15. Merci
MERCI
After what went down at Aaron’s party, if my brothers and their friends weren’t at the parties I was hosting, Hammer and Cujo were.
Tonight, it was my brothers. I thought they were just playing about going to visit Lamar and his cousin at the hospital, but that was my fault.
If the men in my family didn’t play about anything, it was the women in their lives.
They did exactly what they said they would, and they made sure Lamar knew to never try me ever again.
Of course, people recorded it and posted it on social media, and when word started to spread, my parents found out.
Daddy didn’t give me as much of a hard time about it since it was handled, but he did say he wanted to meet my man.
I told him to give me six months, and he agreed.
I was loving how things were progressing between Hammer and me, and honestly, I just wanted to keep him to myself.
The party I hosted today was a day party, so once it was over, my brothers and I went to my parents’ house. Daddy was still in his office when we arrived, so I went in there to bother him. At the sight of me, his eyes lit up just like they did when I was a little girl.
“Hey, my baby,” he greeted, standing to give me a hug and kiss.
“Hey, Daddy. What you back here working on?”
He sighed as we both sat down. “Tryna make keeping Rey’s business make sense. As far as money is concerned, it’s worth the investment, but it’s a lot to maintain. I appreciated him leaving his business to me, but with my hands in so many things, I’m thinking about getting rid of it.”
I considered his plight for a while instead of responding immediately.
Daddy and his friends had invested in stocks and a lot of businesses, never mind their own personal businesses.
From that and the academy alone, Daddy made sure he and his kids would be okay financially if none of us ever worked another day in our lives.
Rey’s business was bringing in millions a year in profit when he died, and now that Daddy had taken over, I was sure it was bringing in more.
He wasn’t the kind of boss who could be completely hands off if something had his name on it.
Daddy had too much integrity for that, so I could understand why he wanted to get rid of it.
“Why don’t you let Ariel take over?” I suggested.
“Hmm,” was all he said as he sat back in his seat and massaged his goatee.
“She’s feeling a little unmotivated and like she doesn’t have anything going for herself after leaving Raheem.
Even with you and Hamilton offering to take care of her until she gets on her feet, you know Ariel won’t allow that to continue for too long.
She shared with me in confidence that she regrets not going to college because she got married.
I think running a business would be good for her.
She’ll just need to learn the day-to-day process of it, but I think she’ll be good at it. ”
“That’s actually a good idea, my baby. I wouldn’t have even thought about that. Do you think she’d actually want to take over?”
“Yeah, even if just for the money and something to do. I don’t think she’ll try to do what she’s truly passionate about.”
“Dance?” he confirmed, and I nodded my head.
While my siblings who lived with me were learning music through our parents as kids, Ariel was on majorette and cheerleading squads.
She’d planned to go to school for dance and eventually wanted her own team or studio.
When I mentioned doing that now, she said she was too old, which I totally didn’t agree with.
More than anything, I felt like that was fear on her part, but I didn’t mention it.
Not then at least. She had enough going on trying to digest starting her life all over again.
“Yeah. I would say she needs this, and I think she’ll be really good at it. She might not have management training, but she shadowed you and Ma with the rest of us, so she knows the foundation of running a business.”
“True. Thank you, Merci. I’m going to call and see if she wants to take over. If not, maybe one of your brothers will. I know you don’t want to.”
“You know me well,” I said with a smile as I stood.
Running my own business was enough for me.
With the house and money my parents had given me, I was already good.
And now with Hammer spoiling me and giving me money to blow, I genuinely couldn’t ask for anything more.
I also didn’t want any more responsibility.
What free time I did have, I wanted to spend it with my family and my man.
I was in love.
For real this time.
As my body swayed against Hammer’s, with his lips pressed against my neck and his arm wrapped around my waist, I knew I was in love.
He’d been catering to me and doing the things I loved for our dates, so tonight, I planned a date for him.
Since he loved live music, I took him to this laidback hole-in-the-wall spot that had bomb food and an amazing live band downtown every weekend.
Hammer was a hood nigga, and I knew he’d appreciate this atmosphere more than the bougie places he’d been taking me to for the past month.
His wide smile as soon as we entered was all the proof I needed that I was right.
He was able to drink his liquor, smoke his blunts, listen to his music, and not have a care in the world.
His lips went to my ear, and he sang along with Eric since this was the last song in his set.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. Hammer turned me in his arms, and we swayed to the music as if no one else was in this room, this world, but us.
As the song ended, Hammer hugged me and said, “I loved everything about this, sweetheart. Thank you,” against my ear.
“You’re welcome, Mr. Freeman. I also got us tickets to the Redbirds game tomorrow. Just know I’m really only going for you and the hot dogs and nachos, though.”
His head flung back as he laughed heartily. “I believe you and appreciate the effort, Ms. Merci. You might not be looking forward to it, but I can’t wait.”
“I look forward to anything I get to do with you.”
Biting down on his bottom lip, Hammer moved his hand down to my ass and squeezed it. “I’m looking forward to what I get to do to you tonight.”
“Mm, I love the sound of that. Let’s go.”
Hand-in-hand, we left, and I couldn’t wait to get back to his place.
Sex with Hammer was always an experience.
Whether we made love, fucked, or teased each other to an orgasmic end, I loved every second of my encounters with him.
Hell, I just… loved him. I wouldn’t tell him that, though.
Not until he said it at least. I might have tried my hardest to take things slow with him, but I couldn’t deny it anymore.
I was totally and completely in love with this man.