Elijah

I glanced at my phone, noting the time before I heard my OG saying to me, “Are we keeping you from something? You keep checking that phone.”

I chuckled as I shook my head. “Nah, Ma. My bad.”

I’d been kicking it with her and Anaya all day after I’d finally left Winifred’s place. Elisha had to work, so Lady Bug was with OG until she came home. When my Pops’ home health aide came over for her shift, I decided to get them out of the house for a little bit, taking them out for a nice lunch and to do a little bit of shopping. OG ran herself ragged trying to be everything for everybody, so whenever she allowed me the opportunity to spoil her I took it. Her and Anaya both ran my pockets out at the outlet mall, but they could have that and they knew it. There was always more money to come and replace whatever left my wallet was always my mindset. On the way home, I got roped into keeping the party going with a movie night. We stopped by the grocery store for OG to get the ingredients to make her famous homemade popcorn and a little bit of candy, too.

By the time we pulled back up to the crib, Elisha was off work and surprisingly in a good mood, so she joined us for movie night. Since it was Lady Bug’s idea, the film of choice was animated and she’d been totally enthralled. She and Elisha were snuggled up on the love seat while me and Ma sat on opposite ends of the larger recliner sofa.

Since it was clearly evident that my focus was not on the movie, OG took that as her cue to get all up in my business.

“Tell me more about those young ladies from earlier, Peanut,” she said and I groaned.

I hated when she used a nickname I’d been fighting against her using for years at this point. No grown ass man should be called Peanut. I heard Elisha snicker as her nosy ass tuned into me and OG’s conversation.

“Hush up, Pumpkin,” OG said, chastising her, then turning to face me completely with an expectant look on her face.

“I told you, we work together at the airport. That’s it,” I replied.

My gram shook her head. “That’s not it. I saw how you looked at the one of ’em…Ingrid, was it?”

“Winifred,” I corrected automatically, an almost reflexive action that made my gram smile widely.

I’d fallen for the oldest trick in the book. She’d remembered the name just fine, but wanted to catch me up.

“Winifred,” she repeated slowly. “Are you and her…”

I cut the sentence before she could complete it. “We’re cool, OG. That’s it.”

“I’m gonna call malarkey on that one, Peanut. I saw how you looked at her. Recognized that look of a Woolford man on the hunt. But, more importantly, I saw how she looked at you , baby. And as a woman who fell for the Woolford charm, I completely understood,” OG finished with a titter.

I furrowed my brow and repeated. “We’re cool, OG.”

“Sure you are. That’s why your nose been in that phone since we crossed paths. Waiting on her to hit you up, huh?”

“What you know about hitting someone up, Grams?” Elisha broke in, giggling like her damn kid.

“Don’t worry about what I know, just worry about yourself, Pumpkin. I’m talking to your brother right now.”

“The pretty lady from the restaurant is on Uncle Lij’s phone,” Anaya piped up and I groaned.

“Anaya, what did I tell you about doing too much on my phone?” I said, trying to get the heat off me and the topic at hand.

I let Anaya play games on my phone if her tablet was charging or dead from time to time. The only way the baby could have seen the picture of Winifred that was in my phone was if she’d been scrolling through my photo album. There weren’t more than just that one. I’d taken it the first night she and I got together. She’d looked so peaceful and beautiful as she slept after I’d worn her out. I couldn’t resist snapping a keepsake, certain at that time that the encounter was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I couldn’t have been further from the truth and for that I was grateful. I’d been playing it cool, playing by Winifred’s rules because I didn’t want to fuck this up. We kept things light and breezy for the most part, not really delving into deep conversations, but still managing to enjoy our time together, even the moments when our fucking wasn’t the central focus. She had a penchant for being a little chatty after sex sometimes and she’d pose the most ridiculous situational questions expecting serious answers from me. Of course I indulged her, listening with rapt attention whenever she’d answer her own questions after I did. I loved listening to her express how her mind worked.

“Sorry, Uncle Lij,” Anaya apologized in a pitiful voice that immediately made me fold.

“It’s okay, Lady Bug,” I returned instantly, earning a snicker from her mother.

