Chapter 19
Xai
“Damn, love. I swear you got the sweetest pussy on the planet,” I groan as I taste Adora still on my lips.
“Let me taste.” She smirks before kissing my lips passionately.
“I love your freaky, lil nasty ass,” I admit after she sucks my tongue.
“Mm, I love you too,” she says, then exhales.
We are on the balcony outside of the main bedroom on the lower level.
It’s wrapped with a five-foot privacy screen which provided the incentive my baby needed to bring her fine ass out here naked.
The sight made my damn fucking mouth water, and before I knew it, my head was between her legs, making her cum.
“You ready to go inside?” I ask.
“Not yet,” she utters. “You mind?”
“I’m with you, I don’t mind.”
“I just like it out here. It’s so peaceful and the air up here feels different,” she says, and I agree.
We’ve had a good ass day and it’s just us.
I need to tell her about the phone. I still haven’t.
Her finding that letter from her mom had been some heavy shit, and even though it’s been a week and she says she’s cool, I can still see some of that sadness in her eyes.
Their normal sparkle has dimmed just a little.
It’s small but it’s there. I see it. That’s why I did this.
I figured she and the girls needed this time away from the house.
As much as I want to tell her about the phone, I still can’t do that shit, not why she’s still a little sad.
I’m thinking we can go somewhere soon and I’ll tell her.
“After the grand opening, I want to take you on a little trip, just us two, for the weekend. We can do something after with the girls,” I say.
“Somewhere local?” she asks. “Because I like it here. This cabin is beautiful.”
“I was thinking out of town. Houston or Atlanta. Maybe Kandi can watch them.”
“Yes. We can do Houston. I’ve been to the A but never Texas. What’s on your mind?”
“I just want us to get away, chill, and talk. Plus, I’m going to need a break after the grand opening. This shit is stressing me out.” And keeping your mom’s phone from you.
Her soft hands caress my face, and while looking at me lovingly, she says, “Don’t let it stress you. All of your equipment is installed. You’ve hired all your staff. The buildout looks amazing. You did it, baby, and you are more than ready for the grand opening.”
“Boost your man’s ego then,” I tease, even though I’m deadass. The genuineness of her words has me feeling all proud and shit. “Thank you, pretty girl.”
“I’m only speaking facts. And,” she begins, and her smile gets wide. “I have something for you.”
“What you got for me?” I ask while squeezing her ass.
“It’s for your grand opening. You have to wait until Monday.”
“And I can’t convince you to tell me now?”
“No,” she says sternly.
“No way at all?” I ask, then kiss the side of her neck.
She shakes her head. “You sure? Not even if I do this?” My tongue circles behind her ear then I pull the lobe into my mouth.
She nods slowly. “You sure?” My hand lands between her legs and I run two fingers up her slit. “Positive?” I ask and she moans.
My mouth crashes into hers and we kiss passionately. My hands move back to her ass and I hold it as I lift us from the lounge chair. When I walk to the door and open it, she places her hands in the frame to stop me from walking in.
“Wait,” she whispers, then glances up to the loft.
I’m assuming the girls are still asleep because she drops her hands and I walk us into the bedroom.
Once I lay her on the bed, she sexily stretches her naked body across.
The sight is amazing, and in record time, my boxers are off and I’m on the bed, buried deep inside her sweet pussy.
After making love until we are both satisfied and sleepy as fuck, we crash with her body all over mine.
I don’t know if it was all the late hours at the shop, our day at the water park and trying to float, the good ass seafood pasta Adora cooked for dinner, or our lovemaking, but I don’t wake up until ten.
When I do, I instantly realize I’m alone.
The only remnant of her is her sweet scent all over me and the sheets.
When I sit up to stretch, my phone vibrates in the chair next to the bed. I reach over and grab it. It’s Kadean’s attorney, Angela.
“What’s up?” I answer.
“Hey. I hate to bother you on a Sunday but I need help with Kadean. Have you talked to him?” she asks.
“Nah. He won’t call me. He’s mad I wouldn’t bail him out,” I admit. I haven’t heard my brother’s voice since that night and Peaches ain’t saying shit to me either. All of my updates have been through Angela.
