FORTY-NINE
As we arrive at Mama G’s for dinner, Davia looks out the window at the house and releases a heavy sigh.
“Are you sure it’s okay?” she asks again.
“Yes, Mama G says it’s all right.” I reach for her hand, giving it a loving squeeze. “Come on.”
We file out of my car and walk to the porch. I knock before opening the front door, inviting her inside.
“We’re here!”
“Hello,” Mama G calls from the kitchen.
“Why are you on your feet?” I ask, even though she appears better than three days ago at the hospital. “Where’s Ree?”
Chuckling, she stops stirring the sauce and fans me off. “Don’t fuss over me. Iree went to switch the laundry.” She glances at Davia.
“Hi, Mama G,” she greets quietly. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better.”
“That’s good.” She wrings her hands before her. “I’m so sorry for disrespecting your home and causing you to fall ill.”
Mama G’s eyes soften with kindness. “Honey, it’s all right. You didn’t make me sick. And I heard what happened.” She reaches for her hand and gives it a gentle pat. “Is everything sorted?”
“For the most part,” Davia exhales and brushes aside her curls.
Footsteps echo from the passage, and we turn as Iree walks into the kitchen, her expression tight.
“Hey,” Davia makes the first attempt.
“Hey,” Iree returns evenly.
“Um, Chavonne said she called you.”
“Yeah, she apologized for lashing at me and said I could return Monday. She’ll pay me for this week.”
“That’s good,” I say. “You going back?”
She nods. “I love working at La Monte .”
“Everyone loves working with you,” Davia adds. “Including me.”
Iree responds with a hum and glances down, flicking her nails.
“I’m sorry for coming at you,” Davia says sincerely. “Sorry for hitting you.”
Silence lingers in the kitchen until Iree lifts her head. “I get it. You worked hard on your designs. I’m sure it hurt like hell. I would have reacted the same.”
Davia relaxes her shoulders. “I know it’s awkward right now, but I hope we can be friends again soon.”
Iree regards the both of us and sighs. “I’m happy Kross found love. You’re a good person. Seeing how he is about you made me realize what you have is real. I wish you both the best.”
Mama G hums at the counter, sounding relieved.
“Thanks, Ree,” I say, squeezing her arm.
“Plus, I love the La Monte clothes Davia gave me, and I want more, so…”
Our laughter dissolves the tension in the air.
Cairo enters the house in his hospital scrubs, looking around at everyone. “All good in here?”
“Yeah,” Iree answers, bobbing when I look at her. “It’s all good.” She confirms with a smile at Davia.
“Cool. Dinner ready?”
“Almost,” Mama G announces.
“All right, I’ll go shower.”
We chat until it’s time to eat, and everyone helps themselves to the delicious meal. It warms my heart that Davia fits in well with my family. I’ve never felt more lucky to have met her, and I’ll always do my best to show her that.
Following dinner, we enjoy carrot cake for dessert and play cards. Davia doesn’t hold back her competitiveness, and I can tell Mama G loves that she’s herself with them.
As the night winds down, I drive her back to her apartment. She turns to me as we enter. Her eyes glisten, and I know what she’s about to say. “Kross, I think—”
“I love you. Never felt like this before. I know I love you. My heart and soul crave you, baby.”
“I was about to say that,” she whispers, smiling.
I draw her into my arms. “I said it first, so you’ll have more assurance. So you won’t be afraid to trust me with your beautiful heart.”
“I’m not. I love you.” She kisses me passionately.
“Remember that whenever I’m ramming you like a hateful savage.”
She laughs. “Even then, I’ll love you.”
Buzzing in her clutch disrupts the moment.
“Ignore it,” Davia says, kissing me again.
“It might be important,” I tell her.
“All right.” She takes out her phone and sighs. “It’s a text from my mom. She wants me to stop by on Saturday.”