Chapter 25 #3
He narrowed his eyes and headed back outside. I heard him muttering something about women and their shit on the way out.
"I'm glad you’re happy, Scot." Val brought my attention back to our conversation.
"Me too."
"And I could make him happy if…"
"No."
She laughed, then sighed. "I guess life is good for all of us. Alex is stressed about taking over but I honestly think he's in a better place. He went on a date."
"A date?"
"Crazy right. Mr. Work, work, work. I only know because Elaine snitched. Things feel different. I feel like I can be me, like I can breathe. Does that make me a terrible daughter?"
"If it does, then it makes me one too. He was terrible for all of us and I get that he had his good moments, but more bad than good, especially after Mom died. I don't feel bad, Val. Not even a little."
"Me either, and Alex isn't the only one dating…"
I grinned when I walked into the living room and dropped down on the sofa.
"Spill."
"I might have seen a few people."
"Oh shit, seriously?"
"Yeah but nothing long-term. I'm kinda just hanging out but there's this guy named Daven and we've been doing our thing. He's a chef and owns a restaurant in Chicago."
"Oh, I like," I teased.
"He fucks like a YN so I like it too. And what's even better is Dad would have never approved of him."
"Because he fucks like a YN?"
She laughed hard. "No, hoe. Because he's not wealthy or from the right family. He's pretty much self-made. Dad would have had a damn stroke."
"Well I made him have a heart attack instead; so you're safe," I mumbled.
"Scot, stop."
"Okay, okay… focus on the good stuff, so this Daven…"
"Is just a thing. I'm exploring my options until I can find my Christian."
"He's one of one and I'm not sharing, sis, sorry."
"Damn that good?"
"That good."
"Let me find out my big sis is in love."
"I am."
"Oh shit, yeah let me find a Christian." She laughed and I grinned from ear to ear. "I'm so happy for you though, Scot. After all that stuff with your ex and Dad, you deserve this."
"All of us deserve to be happy, and now that he's gone, we can be. If that makes us horrible people, then fine. He was horrible and we're his children; so I guess it's expected. Fuck him."
"Exactly, fuck him."
"Ms. Whitney…"
"Scotlyn." I narrowed my eyes at Miles after correcting him. He grinned and shrugged.
"With the way you're working the shit out of me, we're formal right now."
"I'll tell Christian to give you a raise."
"Much appreciated but where do you want those big boxes?"
"Put them in the guest room for now."
"Of course you want that shit upstairs," he mumbled and walked off.
"Aww, Poor Miles. You sure you don't want me to make him feel better?"
"Very sure. You're not sexing my boyfriend’s employee."
"Boyfriend? That sounds so casual for someone who packed all her shit and moved into his house."
"How about you worry about what Daven is and not what I'm calling my man?"
She laughed. "Yep, you're in love and I love that for you, but I have to go. I need to get to this meeting and I'm not even dressed yet."
"Girl, you stay being late for things."
"To know me is to love me."
"And I do love you. You're coming soon, right?"
"Yes, I have to find a free weekend, but I'll be there. Make sure Miles picks me up."
"Oh God, please let that go and get off my phone."
"Bye, Scotty. I’m proud of you for putting yourself first."
"Thank you and same."
I ended the call with my sister just in time to hear a tiny voice yelling my name.
"Scotlyn!"
"Hey." I knelt down just before Amel crashed into me for a hug. "What are you doing here?"
"Ava won't let mommy take her to dance so my daddy is with her and we came here."
"It be your own kids." Cress frowned, walking in behind her son.
"Wait, so you're the dancer but Elias has to take her to dance?"
I grinned when Cress frowned harder and nodded. "She's a daddy's girl and…"
"It hurts mommy's feelings," Amel cut in, smiling like this completely amused him while Cress looked devastated.
"Aww, I'm sorry." I opened my arms for a hug and she playfully shoved me away.
"Don't do that. You're making it worse."
I laughed and took Amel's hand. "But Melly is with you."
Cress rolled her eyes. "Because there's too much pink there and he wanted to see Christian."
I tried to hide my smile but she rolled her eyes again and I looked down at Amel. "Sorry kid, Uncle Christian isn't here. All you get is me."
He frowned. "Do you have snacks?"