“Maybe I should let him know how much my retainer was,” she says lightheartedly.
“It won’t matter. He’s used to me getting him out of shit ASAP, no matter what.”
“I needed him to get himself out, but unfortunately, he isn’t cooperating.
I can’t do anything about him driving without a license.
He was and his license is truly suspended.
I’m arguing the driving a stolen vehicle charge.
Right now, as the driver, he’s carrying the charge and his friend,” she says, then pauses.
“A Mr. Dutch Brown, is the one who’s going to walk away.
Although Kadean says he didn’t know about the truck and it was Dutch, he’s not willing to—”
“Snitch,” I say, completing her thought. My non-street little brother is trying to uphold a fucking street code for Dutch’s bitch ass. “I believe it.”
“The problem is Mr. Brown doesn’t have the same loyalty. I learned this morning that he’s making a deal and taking a plea, saying it was all Kadean. I’m heading to visit him this morning to break the news. With him pleading, Kadean’s looking at some real time if we don’t go to trial.”
“How much time?”
“That charge carries two to ten years and no license for a year, but I’m going to do my best to get the minimum, and my best is damn good. I want to assure you of that. But I also needed you to know he’s going to have to do something.”
“Please do what you can.”
“I will. I’ll update you after my pre-trial conference on Wednesday. Have a good Sunday.”
“Thanks. You too.” I just shake my damn head, then bury my face in my hands.
Jail time, real fuckin’ time, is the last thing Kadean needs and it’s the last damn thing I wanted for him.
My initial reason for leaving that street shit was because of what happened with my mom, but the main reason was him.
When he became my responsibility, I knew I had to show him something different.
Obviously, that shit didn’t work, ’cause here we are. “Fuck,” I grit lowly.
“What’s wrong?” Adora says in a sugary tone and I look up to see her walking into the room. Before I can tell her, she’s pushed her fine self between my legs and her soft hands caress the sides of my face. “Is everything okay?”
“Just talked to Kadean’s lawyer. His fuck ass friend took a deal and Kadean’s gonna have to do time.”
“Oh no. Shit, I’m sorry. How much time?”
“She doesn’t know yet. She’s taking it to trial to fight it. Maybe she can beat the theft charge, but the driving is a wrap. He’s habitual, so I knew he would have to lay down for that either way. Here it’s six months, but there, it’s a year.”
“Baby,” she sighs, then kisses the top of my head.
“I just didn’t want this shit for him.”
“I know. I know.” She lifts my head then kisses my lips softly. “We just have to pray she does her job and gets the minimum. You’re doing all you can.”
“Xai, you okay?” Averi asks. I look around Adora and see her in the door frame.
“He’s good, sweetheart,” Adora assures her. “Just hungry. You finished mixing the eggs so I can cook them?”
“Yes, ma’am. We ready,” she says with a smile.
“This is so freaking dope,” Trista gushes.
“I know, right?” I admit as I wrap my arms tighter around Adora and kiss her neck. “I love it. When did you do this?” I ask, surprised as hell and appreciative.
“A few weeks ago. I was worried they wouldn’t be ready in time,” she says.
“They?” I question.
“Yeah. I had one made for the main location too,” she admits and I turn her to face me.
“Love, thank you so much,” I tell her before kissing her lips.
“And that’s my cue to rearrange the gift bags and cupcakes,” Trista says as Adora and I kiss.
We are two hours from officially opening the doors of Clean Ridez Too. The lobby area has been decorated and small gift bags and cupcakes for the first fifty customers are set out. Grand opening banners and flags are outside and the team is testing everything out with Adora and Trista’s rides.
Adora took the day off to be with me and surprised me this morning with a dope ass neon light sign that says Clean Ridez Too. She had it installed on the wall behind the front counter. I love it but I love her more. Her support of my business and love for me is unmatched.
“You really like it?” Adora asks when I release her soft lips.
“I love it.”
“Good because the other one has already been installed,” she says with a grin.
“Thank you, pretty girl.”
“What did you tell me? No thanks needed. Your smile is all I need too.”
After pulling her closer to me, I tell her, “Ay. Something about you telling me that don’t sound right.”
“Well, it is what it is,” She smirks before kissing my lips.
