Epilogue
“Girl, nobody does the damn thing like you do.”
Tammy, one of my regulars, held her hand out to admire her nails. She had been coming to my shop ever since we opened six months ago.
“Thank you for always coming back, my girl.”
He was assigned to the Los Angeles field office and seemed to be loving it. He struggled with being an agent after everything that went down with his father, but I was happy to see him work to find his spark again.
“Oop, let me wrap this up. It looks like hubby is on his way in. Y’all will never make me believe that man is five-o when he dresses and acts like the biggest dope boy in the city.”
Dima got out his truck dressed in some Amiri jeans. Tammy stuck her tongue out just to get on my nerves. I knew she would never try my man, but that didn’t stop me from checking her ass just in case one of the other girls sitting in the shop thought they could try it.
“T, I done told you about looking at my man. Don’t make me knock all this shit over.”
“Okay, damn. You know I love you, girl.”
Tammy got up from her chair, came around the table, and hugged me.
I truly was grateful for her. Not only had she been my most faithful customer, but she was one of my first friends in the city.
I was still trying to get Liyah to move out here, but Tammy made sure I didn’t spend all my time at work in the meantime.
“See you next week, my girl.”
“See you next week.”
I kissed her cheek before letting her go. Dima was walking up to me just as she walked off. He pulled me into a hug, his cologne instantly assaulting my nostrils.
“You ready to go, gorgeous?”
“I am. Let me just check and make sure the girls are good to lock up tonight.”
Dima sat in my chair and waited as I said my goodbyes. I still hadn’t gotten used to driving in the city yet, so he dropped me off and picked me up every day. I was thankful that his new position allowed him so much flexibility.
As soon as we made it to the truck, my phone rang. Dima opened the door for me, and I slid inside. When I was settled, I answered.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“Hey, baby girl. How is Los Angeles treating you today?”
“You know I love it here. How is Jamaica treating you?”
“Very well. You see I got this fine ass woman sitting next to me.”
“Aye, watch your mouth. That’s my mother you’re talking about.”
I was still getting used to my father dating Dima’s mother, but they were grown and had history way before either of us came along.
After the dust settled, my daddy let Guard run the club and left the states to be with the woman he loved.
I was just thankful he could find some semblance of happiness after losing my mother.
“Hey, baby,” Dima’s mother called from the background. She looked so beautiful wearing her yellow and green two-piece while they sat on the beach behind their home. Her hair fell down around her shoulders, and her skin beamed in the sunlight.
“Hey, Ma,” he grumbled.
Dima was even more uncomfortable with our new dynamic.
He may have lost his father to prison, but he still had his uncle Atlas, and he was building a whole new relationship with his mother.
She had to leave him at a young age, so it was like they were getting to know each other all over again.
We had a trip planned to go see them later in the year.
“Have you talked to your uncle? I heard he got promoted into your father’s position.”
She had completely taken the phone from my daddy now, so I propped the phone up so both Dima and I could see. Her face lit up at the sight of her son.
“I have, and I’m happy for him. He deserve everything that is coming his way.”
“He sure does. Well, we’re not going to hold you two. Get my beautiful daughter-in-law home. We will talk to you later. We love y’all.”
“Love you too,” we said in unison.
I hung up the phone and leaned across the console to kiss my man. He had given me everything I asked for in less than a year. I couldn’t wait to see where life took us next.
“Dmitri Walker, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
“Marry me then.”
“Any time, any place.”