Chapter 14
“You know you can stay in the car, right?” I asked Perfect when we pulled up in front of my parents’ home to drop Precious off for the night.
It was Armani’s birthday, and her flavor of the night bought her a section in Platinum.
When I told Port about it, he invited himself to tag along.
And since things had been fine with us, I didn’t shoot it down.
I was enjoying his company more every day he came over to the house after work.
I didn’t realize how badly I missed having him around, but it was almost like old times.
He was handling things for me like washing my car, putting gas in it, taking out my trash, and keeping the grass trimmed low.
When Perfect was gone, my daddy handled those things for me.
I wasn’t sure how he was going to take the news that Port was back.
During the time they were working on my shed, they built a bond.
My dad wasn’t happy when he found out Port took off, leaving me with a baby to take care of on my own.
I just didn’t want there to be any tension between them, but Perfect wanted them to know he was back in our lives because, according to him, he was staying forever.
He knew how important my parents were to me, so having a good relationship with them was also important to him.
“Yes, Princess. I know.” He chuckled. “Stop being scary and come on so we can get going.”
He took off his seat belt, then hopped out.
I sat in place, trying not to squirm in my seat, but I couldn’t help it.
Were they going to judge me and think I was dumb for allowing him back in after he broke my heart?
I was a grown woman, but I did care about my parents’ opinions of me.
They were proud of me and let me know frequently. Was that going to change?
I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t realize Port had gotten Precious out, along with her bag, and opened my door for me.
He held out a hand to help me get out of his large truck.
I felt like a midget hopping in there, even with the step stool.
He kept my hand in his as we walked to the door.
It calmed my racing heart until he rang the doorbell.
It came flying open a second later, and my mom stood there excitedly.
“My little baby, come here,” she cooed while holding her hands out for Precious until she realized Perfect was holding her.
She paused her happy dance and focused on us holding hands.
“Um, hello,” she said politely. “I didn’t notice you standing there. ”
He chuckled. “I understand. Sweet Pea has that effect on people,” he said in awe. He released my hand and held his out toward her. “I’m Perfect, her father, and El’s man.”
I choked on the spit in my mouth because that was not a part of the script.
Things were going well with us coparenting Precious, but we hadn’t really discussed what was next for us.
I liked the attention being on our daughter, so I didn’t push for Perfect to establish anything, but clearly, he didn’t establish anything, because he was having his own delusions about what we were.
“Perfect . . .” I dragged his name with a frown. “What are you doing?”
“Introducing myself to your mom, El. What it sound like?”
Her eyes bounced between us as a smug smile appeared on her face. “So, you’re the other person I have to thank for my favorite person in the world?”
I scoffed. “Wow, Mom. Way to hurt my feelings.”
She giggled and waved me off. “Oh, Daughter, please. You know how I feel about my girl. This my best friend.” She bent over and tickled Precious, making her giggle. We all wore matching smiles until I heard my father’s voice in the background.
“Is that Rocky?” he asked, but before she could answer, he was standing behind her. “Perfect, is that you?”
Perfect straightened his posture. Something about it kind of made me swoon and admire his towering frame. “Yes, sir, it is. I wanted you to know that I was back, and you don’t have anything to worry about.”
My father grunted as my mom took Precious from Perfect’s arms and went into the house. My dad smiled when he looked at me. “Hi, my beautiful daughter. Are you well?”
I nodded. “Hey, Daddy. Yes, I am.” We hugged quickly.
He nodded, allowing his eyes to float back over to Port. Port turned to me and said, “Go wait in the truck. I need a minute alone with your father.”
I wanted to put up a fuss, mainly because I wanted to be nosy and know what was being said, but I knew some things could only be discussed amongst men. Backing away, I headed to the truck and hopped in. The second my ass hit the seat, a FaceTime call from Armani came through.
“Bitch, where is you at? I’m ready to turn up!” she screamed drunkenly.
I laughed with a shake of my head. “Calm down, ho. We’re dropping Precious off with my parents, then we’re on the way.”
She hummed. “Okay, good, ’cause I’m ready to meet this mysterious baby daddy of yours. Hm, we gon’ see just how perfect he is. Don’t think I’m going to be nice to him either.”
I laughed. “He’s good people, Mani. You can be nice to him.”
She eyed me like she didn’t trust my judgment. “You sure? ’Cause I remember how devastated you were when he left you high and pregnant!”
I sighed as my eyes floated to the porch where my father and Perfect were in a deep conversation. “I know, but he had his reasons. Could he have gone about it in a better way? Absolutely, but I’ve forgiven him, which means you can’t give him a hard time tonight.”
She sucked her teeth. “We gon’ see how it goes. I’m not making you any promises though.”
“That’s fair.” I beamed until I saw Perfect coming back to the truck. “Oh, here he comes. We’re on the way, boo.”
“Yesss. Finally! Ain’t no fucking party without my bestie. Get here.”
She ended the call just as he climbed in and settled into the driver’s seat. I studied him as if it would tell me what he discussed with my dad, but he looked the same way he did when we got out—calm, cool, and collected, maybe even more so now.