Before I could make a smart comment to my twin, my phone buzzed. I looked down, hoping it was a text from Winifred, but instead it was my boy Jeff asking what I was on. I briefly responded to him before lifting my gaze to my gram’s knowing eyes on me.

“I’m going to let up on you, Peanut. But know that you don’t have to hide your friends from your old gram. It’d be nice to meet one of these young ladies I know you’ve been dealing with over the years. I’m getting up there and would love to see you both settled and maybe a couple more great grands before I get up outta here.”

I pulled her into me, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. “None of that talk, OG. You finna be here for a good minute. Definitely long enough for Elisha to give you a couple more great grands. I’m cool on kids,” I replied with a chuckle.

“Not you offering up my womb. I’m one and done,” Elisha retorted as she rubbed a soft hand over Anaya’s braids. “I got it perfect the first time with my baby.”

“Either way,” I said, while standing. “ I’m cool on it. I’ll see y’all later, I’m about to slide.”

I gave OG’s shoulder a squeeze and pressed another kiss to her forehead before repeating that gesture on my sister and niece then walking out. Jeff was down at The Watering Hole and wanted to catch up. Jeff and I went way back, he was a couple years older than me but we’d grown up on the block together. He’d been incredibly smart back in the day, so it was no surprise when he’d grown up to be a tech guru. It’d been a minute since I’d seen my guy since his ass was always traveling for work. Ironically the last time I’d seen him had been in passing when I was at work and he was in the airport for a flight.

When I walked into The Hole, I didn’t see him immediately but I did see a group at one of the few high top tables in this spot that caught my attention instantly. I walked in their direction, a devious smirk etched on my face.

“Two times in one day? Damn, I must be God’s favorite,” I said teasingly as I approached the ladies.

“Well well well, look who it is, Freddie,” Kenni crowed with a knowing expression that let me know Winifred must’ve told her girls about us after I’d seen them earlier. “Hey, Eli.”

“Whassup, Captain Kenni, Roni,” I greeted each of them before turning to Winifred. “Thought I told you to hit me up after you were done with your girls.”

“And here I am… still with my girls,” she sassed.

I shook my head with a slight chuckle. “Aight, you got that,” I conceded.

“Are you stalking me?” she said with a saucy grin. “I’m trying to be put off by the energy but I think I kinda like it.”

Oh, they must’ve had a couple drinks already because she was very chill . Not that she was normally uptight, but she’d been fighting overtime to keep what we had going on just between us that I wasn’t exactly expecting this reception when I strolled over.

“Not tonight, sweetheart. Pure coincidence, I’m actually here to meet my boy,” I said, finally spotting Jeff sitting at the bar on the opposite end of the space. “Just a perk to pull up and see your fine ass as well.”

She lowered her gaze, shaking her head at me before looking back up.

Before she could speak up again, I did. “I’ll leave y’all to it, ladies. Don’t forget to hit my line though. Ay, Wade!” I called out to the bartender. When he looked at me I said, “All three of them, put their tab with mine. And I’ma get my usual.” Without waiting for a response, I walked over to Jeff and clapped him on the back. He stood instantly, pulling me into a quick hug before we both sat down again. Wade placed my bourbon in front of me and I gestured toward Jeff. “Whatever this chump been drinking you can put it on my joint too.”

“Nigga walked in here like he Fabolous, just throw it in the bag headass,” Jeff joked.

I damn near choked on the sip of bourbon I’d just taken, coughing before I punched his ass in the arm.

“Chill on me, man. You already know your investment advice has come in handy for helping me make my bread grow. Plus I’m in a good mood tonight, nigga. Reap the benefits and get off my ass.”

Jeff twisted his mouth in disbelief. “Yeah okay. Which one of those chicks you tryna impress? Put their tab with mine ,” he teased with a guffaw.

I couldn’t help joining him in laughter as I replied. “The thick ass one with her hair pulled up in a bun sitting in the stool closest to our direction. I told you about Winifred’s fine ass before. We work out at the airport together.”

Jeff looked over at the crew discreetly then let out a low whistle. “You said she was bad, but damn .”

“Ay, chill on that shit,” I chastised, quickly earning another laugh from my boy.

“I’m just sayin’,” he replied with a shrug.

