Chapter 35

35

A manda

The Next Weekend

When Elias asked me to spend the day with him, I had no idea what he was up to. I figured it was because he wanted to show me that he was about us getting back together, but other than time and presence, I wasn’t sure how he planned to do that. He told me to dress in layers, which excited me, because it meant we’d be together well into the night.

Our day started with a trip to the farmer’s market, where I loaded up on lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. I was a jewelry junkie. I loved going to different expos and markets to get unique pieces from different vendors. As much as I loved buying my own jewelry, I loved when others got it for me more. It made it have more sentimental value. Elias was intentional with that love and got me jewelry from each vendor.

After that, we grabbed a plate of chicken and rice from a halal cart to share, just to put something on our stomach, before the next stop for the day. He showed me several commercial buildings, making me even more excited about my business. We even drove by a few plots of land in case I wanted to build from the ground up. Elias told me I could do literally whatever I wanted. He proved that when we met with an architect and talked to him about what I’d want the building to look like if it was built.

Dixon said he could have some sketches done in about a month, which I appreciated. When we left his office, we went to make our own custom perfume and cologne. It was cool because we got to mix notes that were the perfect mix of both of us. The unisex scent had fruitier notes for my perfume and more earthy notes in his cologne. Since we were on the creative side of Rose Valley Hills, we went to the art gallery and bookstore before the sun started to go down.

I wasn’t expecting him to take me ice skating, but that was the last stop of the night. I couldn’t remember the last time I ice skated, and it did not come back to me naturally. It took a few laps before I stopped falling, but the fun was going to be worth the soreness in the morning. We were all laughs as we reminded our bodies of what to do. When we were done, we grabbed some hot chocolate and went to the fall festival since it would be over soon.

As we walked and talked, it felt like all things were right in the world. This was probably the most random day we’d spent together that didn’t involve partying, but I loved every minute of it…almost just as much as I loved him.

While Elias massaged my feet, we reminisced. It felt good being able to look back over our time together and not be filled with regret or grief. The kind of grief that came from mourning a person that was still alive because the relationship was dead. We were talking about when EJ begged us to let him get a dog. He was only seven, and we tried to explain to him that it was a big responsibility.

All he cared about was getting a dog, so we let him foster one for the time being. The poor baby had diarrhea and used the bathroom all over the house. When EJ had to clean up the mess with us, he cried. He said he never wanted a pet again because they were too big of a responsibility and was so upset with the dog, he didn’t even look at Fluffy until it was time for her to go.

“Man, that shit had me mad as hell,” Elias said through his laugh. “Literally.”

“And you slipped on it in the kitchen. I swear I saw steam coming out of your ears at that point.” We laughed even harder at the memory. As soon as he stepped in some poo, he lost his balance and fell, putting his elbow in more. Elias showered for an hour straight after that. I laughed so hard my stomach had cramps.

“I was about to put that lil’ nigga up for adoption after that. His ass in there watching TV while his dog was painting the house brown.”

“Oh my God. Shut up!” I pleaded, holding my stomach as I laughed. “You know he hasn’t mentioned a pet again. I think that was a onetime lesson that he immediately learned.”

As our laughter died down, Elias confessed, “I missed this.” His hand slid up my leg. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“It’s nice being able to talk to you more.”

“Yeah, I can talk. I love to talk. I’m the talkingest damn thing you ever saw,” I said, quoting Shrek and making us both laugh. “But seriously, there’s so much I wanted to say to you but…and I know you get tired of hearing this…Mama had me convinced men didn’t like to talk or care. Not when it came down to personal things about me and my feelings, you know?”

“Some men don’t if they don’t care about a woman…,but I care about you. And I love talking to you. Men are about action, but some of us actually like having stimulating conversation. It’s attractive being able to do more than fuck and feed a woman, though I love doing both to and with you.”

Even with us taking things slow, I missed his dick too. That caused me to pull him up my body. Our tongues tangled and hands drew maps along the other’s body. There was no need. We’d already learned each other’s maps, discovered uncharted land, and claimed the territory of our bodies.

Our clothes were discarded, and we joined as one with an urgency that sizzled into a slow session of missionary lovemaking. Constant kisses and eye contact reminded me of why this, why my connection with him, was different. He placed kisses all over my face that made my body shiver. As he licked and sucked my nipples, my back arched as I matched his strokes.

“How does it feel to be home?” I asked through trembling lips, causing him to look up at me.

“Exactly like where I belong.”

That Sunday

Any other time, I would have loved being out with my girls. We were at my favorite club, the drinks were flowing, but all I wanted to do was go back to Elias. He was out with his guys, and that was the only reason I’d gone out tonight.

I loved dancing, partying, and traveling, and I loved those things more when I got to do them with Elias. It was taking everything inside of me not to send him my location and tell him to pull up. Tamar would have been on my ass about ruining girls’ night, so I counted down the minutes until we’d be back together again.

