Page 13 of Furthest From Perfect

“Cool.” He smiled, exposing those deep dimples, and I was a little sad when he released me. I backed away, prepared to grab my bags and head out, but his voice stopped me. “I got you some breakfast and a smoothie.”

He reached into his car then popped back out with a paper bag and plastic cup filled with green ingredients. I beamed, accepting them from him. “You’re so thoughtful.” I certainly didn’t make time for eating before starting my day, so it felt good to have someone looking out for me.

“Always when it comes to you. I’ll carry your bags upstairs for you.” I could only nod because my mouth had already found its way to the straw of my smoothie. I took a sip and realized it was nice and sweet. “Mmm, this is delicious. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.”

From the praise I received from Galaxy, I could tell we would be working with each other more in the future. By the time I stepped off the elevator at her condo, I was already in a good mood. My mood only got better when the sliding doors opened, and I saw Han’some waiting for me. He didn’t see me at first because his head was buried in his phone, but the closer I got to him, the louder my heels were.

When his eyes landed on me, he smiled. He opened his arms for a hug, and I stepped into his embrace as if we hadn’t seen each other a few hours ago. We rocked side to side before he released me. “So how did it go?”

“It was great,” I admitted, allowing him to take the bags from my hands.

He nodded with a sly smirk. “I knew it would be. Come on. Let’s head out. We’re going to the country.”

He opened the door to let me inside his car then put my things in his back seat. “What about my car?”

“I’ll bring you back to get it later.”

Since I was okay with that, I put on my seat belt and settled in. I was shocked when he reached for my hand and even held it the entire ride. His skin was warm against mine, in a comforting way. I missed the majority of the ride because I was so deep in my thoughts.

I sat up when Han’some eased up to an open-iron gate. He drove slowly down a paved road until we pulled up on a country style home with a large, wraparound porch. I glanced over at him, but his expression gave nothing away. I remained quiet as he parked in front of the separate garage. He got out then came around to open my door for me.

He took my hand in his, leading me toward the house. My eyes took in our surroundings. The lawn was perfectly cut, all the way to the tree line in the distance. “Whose house is this?” I finally asked when he led me up the stairs.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a key to open the door. “I was thinking it could be ours,” he replied with a push to open the door.

I gasped behind him because I wasn’t expecting him to say that. “What? Our house?” I repeated for confirmation.

He nodded with a grin. “I can’t stay in my penthouse with stripper poles in every room. I’m transitioning into a family man, and my home needs to reflect that. I wanted to get your thoughts on it since this will be your house as much as it’s mine, wifey.”

Childlike excitement surged through me as I began to give myself a tour. I maneuvered from room to room while Han’some gave me all the details. The home was single-story with five rooms and four-and-a-half baths, at forty-five hundred square feet. The living room and kitchen had an open floor plan with a beautiful stone island in the kitchen. I fell in love with the gold furnishings and could even see myself in there making all kinds of meals. Not to mention, there were double ovens and sinks, bringing me true joy.

We moved through to the bedrooms next. I couldn’t help but smile when he showed me the room he wanted to be for Skye. I had met her a few times, and I knew I would be seeing more of her in the future. I loved to see him making space for her in his life. It was proof of how intentional he was being with every move he made.

In the backyard, I found a pool and a beautiful patio area. What really made me squeal was when I realized the house was on top of a hill. “What’s wrong with you?” Han’some asked in a concerned tone.

“This house is perfect for watching the sky,” I shared. I could picture myself laying out in the yard, watching the stars or a once-in-a-lifetime eclipse. I skipped back and forth, feeling like I was seconds away from bursting because of how much joy Han’some injected into my body.

“You really excited about that?”

I nodded as I came to a stop in front of him. “I am. There’s so much space I can have me a tent out here, too, to relax, listen to the rain, and read my books.”

Unable to stay still, I started doing cartwheels. After the third one, I started twerking, and Han’some tackled me to the ground. We shared a hearty laugh as he pinned me to the Earth. I could smell the richness of the soil beneath us. Suddenly, I was falling deep into his gaze and fighting the urge to live there. After two beats of labored breathing, no blinking, and the trees blowing in the wind, his lips crashed into mine violently.

We hungrily kissed each other like our only goal was to devour the other person. Heat raced across the surface of my skin, and my nipples hardened as desire flooded my bloodstream. He inhaled my every breath until I was panting in place with lips that stung from the pressure of being taken so boldly. Instead of speaking, Han’some simply shook his head before resting his head in my lap.

I brushed my fingers through his hair, trying to bring my hormones back down to earth. The way he’d just overpowered me was still seared into my brain. I knew I wouldn’t forget his lips anytime soon. I became antsy, just wondering when I’d get to feel them again.

After a few minutes of silence, I glanced down at Han’some. His eyes were focused on the sky above in a spaced-out way. He didn’t even need to say anything for me to know something heavy was on his mind. For some reason, I could feel the darkness through his silence, and I couldn’t help but ask about it.

“What’s got you so quiet?”

He blinked and sighed before opening his eyes to look at me. “I miss my baby. It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen her. I don’t know if she’s okay or anything, and that shit fucks with me. I don’t want to abandon her, Adora. I need to be in her life.” He ran a hand down his face, and it was like the action wiped away his mask. I only saw a man in deep pain left behind. “I even picked out her room already.”

I continued to run my fingers through his hair. “Don’t worry. You’re going to see Skye soon,” I assured him. I absentmindedly switched to playing with his beard.

“How do you know?” he asked with a hoarse voice, almost as if he was afraid to even ask and believe in it because so much hadn’t gone the way he wanted it to in his life.

“Because God told me,” I admitted. I looked into his eyes when I spoke the next part because I needed him to know I was here with him every step of the way. “He said you’ve been doing everything He told you to do, and you will be rewarded a double portion of favor because of your patience. I know you’re worried about her, but she’s okay, and she will be with us soon.”