“Yo, boss,” one of my new washers, Drew, calls from the door.
“Yeah. What’s up?”
“We just started the waxer and it’s coming out slow,” he says.
“Is the temperature hot enough?” I ask and Adora taps my chest with her hand.
“Go out there and handle that. I’m going to help Trista.”
“Alright. I’m coming,” I tell Drew.
After kissing her again, I head to the door to check the waxer. As soon as I walk out, my cell vibrates in my pocket. It’s an unknown 863 number. Florida. I quickly answer because Angela had Kadean’s pre-trial hearing this morning.
“This is Xai.”
“You have a collect call from an inmate in Polk County Jail, Kadean Watts. To accept the call, press zero,” the automated voice says. I press the button and the robotic voice keeps going about blocking and the recording of the call and I press zero again. Finally, the call connects.
“Xai, I get it but you gotta get me out of here,” he grunts.
I hear the anger in his voice. Before saying the wrong thing to him, I take a moment to get my words in order.
“I talked to Angela and she told me about Dutch. He finally sh—”
“Man, I already know what you ’bout to say. I ain’t trying to hear that right now.”
“But you’re gonna have to, Kadean. Not listening got you right where you are and it’s got you on my line asking for help again.”
“Don’t act like you don’t owe me. Nigga, my whole has been fucked up ’cause of what you did,” he spits. Normally, that would set me off and have me doing whatever needed to get his ass out of shit, but not right now. Adora words ring in my head, influencing my response.
“What happened to Mom was fucked up on so many levels. That shit should have never been taken to the crib, never. But you know how hard I worked to keep it away from her. Shit, no one on our block would sell to her. I made sure of that but you know she got it anyway. You know ’cause you saw her.
You might have only been eleven but you know what was going on.
Just like me, you had to grow up fast, but unlike me, you had an older brother.
Because I felt guilty about what happened, shit I still do, I’ve done everything I can to keep you out of jail.
But it has never been enough. You keep doing the shit you want to do, listening to and running around with clown ass niggas who don’t want or have shit.
You are in this shit because you decided to hop in a truck with Dutch and drive it instead of coming to the job I gave you. The same nigga who turned on you.
I love you Kadean and I will help you any way I can but I will not put what I’ve worked hard for in jeopardy for you.
I got Angela for you and she’s going to do what she can to help you but that’s where I draw the line.
You are a grown ass man, with a baby on the way, and you’ve got to get your life together. Maybe this time away is what you need.”
“So you want me to be in jail?” he huffs.
“I never wanted you there but you have been trying to go for years.”
“That’s some bullshit,” he says, then the call ends. He hung up.
“Shit,” I utter.
This is so fucked up. As much as I want him to learn from his mistakes and get his life together, I truly don’t want him locked. Jail ain’t the place for nobody but here we are and I am trying to process this. I just hope Angela can get him the least time possible.
It takes me a minute but I shake my convo with Kadean off then trek to the washing bays. Both cars are at the wax stage. I walk over to Drew and the machine and check it. Drew is right. The wax is too thick and sprays out too slowly. The temperature is off and I can’t have that on opening day.
“The thermostat is on the back but the thing is locked,” Drew says.
And fuck! The key is in my office at the old location. Fuck!
“I’ll get the key,” I tell him, then rush back to the building. I don’t need this shit right now.
The moment I enter the lobby and Adora sees my face, she rushes to me. “Is it that bad?’ she asks, reading me as always.
“We can’t get the temperature up for the waxer. The thermostat is locked and the key is at my other office.”
“I’ll get it. Just tell me where,” she volunteers.
“Nah, love. I’ll go.”
“And what if there’s something else? You need to be here. The doors open soon and customers have already been calling. You can’t leave. I’ll go and take your car, just tell me where the key is.”
“Love, I can go,” I insist.
“But I’m not going to let you. Where is the key?”
Relenting, I say, “A’ight. A’ight. My office keys are in my glove box. Once you get to my office, you can’t miss the key to the thermostat. It’s in the glass bowl on my desk.”
“Keys, please,” she says with a beautiful smile.
After pulling them out of my pocket and handing them to her, I kiss her. “I love you.”
“Love you too and I’ll be right back.”