“Say a lil less, nigga.”

“You sound a little territorial. She finally let you in or something?” he asked.

“Something like that. We’re… in the midst of coming to an understanding.”

I’d been trying, solely with my dick up until this point, to prove to Winifred that she and I could work outside of the bedroom as well as we did inside. Bit by bit, I felt like she was slowly warming up to the idea. And if she’d told her homegirls about us, that definitely seemed like a step in the right direction.

“I feel you, g,” Jeff replied with a nod. “Other than that what’s been good with you? How’s OG and Pops?”

“Same ol’ shit, man. We maintaining. Pops still going through his shit, but I finally convinced OG to take advantage of them damn benefits he got working for the government for so damn long, so he has a home health aide that comes in to help out when me and ShaSha aren’t around.”

“And how are Sha and the munchkin?” he tossed out casually but I already knew the question was coming.

That was the real question he’d wanted to ask but tried playing it cool. When we were younger, Elisha had the biggest crush on Jeff only for him to turn around fifteen years later to feel that way about her. My sister was oblivious because my boy wouldn’t nut up and just step to her. I wasn’t fazed by it because he was a good nigga. She could use another positive male influence in her and Anaya’s life, truthfully. But I wasn’t in the habit of putting myself in grown folks’ business.

“They’re good…mostly. You know ShaSha,” I said with a shake of my head.

Jeff let out a long breath before nodding.

A beat of silence passed before I asked what's been up with him and he launched into his latest adventures. He’d sold some proprietary software that netted him a nice cushion and was now on the hunt for his next mission. Jeff was in the middle of telling me some wild story about some eccentric millionaire he met when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out, immediately smirking at the sight of Winifred’s name.

You tucking me in tonight?

If that’s what you want…

It’s what I neeeeeed!

Say less…

“Aw shit, I know that look,” Jeff cracked with a grin.

“I'll get up with you, boy,” I said, holding my hand out for a dap, trying to catch Winifred before she got too far. Wasn’t no use in her getting dropped off by her homegirl if I was going to the same spot. Great minds thought alike because no sooner than I crossed the doorframe leading outside I saw Winifred standing there waiting while her girls idled in Kenni’s car at the curb.

“Night, Eli! Night, Freddie!” the women called out in unison before skirting out the lot.

Immediately, I wrapped an arm around Winifred’s waist, drawing her nearer to me. “This is a pleasant surprise,” I murmured as I lowered my head, softly pressing my lips against hers.

All she gave me in response was a hum of contentment. I pulled back, but kept an arm around her waist as I led her to my car. She teetered along in measured steps, letting me know she was definitely over her limits. When we reached my car, she collapsed along the passenger door, grinning up at me before looping her arms around my neck to bring my head down to her.

“Our little secret’s out now,” she purred into my ear, the combination of the husk of her breath against my ear and the silkiness of her tone had me stifling a moan.

“You’re not mad about it, are you?” I asked, only halfway genuinely concerned.

“Nope,” she shot back instantly. “Not at all.” She punctuated those words by snagging my lower lip between her teeth and sucking it into her mouth. My hands traveled from their hold on her waist down further to cup her ass. Winifred nipped my lip lightly before sliding her tongue along the affronted spot to soothe the pain.

“C’mon, let’s get you home,” I said, moving her aside and leaning down to open the door.

Winifred sank into the seat and immediately slumped over. I shook my head, buckling her in then rounding to get in. I had a feeling that even though her place was but a short car ride away, the only tucking in that would happen tonight would be a literal one. I pulled into her driveway and Winifred was out cold. Mouth hanging open a little while she let out the cutest little snores. I shook my head, chastising myself at that soft ass thought. I couldn’t help it though. Everything about this woman just did something to me. Instead of disturbing the groove of rest I knew she needed since we hadn’t gotten much the night before, I lifted her from the car carefully, recalling her door’s entry code from memory since she’d given it to me earlier.

I got her settled into bed and quickly got her out of her shoes before going into her dresser to find her something to sleep in. After I had her all set, I used the toothbrush we both pretended just happened to be here but knew was mine, then walked back into the bedroom, stripped down, and climbed into bed behind Winifred. I pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, pulled her into me more tightly, and closed my eyes to drift off.