“We’re good?”
He nodded. “Always.” He winked, then peeled away from the curb with a roaring engine.
Platinum was packed wall-to-wall tonight.
The crowd surged and pulsed to the beat of the song playing while Port held my hand and led me through the crowd.
It wasn’t hard to spot Armani standing on top of the couch, bouncing her ass, without a care in the world.
I smiled because I could tell she was already on her level.
Tonight was going to be one for the books.
“Happy birthday, bestie!” I screamed when I made it over to her.
She hopped off the couch and closed the distance between us quickly. We wrapped our arms around each other and squealed like young girls. “About time,” she said when she let me go. “Let’s take a shot, then we’re going straight to the dancefloor.”
I nodded, then bent down to pick up the bottle of cognac. “You on that brown tonight?”
She smiled widely. “Oh yeah, feeling like a bad gyal.”
“I heard that.” We slapped hands, then I poured the shots. I had completely forgotten about Perfect until I felt his hand on the small of my back. Turning to him, I asked, “You want one too?”
He smiled down at me and shook his head. “Nah, I see my coworkers over by the bar. Enjoy yourself. I’ll be back.” He winked before backing up and then leaving the section.
Turning to Mani, I found her standing there with a goofy grin. “Oh, so that’s your baby daddy? Got damn, bitch! You ain’t say the nigga was fine.”
I rolled my eyes and attempted to hide my blush.
I glanced back over my shoulder, spotting him strolling through the crowd with ease because everyone moved out of his way.
He was hard not to admire when he looked and smelled so damn good.
“He’s aight,” I told Mani before grabbing her hand. “But fuck all that. Let’s turn up.”
We took our shots, with me taking an extra two because I was late to the party.
We held hands, going to the dancefloor. The DJ began to spin some Gunna, and we started to rap along as if we wrote it.
For the next two songs, Mani and I danced like no one was watching.
Literally no one existed but us until I felt hands on my waist.
I looked over my shoulder, expecting to see Port, but it was some light-skinned guy with a bald head I’d never seen before. I stepped away, so his hand fell off me. “Damn, it’s like that?”
I frowned. “Um, yeah, I don’t know you.”
He smiled, and I got the ick. “But we can change that. I’m tryna get to know you and that body.”
I made the gagging sound then moved away from him. I tried to go back to dancing with Mani when I felt him press up against me again. “Can’t you take a damn hint?” I snapped.
“No, ’cause you keep dancing like you want a nigga to be up on you.”
I got ready to spazz on him, but I paused when I saw Port’s fist come flying through the crowd.
Ole boy’s jaw cracked from the impact of his fist. “I hate niggas that don’t know how to control themselves,” he said, seething.
“And touching mine is the quickest way to have yo’ people firing up those deep fryers. ”
I almost felt bad for the way Perfect beat the nigga to a pulp, but I couldn’t.
Literally, every punch made my pussy gush.
Each expletive was a confirmation that Perfect was just that.
I hadn’t felt this level of protection since he left me years ago, and it reminded me of the first day he came back into my life.
It felt good to know I had him in my corner, and he was never afraid to defend my honor.
When he’d had enough, he backed away. Turning to me, he reached out a hand, which I accepted, and we took off toward the hallway.
We stepped into the girls’ restroom, and Perfect locked the door behind us.
“You good, Princess?” he asked while palming the side of my face and forcing me to stare into his eyes.
I nodded, unable to look away from him. He chuckled. “Aye, stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” I asked innocently.
He cupped my chin and used his thumb to rub small circles over the surface of my skin. Each stroke sent chills down my spine. “Like you want to fuck me.”
I smiled and licked my lips. His cologne was a caress on my brain, convincing me to stop playing tough and go for what I really wanted.
I ran a hand up his solid chest, feeling every groove and chiseled ab he had hidden beneath his designer shirt.
My desire increased when I glanced up to find him watching me with adoration in his eyes. “I do.”
He smacked my hand away and backed up to the door. I watched him press his weight into it without once taking his eyes off me. He shook his head. “Nah, yo’ ass drunk. You gon’ regret it tomorrow.”
I laughed, allowing my head to fall back.
Feeling confident, I strolled over, closing the distance between us.
My body pressed up against his felt just right.
“I only had three shots. The only thing I’m going to regret tomorrow is waking up in bed alone again.
” I took his hand and slid it underneath my dress.
I guided him to the wetness in the seat of my panties.
He groaned, and when I looked up, his bottom lip was tucked.
I leaned closer, loving the flicker of fire in his eyes.
A moan slipped through my lips as he stroked my clit gently.
It felt so good, my body instantly came alive.
He grabbed me at the base of my neck. “Consider last night the last time you wake up in bed alone.” He leaned down and kissed a trail up my neck that melted me.
I missed this. I missed him. There was no more denying that.
Not even Keiran had this effect on me. Perfect didn’t have to do anything but be himself, and I was ready to jump his bones.
And seeing him in daddy mode the last few weeks had my kitty purring.
“Let’s go. I need the bedroom for what I’ma do to you. ”