While I wouldn’t say I was playing hard to get, whatever the hell I was doing, I believed Elias found it entertaining. My mind took me back to last night before he left my place.

“What you doing tomorrow?” he asked, pressing his body against mine. His hand wrapped around the front of my neck, and he tilted my head.

Gripping the edge of the sink, I bit my bottom lip as I moaned.

“Bae.” His breath against my ear as he spoke made my pussy throb.

“Hmm?”

“I said what you doing tomorrow?”

“Going out with the girls.”

“Are you going to be on your best behavior?” His grip around my neck tightened. “You not gon’ be out there acting like you single, right?”

“What will be my punishment if I do?”

“Your reward will be better if you don’t.” His hand slid down my stomach and cupped my pussy through my panties. “We look so good together, don’t we?”

I looked at our reflection in the mirror. We did look good together, and we’d created the most handsome son too.

“Yes, baby. We do.”

I was about to turn in his arms, but he kept me there.

“Unh uh. Stay your sexy ass just like that. I wanna see you see me fuck you.”

“Umm, hello?” Tamar’s snapping fingers brought me back to the present moment.

“Y-yeah?” I stuttered and cleared my throat.

“What the hell you over there thinking about?” Felicity asked.

For a moment, I considered actually coming clean. It was easy for me to talk about the bad things, but now that things were good between us, I hesitated.

“This isn’t the kind of conversation you have in a club, yelling over music,” I said with a chuckle. “But I was thinking about my day and night with Elias.”

“Ooh, is that happening again, or y’all back to fucking?” Felicity asked.

“We’re hanging out. We don’t have a title yet, but he made it clear he wants to be with me.”

“For real, for real?” Tamar hopped in her seat.

“For real, for real,” I confirmed with a squeal.

“Yay! I’m so happy for you, cuz!” Felicity leaned across the table to hug me. “I know you’ve been wanting your family back together for a while.”

“I haveeee, and I swear I’m going to do right this time. I’m taking my time though. On the off chance he just in his feelings, I wanna make sure this is what he wants. I don’t want to get my hopes up and he decides he wants someone else.”

“I feel you,” Tamar said. “But if he’s saying he wants to be with you, I really don’t think you have to worry about that.”

“Better safe than sorry though,” Felicity said, and I nodded my agreement. “We gotta celebrate now. I’m finna get a bottle of Moet so we can turn up!”

And that was exactly what we did. Two bottles of champagne later, we walked sideways out of the club after showing our asses—literally. I couldn’t tell you how many men I’d danced with and on, but it was a vibe. Even with the liquor flowing in me, I was on my best behavior and didn’t get too wild. I didn’t want to do anything to make Elias think I wasn’t worthy of his trust.

As we headed out to the town car, I felt my arm being pulled.

“Aye, shawty. Ain’t yo’ name Stacked?”

My eyes rolled as I pulled my arm away from the man. Stacked used to be my stripper name, and the last thing I wanted to deal with was an old customer, or a man who wanted to be one.

“No,” I replied, trying to walk away again.

He sucked his teeth and grabbed me again. “You ain’t gotta lie, man. I know you. I used to watch yo’ ass literally every weekend.”

“If you knew, why did you ask?” I pulled away again. That time, Felicity pulled me behind her.

He looked from her and Tamar to me before chuckling. “These your bodyguards?”

“Is,” Tamar replied. “What you gon’ do about it?”

“Man, say. I’ll thump your little ass on the head and knock you the fuck out. Move so I can talk to Stacked.”

“Let’s just go, y’all. We’ve had a good night,” I said, grabbing their hands and turning toward the car.

“So you gon’ act like I ain’t talking to you?” He grabbed me again and pulled me into his chest. “I couldn’t afford you in the club, but it ain’t shit stopping me from having you now.”

“Let her go!” Tamar yelled as Felicity tried to grab him, but he shoved her so hard she hit her head on the concrete.

Tamar swung at him, but he ducked it and punched the side of her face.

I elbowed him and reached for my .22 in my purse, hoping I didn’t have to use it.

“Bitch, you gon’ give me this pussy. I been waiting on yo’ ass for years.”

“Help!” I yelled as he grabbed me around my waist and ripped my dress from the back. People looked, but no one came in my direction. “Jacob!” I yelled, hoping he’d hear me since my driver clearly wasn’t looking through the tinted windows.

The man pushed me onto the ground and straddled me. Tamar groggily crawled over to him as Jacob hopped out of the car. The second my panties ripped I kicked him in the face. Tamar took advantage and jumped on his back, but he pulled her forward and slammed her on the ground. When I saw the man lift his fist to Tamar again, I shot. His body toppled over before he turned, and I shot again. Scrambling to his feet, he ran away as Jacob neared. Pushing him away, I demanded he check on my cousin since she was unconscious.

Now that he’d run away, bystanders started to come over. I rolled my eyes and lay flat on the concrete as I fought to regulate my breathing, refusing to believe this man was about to try and rape me.