“When the fuck did you talk to Mia?” He asked because he never saw me use my phone.
“When I went to use the bathroom.”
“Of course,” he said, shaking my head. “Anyway, call me when you get there. Remember, be mindful of the things you share with Mia; that rule still stands.” He warned me. I smiled and placed my hand up to my head.
“Aye, aye, captain,” I said, in a mocking tone which only made him look at me as though I truly got on his nerves.
“Come here,” he said, sticking his head inside the open window. I smiled and willingly leaned into him so our lips could touch. I closed my eyes as we tenderly kissed. Buddha’s tongue grazed my lips as he outlined them with the tip of his tongue.
“I love you,” he told me as he broke our kiss. “Be safe.” He didn’t even wait for me to say I love you back to him. He justturned and walked over to his Bugatti. I started my engine and smiled, still not believing I was driving a Porsche. I waited for Buddha before I drove off, and he followed behind me.
We both drove out of the dealership, and Buddha stopped beside my vehicle. I turned to him and smiled with a wave of my hand. He honked his horn once before he drove in the opposite direction.
I took the route to Mia’s house; my thoughts were all over the place. I can’t even lie, I was so fucking happy Enzo wasn’t Buddha’s and Catalina was back in Italy and away from our lives. I also took a mental note not to be too eager to trust Victoria in the future. That woman was something else; she was very cunning and manipulative. I had to remember never to let my guard down around her.
I smiled, remembering Buddha saying I love you, and I couldn’t believe that the man whom I once feared was now my husband. Hearing the words, I love you from his mouth was trippy. Life sure was something else, that’s for certain.
With a smile still on my lips, I dialed Buddha’s number.
“Dior,” his sexy ass voice answered on the first ring.
“You know, when you tell somebody you love them, you’re supposed to allow them to say it back to you. Not just walk away before they can return the gesture,” I told him as I signaled to turn onto the street where Mia lived.
“Oh, is that how that goes? I’ve never been in this situation before where I say shit like'I love you,’” I frowned a little, hearing Buddha say that, and felt it was kind of sad.
“Well, let me teach you, I love you too,” I said, cheesing like an idiot.
“Ok, baby, be good, and I’ll see you when I get home,” Buddha said before ending the call.
“Aaahhhhh!” I screamed while blushing like crazy. My dumb ass done fell in love with the man I was forced to marry.
******
“Bitch, what!” Mia screamed as she ran around my brand new Porsche. I smiled at her reaction as she excitedly opened the back door so she could check out the interior.
“Yo, this is really dope, Dior. If there’s anybody that deserves this, it’s you, girl,” Mia said, smiling at me as she closed the door. Walking over to me, she reached for my hand and led me back into her house.
“Are you ready to tell me the entire story of how you ended up being married to Buddha?” She asked, taking a seat on the sofa, and tapped the empty spot beside her, inviting me to sit. Accepting her offer, I sat next to her and bit into my bottom lip. I knew I couldn’t tell Mia anything because Buddha already warned me that I still had to be mindful about what I shared.
“I can’t say just yet, but I promise that I will when the time is right.” I could tell she didn’t like my response, but she didn’t have a choice.
“Ok, I’ll wait. Now, tell me what it’s like being married to that fine ass nigga,” Mia asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively. I laughed at her reaction, but I didn’t skip this opportunity to gush about Buddha.
Mia and I had so much to catch up on that I spent hours at her house. It started to get dark, and that’s when I realized that the hours had slipped away from me.
“Oh shit, Buddha’s about to kick my ass,” I told her, hopping to my feet to leave. Mia followed me toward the front door.
“So, do you think Chanel will come to live with you soon?” She asked, holding the driver’s door open so I could hop in.
“It’s all up to her, really. I know she likes it at Aunty Debbie’s house. I made financial arrangements so she’ll be properly taken care of when she’s over there,” I answered her question as I buckled up, and Mia closed the door.
“Shit, Lewis turned out to be such a shitty excuse of a human being. Chanel doesn’t deserve that; thank goodness she has you and Debbie,” Mia said, shaking her head in disbelief.
“I don’t even want to think about that no-good nigga. Anyway, Mia, thank you for having me. You know I love you, and just so you know, anytime you want to visit, you’re more than free to do so.” I smiled when she leaned inside the vehicle so she could hug me tight and place a kiss on my cheek.
“I love you too, Dior. Drive safely and call me when you get home,” she said, reluctantly stepping back from the vehicle. “Girl, and hook a sister up with one of those Italians. Those mothafuckas know how to treat their women. Is Lorenzo taken?” She asked, pointing at me, her facial expression serious as though she meant every word.
“Girl, bye,” I said, laughing as I slowly pulled off. She and I waved one last time before I took off. I hadn’t been driving for more than two minutes when my phone rang. “Shit,” I muttered, already knowing it would be Buddha. I made a face as I answered his call.
