Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
Selah
A day and a half in paradise and I felt so restored, like I could take on the whole world with no problem.
Spending time with him and his family was different for me as I didn’t think I’d ever encountered somebody who made sure I was comfortable in every room I walked in.
I couldn’t describe it at all, but his entire being assured me.
We could be feet away from one another and he’d look up and wink at me out of nowhere.
Indiri was my calm in the midst of the media storm Nathanial had purposely sent my way.
He was peace and being here with his family was that as well.
Between the unlimited jokes and familial interaction, the company here was simply beautiful.
“Honestly this is good, and the line about being in the first row is genius. When are you gonna post it?”
“I don’t know. I’m not a normal poster.” I laughed at my own expense, hugging my legs as I looked at the rising sun.
“First, don’t post it on your timeline. Put it in your IG story with a black background. Save your timeline for memorable and meaningful things. Your page is public, right?”
“Public but there are only two photos up there,” I said, thinking about my bare social media.
“That’s fine. Wait, let me find you.”
I had drafted my post for social media early this morning and got Jordyn’s number out of Indiri’s phone. I hadn’t expected her to call me minutes after I sent it.
“Found you. Damn you weren’t lying, your page is bare as hell.
We’ll work on that. But first things first. Post the statement to your story as it’s controlled, temporary, and on some no response necessary motion.
Seeing as though you have about forty thousand followers, it’ll get screenshotted and sent to the outlets.
Then in a few days I’m begging you to post a cute lil something on here. ”
“Something like what? And how do I have that many followers? I don’t post,” I asked, already copying and pasting my statement from our messages to my story in three parts.
“Um people are nosy as hell, Selah. Like really nosy. Have you taken any pictures while you all have been there yet?”
“I didn’t take many but, Jade took some good ones of us yesterday. Am I sending them to you?”
She laughed. “You and Indi are gonna stress me out with this no social media thing. I can feel it already. Yeah, send them to me. Let me see what you have.”
Before doing that, I pressed post. The story read:
“I normally keep my business offline, but since narratives are being created without me, I’ll say this once.
I was in a private, six-year relationship and knew nothing about the things that later came to light.
When I found out, I left. End of story. I didn’t move on out of malice or strategy.
Life happened. I offer no apology for that.
I run two businesses and I mind the business that pays me.
I value my privacy. Anyone who compromises that will be handled accordingly.
As for the rest. Focus on your training. I’ll be in the front row.”
Then I went to my messages with Jade and downloaded the pictures she’d sent me. I hadn’t really studied them before sending them to Jordyn.
I updated her. “Story posted and images sent.”
“Damn I like you. Now only if your man would be this prompt and quick. I wouldn’t be logged into his media on my phone. Ohh. I like this picture, it’s hot. You’re about to tell me no, but as soon as you’re on that flight headed back here, I need you to post it with a cute lil funky caption.”
“Which picture?”
“The one with y’all standing on the beach, damn near in the water. You’re holding your drink and facing the camera while looking off. His back is to the camera and he’s got his arm around you. You’re gonna tell me no, but please.”
I found the picture she was talking about and just looked at it. This picture was the one I felt described us best. Something about my bubbly personality and his brooding one taking in everything I wasn’t paying attention to.
“Um, hello. This picture is a yes or a n—”
“Yes. I’ll post it after I run it by him.”
“Run what by me?” Indiri’s voice had me looking up from my phone.
He was no longer in bed but standing shirtless in the balcony doorway. When I didn’t respond fast enough, he advanced toward where I was sitting. He pulled me up, nearly picking me up in the process, took a seat, and pulled me down on him like there weren't at least two more seats out here.
“Run what by me?” he repeated, pushing his face into my neck and inhaling.
“Good morning to you too, Indi. I’m trying to get Selah to post an image from your vacation. She says she has to run it by you. Show him the picture please, Sey.”
I smiled when he pulled back and looked at me. Lord this man was fine, the type that had me forgetting what I was supposed to be doing and blanking out.
“Selah,” Jordyn said, helping me out of my thoughts.
