Page 163 of 4 Corinthians

“A mini goat,” he repeated. “I already found the one I want.” He turned his iPad back to him and started pulling up pictures. “I want to name him Oreo.” I stared at the screen, surprised as hell.

“Judah-“

“You scared of my mama, Four?” His eyes got big in surprise. He set his iPad on the bench.

“I’m not scared of your mama,” I laughed. “But I don’t think she would want you to have a goat.”

“It wasn’t on her list though,” he told me. “I think it will be okay.”

“I doubt it,” I replied, and his shoulders dropped in defeat.

“Alright,” he said then stood. “I’m going to get a snack and watch TV. You gonna be down here long?”

“Nah, just a few more minutes,” I replied. I pointed to my vitals on the TV on the wall. “I’m within my limits still.”

“Okay,” he said, then left.

I waited until I heard the door close, then picked up my phone and called Nine.

“Hello?”

“I need some information,” I told him. I sat on the bench. “You at your computer?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

I picked up Judah’s iPad and looked at it. “I’m about to buy a damn mini goat. I need everything delivered to my house within the next two days,” I told him. “I don’t know what they actually need. You know someone with a damn farm, right?”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “But why the fuck are you buying a damn goat?”

“Judah asked for one,” I replied. I swiped through the pictures of mini goats and sighed. I was going to get in so much damn trouble with Cori for doing this. But seeing Judah smile would be worth it. “And before you ask, nah his mama doesn’t know and ain’t gonna know until it’s already here.”

“Nigga you got a death wish,” he sighed. “But let me make some calls and get you the information you need. I should know something by tonight.”

“I appreciate it.”

Corinthians

He looked good as hell. Button-down shirt with his first three buttons open, slacks, belt, and loafers, everything black. I’d cut his hair this morning, so his line was neat and straight. A black necklace with a C pendant and another with a J pendant, a black watch, and his vitals bracelet. When he noticed me watching him, he smirked, and I saw a flash of his k-9’s, which did nothing but add to his appeal. Everything that he wore was from his cousin’s line and looked damn good on him.

“Stop looking at me like that,” he said, finally breaking the silence between us. He reached across the table and took my hand. He brushed his thumb over my knuckles. “You good?”

“I am,” I told him. “You?”

“Yeah,” he answered with a nod. Our server came to check on us before disappearing. Being on this date felt good. Time outside the house was needed for both of us. Even though he and I spent time together, we hadn’t been on a date since we dined and dashed. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t think you would come out,” he said. I looked up from our hands to see him watching me.

My brow went up. “Why? I’ve never told you no before.”

“You haven’t, but now shit is different,” he said. My head tilted to the side, and I continued to watch him. Uri was always so confident, but I could see the insecurity in his eyes.

“You thought I would say no because you know about my brand and what Robert did to me?” I asked, and he slowly nodded. “Uri, I knew what he did to me before you came back.”

“I know, but I didn’t know,” he insisted. “You hold everything close to the vest. I’m scared that you’ll run.”

“That’s my fear for you,” I told him truthfully.