I awakened hours later on my back with Winifred’s body sprawled half atop mine. Her head rested in the crook of my neck, one arm draped over my midsection. I placed a gentle hand at the back of her neck, pulling her head upward so I had an unobstructed view of her beauty. The Man Upstairs could get anything he wanted from me just off the strength of making this connection happen for me. In addition to the physical, it was the woman’s character that made her all the more attractive to me. I saw the way she dealt with the worst of the worst customers, always handling them with the utmost patience and respect. I witnessed her and her homegirls’ bond, the way it was clear to see that they had each other’s backs through it all. I hadn’t witnessed her in action with her kid, but I heard the distinct pride in her voice whenever she spoke about him. She just had an aura that emanated pure goodness and I was grateful for the opportunity to bask in it.

And I woulda stayed basking in it a little longer if my stomach didn’t let off some noise that sounded like an alien invasion. I extricated myself from Winifred’s hold, slipped on my pants, and padded my way out to her kitchen to see what she had on hand for breakfast. Finding enough fresh veggies that I could whip us up some omelets alongside sausage patties and instant biscuits, I instantly set to cooking breakfast. About halfway through my preparations I felt hands snaking my waist and cold lips pressing against my shoulder blade. I flipped my omelet then turned to face her.

“Good morning,” I murmured against her lips before dipping my tongue between hers and deepening our contact.

“He cooks,” she said with a grin once I’d disengaged our mouths. “Another check in the pro column.”

“Oh yeah,” I replied with a peaked brow. “What are these other checks?”

“Now where’s the fun in me telling you all of my secrets?” Winifred replied teasingly. “What do you need me to do?”

“Set the table and take care of drinks?” I offered.

Her response was a quick nod before she set to work. I turned back to the stove, sprinkling a little mozzarella cheese atop the omelet before placing the lid over it to help speed up the melting process. Moments later we were both seated in her breakfast nook, hands entwined as I said a quick grace over the meal. We ate in a comfortable silence before she looked over to me with an impish grin. “You learn how to cook like this for your daughter?”

I frowned as her words permeated my brain. “Daughter?” I repeated aloud, momentarily stuck.

“That little one who has your whole face, . Don’t play with me!”

“Oh, Anaya,” I said with a chuckle. “That’s my niece, love. And she looks just like her mama, my twin.”

“Oh,” Winifred replied, with a chagrined look before she lowered her head. “I shouldn’t have assumed…”

“It’s cool. I guess we never really had the opportunity to talk about it. Elisha, that’s my older-by-thirty-seven-seconds twin sister, was working so I took Anaya and OG out for a day on the town.”

“That’s nice of you to treat your niece and your mom. So you don’t have any kids?” as she asked all in one breath.

I shook my head, chuckling. “Nah, no kids for me. Don’t think I’m really the dad type, you know? Plus, Lady Bug keeps my hands pretty full, so I’m good. Much to my OG’s chagrin.”

“Oh.”

“How about you? Got any siblings?”

She shook her head. “Nope, it’s just me and Jae.”

“His dad’s not in the picture?” I asked.

Her gaze dropped briefly before she cleared her throat softly. “Um, no, he… um… passed pretty early on in Jae’s life.”

“Oh shit, my bad, love. I didn’t mean to?—”

She cut me off. “No, no. It’s fine. I’m good.”

I peered at her for a moment longer and she doubled down.

“I promise. It’s just a sore subject.”

“Understood,” I said, asking no further questions.

An awkward silence stood between us for a few moments until I asked her to tell me more about her son. Instantly she lit up, bragging on her baby boy who was in his third year out at Howard. She beamed as she talked about her son, he was clearly her pride and joy. He sounded like a good kid and I looked forward to meeting him. I said as much, thinking it would garner opposition, but instead Winifred blessed me with a small smile before uttering, “Yeah, I think you two would actually hit it off. And I don’t mean that in a shady way, I’m being for real.” She giggled.

