Chapter 5 Asante #2
I looked at him and lifted an eyebrow.
“That competitive brother in you is coming out. Go ahead and reel that shit in, baby boy. I’m not your competition. We’re on the same team.”
Bishop lifted an eyebrow. I smiled at how he visibly melted and tensed at the same time. He licked his lips and looked off. He exhaled then swung and I clapped for him when he hit a perfect hit.
“You’re smooth,” he accused.
“You think so?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t try to be,” I admitted. “I just trust myself and my intuition so if shit feels good and right I go for it and say what I feel.”
“And you’ve been married?” he asked.
“Yep.” I nodded. “It failed and I still trust my intuition. Shit happens and people change but I wouldn’t be the man I am today if I didn’t take that loss. I’m right where I’m meant to be.” I took two steps forward, adjusted my stance and hit. “At golf,” I looked back at Bishop. “With you.”
“There’s that smooth shit I was talking about.”
“And I mean every word.”
He plucked up his bottle of water and I watched him take a drink. He set it back down.
“How often do you get tested?”
I didn’t laugh, smirk or hesitate.
“Every six months but I haven’t slept with anyone since I’ve been a civilian.”
“Why not?”
“Haven’t had the desire. Why? Are you offering?”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“I guess we will.” I handed him the club and maneuvered around him so he could hit.
He was good at taking directions and applying them immediately. I took note of that.
We took a brief break to eat the wings we had and I finished up the beer. Then, we got back to playing. I took a second win. I flexed one of my muscles and danced a little bit to the song that was playing.
“Fuck out of here,” Bishop grumbled while he tapped some things on the screen. “Stop all that dancing shit and swing.”
“You want to go a third time?”
“Fucking right. We gon’ play till I win and you better not let me win either.”
“Yes sir.” I snickered but walked to the little area to take my first swing of the third round.
Bishop and I ordered some quesadillas and some more water while we played the third round and the food was there by the time we finished so we sat down and just ate, laughing and joking throughout the entire thing.
By the time we wrapped it up for the night I knew that even only two dates in I was fucked. I liked Bishop, impending marriage or not.
He let me play my music while he drove us back to the club and when we got back, he parked beside my ride. The club was jumping and the parking lot was pretty packed. I glanced around the parking lot automatically, the constant burning desire I had to have my head on a swivel making itself known.
I checked my phone before looking at Bishop again.
“So, I’ll plan the next one and let you know?” I offered.
“I look forward to it,” Bishop adjusted how he was sitting in his seat.
We both glanced at each other, both of us fully facing forward but our heads turned to the side. Bishop cut his lights and we didn’t say anything for several minutes. Bishop broke the silence with a small laugh and I had no choice but to follow suit.
“This was nice,” Bishop said.
“Yeah. It was.” I looked back at him. “I had a good time.”
“Me too.”
“You scared yet?”
“Why would I be scared, Asante?”
“You walked into this shit scared, Bishop.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“Maybe.” He rolled his window down and reached into the side of his door for a pack of cigarettes.
I held a hand out and he put a cig in his mouth then freed one into my palm. He lit his up the mine and we sat in silence, music flowing between us while we stared out our windows and smoked. I let my eyes fall shut while I enjoyed the nicotine fix.
When we finished I unlocked the door.
“Let me know when you get home safely,” I looked back at Bishop. “Alright?”
“I’ve got you.” He nodded. “Have a good night.”
“Will do.”
I hopped out and jogged to the back door of the club. I slipped inside and headed straight to my office. I paused in the doorway while I looked at my flowers for a moment, a stupid ass smile trying to force itself across my face.
I walked around my desk, collapsed in my seat and pulled out the paperwork I’d started on earlier. I started back where I’d stopped so I could get it done and get out on the floor. I noticed that I was glancing at the flowers on my desk every few minutes but I couldn’t force myself to stop.
I paused when I heard knocking echoing through the office.
“What’s up?” I yelled. “Come on.”
The door opened and I paused.
Bishop stepped in and closed the door behind him.
“You alright?” I hopped up.
“Yeah. I’m good.” He walked around the room, circled around my desk and was in my space before I could fully comprehend what was going on.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
Bishop reached up, his hands grabbed my face and he pulled me in. I let him. My eyes fluttered automatically.
