Chapter 15
Fifteen
Tremaine
I hovered over Mila's contact while I was lying in bed.
I wanted to reach out to her. I didn't like the way we walked away from each other.
When I pulled up to the office and saw her ex-husband out front, my blood heated.
I was confused about why he was even there in the first place.
I heard most of their conversation, and from Mila's tone, I could tell she was at her wits' end.
It was hard to walk away and not put hands on Kyle.
He had done the ultimate disrespectful thing by showing up at her job.
Mila had told me about the order in place, where only their lawyers were their line of communication, so I was on go until Kyle got in his car and drove away.
I even made it my business to trail behind Mila until she got home to make sure Kyle wasn't on some crazy shit.
Now, here I was, trying to figure out how to talk to her.
All I wanted to do was make sure she was okay, but I didn't want to overstep my bounds.
Granted, this morning she had me in my feelings, but all I needed to do was recheck myself.
Mila was a woman on a mission to find herself.
Of course, she was going to put herself out there to get a footing on her life.
Who was I to stand in the way of that? My jealousy took over.
However, Mila didn't deserve the attitude I had given her.
My jealousy got the best of me and caused me to act the way that I did.
I needed to make things right because I knew if I didn't, I would no longer have access to her.
I sucked it up and clicked on Mila's name. The phone rang four times, and I was sure she was screening my calls, but after the fifth ring, she answered. I sat up in excitement, not bothering to clear the suffering in my tone.
"Mila," I said. "Ca-can you hear me?"
The line went quiet, and then she finally spoke.
"I can hear you."
Hearing Mila's voice after being away for so many hours was a sigh of relief. I needed to speak to her every hour on the hour. She had become special to me, and I could no longer try to keep the feelings below sea-level.
"Are you good? I asked.
"I've been better. Right now, I'm just mentally drained. Everything is happening too fast. Kyle showing up at the office, and you going to lunch with Ari, then being gone all day. Then, on top of everything, still trying to show up for KJ after everything. It's draining."
"That shit with Ari was nothing."
"You don't have to explain anything to me. I take it for what it is."
"That's the thing. It wasn't anything. I was exhausting all my contracts with Ari.
We met with another commercial real estate company to take over her storefront.
I knew Ari wouldn't stop trying to talk to me.
That included disrespecting you, so if that meant having to sell her store to another company, then so be it. "
"You didn't have to do all that."
"But I did. I meant what I said the other day. The way I'm feeling about you is real. I know what you've been through, and if there is anything that will ever make you question how I feel about you or disrespect you, I'm getting rid of it."
The line went silent. I spoke my truth. I could no longer fake the reality of how I felt about Mila.
Anything she wanted, anything she needed or asked for, I wanted to make it happen for her.
My heart grew more and more for her. I wasn't taking any risks of having anything in place to jeopardize how I felt about her, even if it meant my losing some business.
"Are you there?" I asked after a few seconds passed, and she remained quiet.
"I'm here."
"I'm sorry, baby. I should've told you, but I knew you would've tried to talk me out of it."
She softly laughed. "Yeah, I would've."
I laid back on the bed, relieved. I couldn't even control the stupid smile on my face. "I've missed you."
She giggled again. "You sure? You went all day without talking to me, Trey."
Now it was time for me to let Mila know how I felt about her talking to other people, including men. I didn't know what type of time she was on and if she missed how I was feeling about her.
"I ain't gonna lie. Hearing you talk about networking with other motherfuckers, then only coming to see me at night, had a nigga feeling sick, but I had to realize that you're just trying to figure shit out on your own."
"Thank you, Trey. I appreciate that, but you're right. You're not just a booty call. I shouldn't have said that."
"It's cool. I can be your booty call, as long as I get to spend time with you."
She giggled.
"Do you know this is the first time in two weeks you haven't been wrapped in my arms?"
She sighed. "Yeah, it feels strange. I won't lie. I do miss you."
"Say the word and I'll be over before we end this call."
"It's late. It wouldn't be right for you to be out driving."
"I already got my shoes on," I confessed as I slid on my slides. "I'm grabbing my keys and walking out the door. I'll see you soon."
She laughed. "Are you serious?"
"I'm shutting the door and backing out of the driveway. Stay on the phone with me 'til I pull up."
"You're crazy."
"Crazy for you. I'm really feeling you, Mila, no bullshit."
