Chapter 18
Xiah
I looked at the last two cards we had and grinned, knowing this was a wrap. I was holding the ace and king of spades. Smalls frowned at his last two and I was trying incredibly hard not to gloat.
Kove pushed one hand between my thighs and tightened his arm around my waist before he dropped his chin on my shoulder.
“Hurry up and put that shit down so I can take your money, nigga,” he said in a lazy, deep drawl that vibrated against my shoulder.
Smalls’ eyes were barely open because he put a blunt in the hands of everyone who sat at the table and fired up with them, enjoying one of his own. This was his day, so whatever he wanted, his people provided without hesitation.
“You ain’t taking shit. Your girl has been playing your hands this entire game. Whatever money crosses that table is going in her pocket.” He flashed me a smile and placed both cards on the table at the same time, knowing there wasn’t anything he could do with a six of clubs and nine of diamonds.
I turned and exposed the cards in my hand before I dragged his two toward me. Kove kissed my neck. “What you got, Xi?”
“Eleven.”
“That’s eighteen hundred. Let her get her money,” Kove said smoothly.
They played for money. Each game was worth thirteen hundred.
One hundred dollars for every book secured and we were on our fourth game.
I claimed eleven of the thirteen and he only secured two, so Smalls had to pay up the difference, which meant he was in the hole by nine hundred for just this game alone.
“We ain’t gonna count that shit.” Smalls was already reaching for the stack of hundreds next to him.
“Nah we’re not. I know how to do math. In four hands you were only up once. My baby won all them shits. You owe us eighteen bills. Run that.” Kove spoke with an arrogance and command that had my thighs closing a little to curb the ache between them.
“Aight, she got that, but let’s be clear, you didn’t do shit. Your girl won them hands.” He pushed the stack of bills across the table and lifted his cup. “That’s yours, Xi. Don’t let him touch your money.”
I reached for the cash and folded it, leaning back into Kove’s chest so I had enough space to push it down into my pocket. “We playing another hand?”
“Hell nah…” Smalls laughed. “I’m not fucking with you like that.”
I grinned and Kove chuckled, kissing my neck. “We need to head out anyway. I have practice in the morning and that drive is about to kick my ass.”
“Aight, family. You know I would be there if I could but they got me boxed in for the next six months.” He tapped his thigh and lifted the leg of his jeans, exposing the ankle monitor.
“And what the fuck you gonna do when they make you pee in that damn cup? You been in the clouds since you touched down., Tyriq said with a lazy grin. Everyone around the table was currently high. Well, at least the men. Teaira, Rebel, and I didn’t smoke but we got tipsy as hell from the drinks Emma sold us which were basically fruity death traps.
I barely made it through half of mine before I had to bail.
“I’m fucking my PO until this shit is done so she has me covered.”
“Bruh…” Kove chuckled, shaking his head.
“Three-year bid and you still ain’t learned shit.”
Smalls flashed his grill and nodded. “I learned some shit. I learned that I should have been fucking ol’ girl who refused to claim that key I had on me when I got pulled over and I wouldn’t have done that bid.”
“This muthafucker is delusional,” Tyriq said, tapping Teaira’s thigh. “We’re out too. Need to get our baby girl home.”
He walked to Smalls who stood from his chair.
They dapped and did a brotherly hug before Tyriq and Teaira did their rounds saying goodbye to everyone.
We were up as well, and while Kove said his goodbyes to his people, Teaira hugged me and told me they would add me to a group chat to keep in touch before we were all on our way to our vehicles.
When we reached Kove’s Acura, I leaned into him and pushed my hand into his pocket.
“You trying to get fucked on the block rubbing up against my dick out here.” He gripped my chin and kissed me. I smiled, removed his keys, and held them up.
“Nope, I’m trying to make sure we make it back to Crescent Falls safely. You’re high.”
He smiled lazily and kissed me again. “I’m always high. I’m cool to drive and your ass had that toxic shit Emma mixed up. I’m not trusting you with my baby.”
“That was hours ago. I’m fine and I thought I was your baby.”
He grinned. “You are but she’s always gonna have my heart.” He reached around me and tapped the roof of his car.
“Why am I here then?”
