserve to be treated. Whatever this is, what you’re on right now, it’s just for the moment. That ain’t us. I ain’t gon’ lie; you bad as hell. Got a nigga’s dick harder than a muthafucka, and my balls aching like hell.”
“Then why don’t you want this?”
“Because I don’t plan on being one of your regrets. I plan on being the best thing that ever happened to you, li’l bit. I want to make sure that I’m what you want, and not because you’re going through some shit over another nigga. So, when we do it, it won’t be because you’re in ya fuckin’ feelings ’bout that nigga. This ain’t no; it’s just ‘slow-down’ for now.”
ONE WEEK LATER
“Are you gon’be good here alone?” I gripped Dove by the wrist to stop her before she climbed out of the chauffeured car. My bodyguard, Sterling picked us up from the airport and was taking us to our destination.
“My parents are here, and I’m sure my sister will stop by at some point. I’m not alone. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Only if you’re sure. I would let you roll with me, but I expect reporters to be there and other folks on their bullshit. I can’t protect you the way I might want to.”
Dove shrugged nonchalantly and turned her lips down. “I want to be there for you.”
“I know you do. You can be there for me by praying for me. Knowing you’re here waiting for me at the end of this shit is what I need. Be my peace, Dove.”
I kissed her forehead, and she nodded. “I will be.”
Last night, when my attorney called and told me they pushed up the arbitration meeting because of some new information, I told Dove I was heading back into town. She immediately offered to go with me, but I told her she should visit her parents instead. I needed to do this alone. My family wouldn’t even be there.
“You gon’ be okay?”
“I’m fine. Good luck, Reigh.” Her voice was soft, and the sadness in her eyes made me want to push the world away and keep her close.
“Thanks,” was all I said instead as she climbed out of the car.
