Chapter 11
ELEVEN
Liora
Seeing Iso reunite with his mother and son warmed my heart in a way I wasn’t used to. Not only that, it made me think about my own mother. She had this countenance about her that let him and everybody else know she’d go there about her son.
With everything handled, he was able to finally move around without being so secretive. It also encouraged me to finally pinpoint the things I actually wanted in this life.
“When I told you to come see me, I didn’t expect you to come in here quiet and somber. Is there something wrong, Li?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. I didn’t get much sleep last night and had to work this morning, then you called me here.”
She laughed. “Boo-hoo-hoo. You were probably up being nasty with that fine ass man. Ain’t nobody stupid nor blind.”
I cackled. “I didn’t say I wasn’t, but if you must know, I got in kind of late.”
“From where?” Sissy’s voice along with the bell alerted us to someone entering.
“Iso’s mother’s house.”
Lauryn’s hand went to her chest. “Wait, what?”
“You met his mother?” Sissy asked in shock.
“And his son. Why are you both so shocked?”
“Because bitch I’ve never met a man you’re dating. Then you pop up with him, and baby, I can tell you’re in love and he is too. Because when you went to defend my honor, that nigga asked for your gun and you gave it to him.” Sissy laughed through her own spiel.
I couldn’t help but laugh because she was right. Iso read me like an open book, picking up on things not many did.
“See, she’s laughing because she knows I’m right.”
I couldn’t stop laughing long enough to tell her she wasn’t. One, she was damn right, and two, she was too damn observant for her own good.
“Are you happy, Li?” Sissy asked, hopping on the counter, staring at me.
“Actually, I am, very.” I felt crazy admitting that aloud. It wasn’t that I was unhappy. Then again, I didn’t know what I was. I had just kind of been existing in motion.
“Then that’s all that matters. You’re home and happy with the male version of yourself.”
“Nope, I’m not touching that because it’s so true. They both have that look in their eyes,” Lauryn said, making me laugh.
I spent a while longer with my sisters, listening to them talk mess, then it was time for me to leave. I wanted to be in Iso’s face. After promising them we’d do dinner sometime next week, I left. I had just gotten in the car when my phone began ringing.
His name flashed across the screen and of course I was smiling hard like a lil bitch when I answered.
“Good evening, handsome, is this you calling to ask me to pick up food before I come that way?”
He laughed. “Nah, but I want you to meet me somewhere.”
“Somewhere like where?”
“I already sent you the address. Call me when you outside,” he responded, further intriguing me.
“Am I coming in blasting?” I questioned.
He chuckled hard. “Naw, man, but it’s good to know you would.”
I laughed, grabbing my phone and pulling up the address he’d sent to a structure in Watertown. “Okay I’ll come. Do you have Junior with you?”
“Nope. He’s with his grandmother for the evening. I’ll get him in the morning.”
“Okay.”
“It’s just me and you tonight, Killa.”
I smiled at that statement, my cheeks burning.
I didn’t know exactly when it happened, but somewhere between him spoon-feeding me pieces of his world and always showing up when he called, this became less temporary and more life creating.
Somewhere between no labels, no promises, and no map… I became a full-fledged lover girl.
“And why am I meeting you in an empty bar in the middle of the night, Iso?” I asked as soon as he opened the door for me to enter from the inside.
“It’s a date. Don’t be talking mess, just go straight?”
It was dark and the only light came from the back. “Oh, I’ma walk straight, but I’m also gonna talk some mess because why here?”
His hands were on my hips as he guided me forward. “Because even though I wanted to take you on a date, I decided I wasn’t ready to have too many motherfuckers all in my face.”
“So we ended up at an abandoned building?”
He laughed. “Nah, man. This spot belongs to Psy. It’s a pool hall but it’s been down for renovations. I figured we’d play a couple games, eat, and chill for a minute.”
I nodded as soon as we entered the lit space. Up front it was definitely looking rough, but right here looked good. “Okay, I see the vision.”
“Good now stop complaining.”
I stood in the center, fully taking the space in before my eyes locked on him moving toward the bar where he had food laid out. Knowing Iso, it was chicken… It was always chicken with him.
Honestly, it was magnificent here, dark walls giving it a luxurious feel with an air like everyone wasn’t invited.
Though he said the space was being renovated, liquor still lined the shelves from counter to ceiling.
Then, in front of those shelves and counters, rested a sleek, massive, black stone bar.
In the center of the room was one massive pool table, black and gold, the only contrast being the green material below the balls and strategically laced cues.
A few feet away from the table were two luxury black chairs, only separated by a gold end table.
“It’s nice here. Did you used to hang here before everything?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I don’t like too many people in my face.”
I nodded, moving in his direction. “So, we’re playing pool?”
“Yep, are you any good at it?” he quizzed.
“Very good.”
“That’s good to know. So let’s make this interesting, baby.”
My grin grew. “I’m listening.”
“I win and you move in with me. You win and you still move in with me.”
He caught me by complete surprise with that statement because I wasn’t aware that he even wanted me to move in.
“You spend more time at my spot than your own. My home is your home, so why not?” He must’ve picked up on my confusion.
“And you want me to move in with you and Junior?”
He closed the space between us, pulling my body into him. “You already live with me, Killa. Just not officially. I wanna make it that way, can I?”
“Considering you just said win or lose I move in, I feel like I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
“You always have a choice, as long as the choice you make involves me.” He then lowered his head and kissed me. “Now come on and let me tap that ass.”
“I don’t know about that, but you can definitely try.”
For the next couple hours we played, talked, and ate, basking in the comfort of one another’s company.
It was nice and definitely something I wasn’t used to given that before him I had never allowed anyone close.
Now here I was, moving in with him…and his son.
This time I was doing more than creating a routine.
I was creating and settling into a life with a man who didn’t want to change me.
He just wanted to be with me and made that clear every single day.