“’Cause someone has to take care of this.” He pulled me into his lengthy frame, providing access to the long, thick dick resting against his thigh. I rolled my eyes and pecked his lips.
“Get in the car. I’m driving.”
“Aight, but if you wreck my shit, we’re gonna have some problems.”
We got in and I carefully navigated us off the block with Kove directing me. This was my first time in the Douglasville area but I was familiar with Diamond Falls so I was fine with directions getting home once he got me to the highway.
While I drove, I sang my heart out while Kove watched me with a lazy smile on his face. He was laughing at the notes I missed but letting me do my thing until I got to one of Yara’s songs that I sang lyric for lyric, “Weak Love”.
The song was about a woman telling her man that he had to love her strong or not at all. No weak love…
“You’re singing them lyrics strong as hell, Xi. You trying to tell me something?” Kove reached across the car and brushed his finger over the curve of my jaw.
“It’s just a song.”
“Nah, not the way you was tearing them notes up and throwing your hands all over the place.”
“I like Yara and I love that song, but it’s just a song. It also wouldn’t apply because I wouldn’t have to tell you how to show up for me.”
“You’re right because I’ma hold that shit down. I got you on all levels. There isn’t a damn thing weak on this side.”
“Except your Spades game.”
He laughed lazily, nodding. “You got that.”
When we made it back to The Metropolitan, Kove collected my overnight bag from the car and we took the elevator to his suite. We showered, and when I tried to dress for bed, he shut that down, letting me know he had other plans that didn’t involve either of us sleeping.
At least not for a while.
Mom: You’re bringing dessert right?”
Me: Yes. Trying something new.
Mom: Would you like to share?
Me: Nope! It’s a surprise.
Mom: Fine. Dinner will be a surprise too.
Me: It’s oatmeal raisin cookies because they’re dad’s favorite. I already know what you’re making. I heard you telling Dad what to add to the list.
Mom: His favorite? What about me?
Me: I’m your favorite.
Mom: You are but you still don’t know what I’m making. Maybe I’m trying something new.
Me: Six organic chicken breasts, orzo pasta, Parmesan cheese, six large lemons, and parsley.
Lemon orzo pasta with fire-grilled chicken breasts…
Mom: Don’t be surprised when I switch it up.
Me: I won’t because you won’t.
Mom: He’s still coming?
I smiled thinking about Kove meeting my parents. I was anxious but still excited. My mother thought he was handsome, so that was already a check in his corner. At the very least my father could be swayed by Kove’s status as a Royal but accepting Kove as the man in my life was still questionable.
Me: Yes.
Mom: Can’t wait. I haven’t given your father any details, only that you had someone you wanted us to meet.
Me: Thank you, we’ll see how this goes.
Mom: It will be fine as long as this young man is genuine.
He is…
Me: I know. See you tonight. Love you.
Mom: Love you too.
I locked my phone and dropped it into my purse before collecting the rest of my things so I could leave the office. I spent the morning submitting offers for the two clients I recently obtained after going to a networking social hosted by BWB.
I was very impressed with the atmosphere and would be attending as many as I could.
Koa tagged along and made some connections as well.
Boss women handling their business was definitely a vibe I could get with.
I planned on submitting my application to be an official member of Black Women Bosses.
I admired all the things that Zoree Kincaid and Samiya Grant represented.
the group of women they had as friends and peers were they type of connections I wanted in my life.
My life had done a complete one eighty and I truly had no complaints.
Eight days after the Shining Stars event, Koa showed up at my apartment with two bottles of wine and paperwork that officially freed me from the worst decision I’d ever made.
I had plans with Kove that night, but when I called to give him the news, he told me to celebrate with my girl and he would get his time in to celebrate over the weekend because he had some team commitments he couldn’t cancel, so he wouldn’t be able to see me until then.
I appreciated that he wanted to let me have this moment with Koa.
I talked to Kove through texts and video calls between his practices and the viewings I had but that wasn’t good enough.
He officially closed on his house three days ago but I didn’t even get to see him then because of other commitments.
I sat next to his attorney, Raaj Armand, who was granted limited power of attorney for the sale of the house so that he could show up on Kove’s behalf.
I missed his presence and planned on making up for lost time.
Tonight we had dinner planned with my parents and afterwards we would be spending the night in Kove’s new house.