She sighed. "I'm feeling you too."
I grinned like a kid in a candy store.
"Go ahead and unlock the door. I'll be there soon."
I could hear her shuffling and then the door unlatching.
"Also, go ahead and get that thang ready for me. I've been wanting to have a taste of you since this morning. Let your boss know you won't be in tomorrow.
"Trey!"
"Oh wait, that's me. No work tomorrow for you." I laughed.
"I've got stuff to do before this conference."
"This is a command from your boss."
She continued laughing. "If you say so, boss."
I continued to whip through the dark streets en route to Mila's place.
After today, I realized a few things. I couldn't take seeing her hurt or mad at me, and I couldn't take being away from her.
She had made her mark on me, and I was going to do everything in my power to make sure I didn't lose her.
I hadn't left Mila's house since I'd shown up the other night. We were laid in bed discussing the conference, which was five days away, when KJ burst into the room. His face was covered with fear.
Mila jumped into action and ran over to him.
"Is everything okay?"
He rubbed his eyes. "I had a nightmare."
"Oh no, I'm so sorry, baby."
Mila hugged him and lifted him off his feet. He continued to rub his eyes and blinked rapidly when he laid eyes on me.
"Mr. Houston?" he asked. "Hi, what are you doing here?"
Mila's eyes widened, and I looked at her, searching for an answer to give.
"Um...well..." I started until Mila placed him back on his feet.
"KJ, have a seat on the bed for me, sweetheart."
KJ listened and sat on the bed, crossing his feet.
I was all for Mila telling KJ whatever she wanted to tell him. I planned to support her either way.
"Mr. Houston is Mommy's special friend."
"Special friend?" KJ asked, looking back and forth. "Like a boyfriend?"
"Um..." Mila began.
"Yeah, KJ, like Mommy's boyfriend. Is that okay with you?" I asked.
KJ shrugged. "Do you live here now?"
I shook my head. "I only visit."
He pouted.
"What's wrong?" Mila asked.
"I still have to ride the bus." He pouted.
I laughed, and Mila rolled her eyes.
"How about this, KJ? I'll take you to school in the morning — no more early bus ride."
"Trey—" Mila started, but I cut her off.
"It's nothing." I leaned over and spoke only loud enough for her to hear me. "I'm your boyfriend. That's what I'm supposed to do."
KJ lit up, jumping up and down on the bed. "Yay!"
"Alright, alright, calm down. Let's get you back to bed, so you can make sure you're ready to be a car rider in the morning."
KJ ran over and gave me a hug before he bolted out of the door. I couldn't help but laugh as Mila shook her head, walking out the door.
I didn't mind the arrangement. It would give me the opportunity to learn about KJ. He was the coolest kid I had ever encountered. His father wasn't shit to just up and leave a child like him. I prayed the lawyer was fighting tooth and nail to make sure Kyle suffered for what he did to Mila and KJ.
An hour passed, and Mila finally returned. She didn't look worried, so I was relieved.
"Is everything all good?" I asked.
"Yeah, I rocked him back to sleep." She sat on the edge of the bed and looked back at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Boyfriend?"
I smiled. "You damn right. Special friends weren't good enough for me. Put some respect on my name. Plus, KJ wouldn't understand what special friend means. He knows simple terms like boyfriend/girlfriend."
"But are we? I mean, do you think we're moving too fast to be putting titles on things?"
I shrugged. "Ain't that the beautiful thing about relationships? You jump in and just hope for the best. It's a rush of emotions and feelings."
"So, we have a title now?" she asked.
"I been had my title. I'm just waiting for you to come around."
She laughed. "Really, Trey?"
"Dead ass. I've been your boyfriend in my head. I was just waiting for the right moment to reveal that to you. Thank KJ for that."
"You're an insane man."
I moved my tablet from my lap and reached for her hand. Mila happily accepted, and I pulled her onto my lap. She straddled me.
"If I'm insane, it's because you're driving me insane, girl."
I kissed her exposed shoulder.
"And what do you think you're doing to me?" she asked as she rocked her hips up against my manhood. It didn't help that I wore thin-ass pajama pants.
"Don't start something, you aren't gonna finish," I teased while slapping her butt.
"Let me show you how a girlfriend is supposed to make love to her boyfriend."
Mila pulled her shirt over her head, and her breasts were on full display.
"Show me, baby..."