“My bad. Here is the picture. I like it and I’m gonna post it when we leave as Jordyn has requested. Is that okay?”
He looked confused. “Fuck you asking me if it’s okay for? Are you okay with posting it?” he asked, face going back into my neck while his hands went under my nightgown.
“Yes, I’m okay with posting it.”
“Aight then, post that motherfucker and be sure to tag me. Jordyn, accept the tag.”
Jordyn laughed. “You don’t have to accept a tag, slowness.”
“Aw,” he said into my neck then began to kiss my skin just as his hands went into my underwear.
“Alright, guys. My Pilates class is starting. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. I will be seeing you both tomorrow night when you land.”
“Okay, see you then.”
She hung up seconds later and he pulled back, looking at me, his eyes boring into mine with the silence. Not complete silence but between us it was until he started speaking.
“Before you I didn’t want anything to do with anybody.
I didn’t mess with many, but I only fuck with you.
I just want you, meaning I’m at a space where I’m willing to do practically anything to keep you in this space with me.
Not the physical one, but the emotional one.
So when I tell you that you belong to me, I don’t say that shit lightly.
I mean it with my whole fucking chest. That being said, you don’t have to run things like that by me.
Do what you see fit. I trust your judgment, baby. ”
He said a mouthful, but every word was felt. “Okay.”
He chuckled. “That’s all you have to say?”
“No. But I’m trying to hold back the tears. Can I do that?”
He laughed and threw his hands up in surrender. “Yeah, don’t be on that. Crying makes me think I did something wrong.”
“Nope. You’re doing everything right.” I ground against him.
“Good, ’cause that’s always my intention when it comes to you, beautiful.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against the corner of my chin.
True to my word, I posted the picture of Indiri and me on the beach, and at his insistence, I tagged him. I chose to set the location to paradise and captioned it Properly Covered.
About fifteen seconds after I posted, there were several likes and comments.
I did myself the honor of ignoring them and closed the app. The last thing I needed was other people’s opinions in my head while I lived my life. It made no sense in the grand scheme of things.
“Do me a favor.” Indiri’s voice made me look up from my laptop to him standing in the doorway to the front room. Jordyn filed past him and took a seat at the island, eyes glued to her phone.
“And what’s that?”
“Stay here with me for a minute. You know until this mess in the media blows over.”
I glanced from him to Jordyn, who was now looking at him. She had been waiting here like she said she would when we landed. “Um, why? What’s the problem?”
He looked from her to me then shook his head.
“Some of the comments on your page concern me. And the fact that your ex is only attempting to throw fuel into the fire.”
“So I want you to stay here for a lil’ while.” Indiri’s voice had me looking back in his direction.
“You do realize I run not one but two bakeries? I can’t stay cooped up in Westvale, Indiri.”
“Bet. Cool. Then you’ll move with security,” he said to me, then looked in Jordyn’s direction. “Jordyn will handle that for me by tomorrow. Shorty likes to be in the bakery at six a.m.”
Jordyn laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this side of you.”
Confusion swept his handsome features as he pushed off the doorway. Seconds later he was seated by me. “What side of me?”
“The side that’s in love.”
He didn’t respond and neither did I. It was way too early to be talking about love … or was it?
“Oh, y’all aren’t ready to talk about that yet. You’re both cute though, but fine, let’s change the subject. Indi, you have a photoshoot scheduled for tomorrow morning.”
For the remainder of the time Jordyn was here, they talked about his schedule for the week while I set mine on my computer.
I had been gone a couple of days, so I had to play catch up with numbers and what each bakery needed.
Moments like this made me grateful that my entire system was digitized, so things didn’t need to be updated manually and I was able to gauge the workday as well as the inventory.
I spent about two and a half hours working on that then finished a little after Jordyn left for the night.
“Them glasses are thick as fuck, but they look good on you,” Indiri said, walking back into the room with a bowl in hand and a smirk on his face.
“They protect my eyes. What are you eating?”
He held the bowl out as he went for the remote at the opposite end of the table. I had just shut my laptop, so after I accepted the bowl, I leaned forward and placed it on the ottoman right in front of us.