"Chocolate chip cookies but they're Uncle Christian’s."
He yanked his hand from mine and took off toward the kitchen. "I can have them. He always shares."
"Two, Melly. That's it," Cress yelled behind him.
"Okay…" he sang and bent the corner.
"So Miles is moving in your things?" Cress arched her brow and I nodded.
"Yep, and I think he hates me."
"Oh he definitely hates you. That's a lot of damn boxes." She laughed. "But this looks very permanent."
"It is."
She smiled so damn big. "I'm glad. He needs this and I swear I didn't think we would get here."
At Taste of the City, Cress made sure to let me know her feelings on Christian's ex-wife and also that she wanted him to be happy.
If I was his happy, then she fully supported that, but if I wasn't serious about him, I needed to move on. I respected her position because they’d all hurt when Aja hurt him.
Cress frowned a little. "Can I ask you something personal? And if you don't want to talk about it, then tell me to mind my business. I promised Christian I wouldn't be all up in your personal stuff. Apparently I do a thing I wasn't aware of, which basically means I'm nosy."
"You're his sister."
"Yeah, tell him that."
"Ask whatever you want." We walked to the kitchen where Amel was on his knees balancing on a stool, digging through the box of cookies.
"Do you want kids? I mean, I know you and Christian are still figuring things out, but..."
I leaned against the counter and considered how to answer. "I do want a family. I always have but with my age it might not happen."
"Have you and Christian talked about it?"
"Yes, he wants kids too and he's been honest about how important the option is to him. We both know we might have to explore alternatives."
"Like adoption?"
I nodded.
"If that's what it takes, and you're okay with that, I don't see it being an issue. Honestly, I think adoption is just as good and I know my brother. If that's how things work with the two of you, he will love the child whether they're biological or adopted. He's so good with Ava and Melly."
"I know."
Speak of the devil…
"Uncle Christian." Amel hopped off the stool and ran right to him. He threw a hand up which Christian met with his palm.
"What's good, lil homie?"
"I'm eating your cookies." Amel grinned. "But not all of them. You want one?"
"Nah, I'm good for now."
Amel nodded and made his way back to the stash.
Christian’s eyes met mine and he smiled before he gripped my chin and kissed me like his sister wasn't standing there. I blushed hard at the same time my stomach dipped. Lord, this man…
"How was the unpacking?"
"Miles deserves a raise but everything's where it belongs now."
"I already pay him enough and he doesn't do shit." He kissed my temple then turned to Cress.
"You minding your business?"
"Nope, been minding yours and we got it all figured out, so you're welcome."
He chuckled. "My baby is smiling so I'm not gonna cuss you out."
"Oh wow, so it's her over me." Cress arched her brow as Christian hooked an arm around my waist and pulled me from beside him into his chest. He dropped his chin on the top of my head and held me captive with his hands on my thighs.
"Haven’t you been voting with Elias over me for the past few years?"
She smiled and shrugged. "He's my husband."
"Mommy, look." Amel got her attention, and as soon as Cress was focused on her son, Christian had his mouth on my neck.
"You good?"
"Yes."
"You sure? I know how my sister can be."
"I'm fine."
I threw my head back against his shoulder and tilted my chin up so I could see his face. "But you might need to make sure Miles doesn't put a hit out on me."
Christian chuckled. "He's talking shit, but he's cool with you, so don't worry about it. He likes having you here."
"Do you?"
"If we can get my sister up out of here, I'll show you how much I like having you here."
"Can y’all not be nasty while my child is in the room?”
Christian smirked and I shifted my eyes toward Amel, who was in his own world.
"You could leave and you wouldn't have to worry about that."
"Or I could try to convince Scot to let me see all those shoes I saw Miles bringing in here."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me from Christian but his hand dropped to my hip and he brought me back to him for another kiss before he let me go.
"You have one hour," he warned, then pushed off the counter, heading to Amel.
"Come on, Melly, let me see what your shot is looking like. You been practicing?"
He smiled big as hell. "I have. I beat Uncle Ez and my dad."
When Amel hopped off the stool and fell in step with Christian, he took Amel’s hand and winked over his shoulder and my heart melted. I wanted this for us, no matter what that looked like, and when the time was right, I felt in my heart that we would have it.