The moment our lips touched I felt like my chest tighten.
I liked it.
My hands went to his sides and I let Bishop lead the kiss. His tongue slid into my mouth and one of his hands trailed up my chest.
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected from kissing Bishop but this surpassed my dreams. It was sweet and passionate wrapped in one. He was a good lead and I was the type of man that could follow when it came down to it.
When we pulled apart we blinked at each other in a loaded silence.
“I’m being selfish,” he said simply. “And I didn’t want to regret not doing that tonight.”
“I’m glad you did.”
Bishop smiled and the usual cockiness he wore fell away in what looked like genuine excitement. I hoped he could see the excitement I was feeling too.
“I like you, Bishop,” I confessed.
He nodded silently. I smiled. I didn’t need him to say anything back. I just needed to express how I felt.
“I like you, Asante,” he said after a moment. “And I know you’re going to fuck me up in the end but I’m cool with it.”
“Or you’re going to fuck me up,” I countered.
“You want to call it?”
“Fuck no.”
“Good.” He took a step back out of my space and exhaled. “I’ll hit you when I get home.”
“Bet. Do that.”
He nodded then pivoted around and I watched him as he walked back to my door.
I collapsed back in my seat. I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. I kicked my feet up on my desk and looked at my flowers.
My eyes trailed to the series of cameras on the wall and I watched Bishop as he made his way to his whip, hopped in and headed out.
I let him leave the parking lot before I dragged my eyes back to my work.
It was hell to focus after kissing Bishop but I did my best. He texted me to let me know when he got home and I focused on finishing up the night at the club.
Then, I headed home, took a hot shower and collapsed in bed ready for sleep.
A month went by before I realized what was happening.
Bishop and I got together at least once a week, sometimes twice.
I noticed that he was awake at late hours but didn’t focus on it.
By week two I was sure his family didn’t just work with art but I didn’t call him on it.
I planned us out a date to the gun range for our third date.
Bishop took me to my first three star Michelin restaurant.
I took him hunting and we skinned the animal together.
Bishop took me to a jazz concert. We were good at picking shit out that allowed us to slide under the radar and still felt intimate.
We each played into our own hobbies and welcomed the other into that space.
It was interesting. I was from a small southern town.
I was used to wearing camo, hunting, fishing and shooting so it was nice to have Bishop hunting and going to the gun range with me.
Bishop was from old money and he liked using that money and the influence it brought forward.
The restaurant and jazz concert were both nice and things I’d never thought about trying but genuinely enjoyed.
A part of me wasn’t sure if it was because it was nice or if it was just because I was spending time with Bishop.
We heard each other’s voice every day after our third date.
Then, the Facetimes had started. They were usually late at night while I was in my office.
I usually let Bishop decide when he wanted to indulge but the few times I’d called he hadn’t been home.
That was another reason I was sure he didn’t just deal art.
That raised red flags in my head because if he had to lie about where his family’s money came from it probably wasn’t somewhere respectable.
I couldn’t find a single reason to care though.
We’d kissed every time we’d seen each other after the first time and I expected for things to mellow out but they never did.
Maybe it was because we knew our kisses were limited no matter how much we liked each other or wanted there to be a chance at more or maybe it was just because I liked him that much.
I wasn’t sure and I wasn’t going to overthink it.
I paused and tilted my head to the side when I heard banging at my front door. I spit into my sink and tossed my toothbrush into the holder. Then, I wiped down my mouth, spun around and halfway jogged to my front door.
“Who is it?” I paused and waited. Nothing. I looked out of my peep hole. “Who is it?” I repeated.
Nothing.
I reached for my gun and clicked the safety off as I plucked it from where it was tucked into the back of my pants. Then, I threw my door open and cursed while Nadira and some woman threw her hands up.
“Nadira?!” I stared at my sister for a moment before everything clicked. I put my safety back on and tossed the gun on the little table by the door. Then, I yanked my sister into me and hugged her. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting my favorite baby brother of course.”
“You’re only baby brother.” I scoffed and squeezed my arms around her. “And you are?” I offered a hand to the woman standing beside her.