I ended up spending the rest of the afternoon into the evening laid up with Winifred. We shifted between watching Netflix shows and talking about any sundry of subjects that came up. It was probably the most chill time she and I had spent together. Our words flowed effortlessly, laughing and joking with one another as if we’d been acquainted for years instead of mere months. I was loath to leave her presence, but a call from my niece asking where I was sent me heading home for the night.

After that night I took her home from The Watering Hole, Winifred and I fell into a sort of regular routine. I was at her place damn near nightly, but I was most definitely not complaining about that. Any time I got to spend in her presence, I relished, knowing damn well it could be snatched away at a moment’s notice. I didn’t let that deter me from continually trying to show her why that was a bad idea.

I was getting tired of the in the house shit though. Hell, if we had any chance of making a go of this for real, I needed to be able to take my lady out and show her off properly.

“What’s wrong?” Winifed asked, coming back into the living room with a bottle of my favorite beer that she’d just happened to pick up on her last grocery run and a glass of juice for herself.

“Nothing, why’d you ask that?”

She passed me the bottle, then settled right next to me on the couch. I draped the arm that wasn’t holding the beer over her shoulders, bringing her closer to me and pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“Your face…it was doing a thing when I walked back in here,” she said.

“Doing a thing?” I asked, amused.

“Yeah, you looked like this…”

I looked down to see her brows furrowed and mouth balled into itself, which made me crack up.

“I definitely wasn’t looking like that,” I countered.

She shrugged. “Eh, close enough.”

“I wanna take you out,” I blurted.

“Oh!”

“Is that a good or bad oh?” I asked.

“Depends on your plans, honestly,” she tossed back saucily.

“Hadn’t gotten that far yet,” I replied. “But now that I know you’re on board…”

“Wait. Why’d you think I wouldn’t be on board?”

I pinned her with a look that said be for real.

“ This isn’t anything serious. Don’t think I’m your little girlfriend ,” I said, imitating her voice. “Were you not the one who said those words mere weeks ago?”

“Okay, fair enough. But you’re telling me you haven’t noticed a distinct shift in our patterns lately? Hell, you’re here more than at your own place and your little hoe bag that used to reside in your trunk on the rare occasion of overnights has morphed into space in my closet and on my bathroom counter. Taking all of that into consideration, it’s a wonder I haven’t pressed the issue of you continually getting my milk, but never taking the cow out to pasture.”

There was a beat of silence before we both fell into laughter.

“Did you just call yourself a heffa?” I asked once we sobered, making Winifred break down again.

“You get on my nerves, bad metaphor but you get what I was saying,” she grumbled.

“I did and message received. You’re off on Thursday this week, right?” I asked as a little idea began forming in my head.

“I am,” she replied.

“Me too. Can you give me your whole day?”

Her eyes widened. “An all-day date? Boyyyyy, that milk sure must be good.”

“The finest,” I replied instantly, licking my lips. “But…yeah, I’ma need a full day commitment.”

“Can I get a hint at what we’ll be doing?”

I shook my head with a smug grin.

“Will you at least tell me how to dress?”

“Comfortably,” was the only answer I gave her.

“You’re annoying,” she pouted.

“You like it here though,” I shot back cockily.

“Yeah yeah…” she huffed.

“Awwww, don’t be like that, baby. I promise you a good time, aight?”

Her only response was to turn back and resume watching TV, but I saw the slight grin on her face that she tried to hide. Yeah, she definitely likes it here.

One night, as we lay in bed drifting off about a week ago, Winifred told me about some tourist attraction town she wanted to visit in our state. The town was known for having a collection of the most random “world’s largest” things. She was so interested in and intrigued by the concept and mentioned she’d love to go down there and see it, but she couldn’t get her girlfriends on board. I’d googled the joint the next day and although I found it a little strange when she’d brought it up, I couldn’t front like the shit didn’t have the potential to be an interesting day trip at the least.

I wanted to leave a lasting impression with our first date, so a simple dinner and movie situation wouldn’t do. After I left Winifred, I did a little more internet searching and found a few wineries on our projected route. So my plan was to start our day with breakfast, hit the road to the small town, then stop at a winery or two on the way back. The drive would take up the bulk of our day since it was over three hours one way, but that wasn’t no problem for me. I loved rolling on the open road and three hours was child’s play.