49. Real
My eyes drank in the North Louisiana countryside as an unusually quiet Juvie followed Danny, Everett, and Love. All this damn greenery—bald cypresses and pine trees, thick grass and almost unrestrained scrub—I wasn’t used to it. Had she missed this? Had she missed it the way she obviously missed her family… and her precious Danny? Did she see her life here instead of back in the city with?—
I cut the thought off abruptly, turning away from the window.
“You good over there?” asked Juvie.
“Yeah,” I mumbled.
“You don’t believe that ‘just friends’ shit?”
Never let it be said my young nigga was one to bite his tongue.
“If he lyin’, he going in one of them damn hog pens for real. Either way, I ain’t worried about it.”
He let out a low chuckle. “Trust me, he ain’t lying. Anyway, what you worried about? Over there looking like you need to face all the blunts Markel can roll. I know shorty ain’t stressing my OG like that.”
The kid was finding this funny. I thought about knocking his head off, but it wasn’t his fault that Love had me in knots. Shorty was indeed stressing me like that.
“Keep the commentary to yo’self,” I warned, grilling him.
He shrugged. “I’m just saying, you ain’t got shit to worry about. And… well, that part don’t matter. She feeling you. I think she just scared.”
Scoffing, I looked at him. “You nineteen, Julien. What you know about women and relationships?”
He stroked his chin. Ol’ baby face ass wanted a beard so bad!
“I am a student of human behavior. I watch, and I learn. Trust me. That nigga Danny was right. She’s yours to fumble, OG. You just gotta be careful.”
I shook my head at the fact that I was listening to a teenager give relationship advice.
“Are you being careful?” I shot, turning the tables on him.
He did a double take before pointing at himself with an exaggerated expression. Juvie was a damned character.
“Me?”
“Yeah. I see how the lil’ one been checking you out,” I said.
“Mannnn, she gon’ be beautiful like the rest of them, but I already told little mama that it’s a ‘no’ for me. She only fifteen. I ain’t come to Louisiana to end up in jail. They’ll put my ass under Angola!” he exclaimed.
Grinning, I shook my head but stayed quiet. Danny passed Main Street, then turned a block down. Juvie followed him as he pulled into the gravel lot of a two-story building, fronted in the red brick residents of this town seemed to love. It was obviously empty, the windows allowing a peek into the bare interior. I frowned, wondering what was up.
Danny got out and started to make his way around to Love’s door. He helped her down as Juvie, and I climbed out of the SUV.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
I watched as she squeezed his arm softly before linking hers through it.
I had never been a jealous man. If a woman was feeling someone else, I was unbothered—there were too many of them out there, too many ready to give up whatever I wanted. So, I couldn’t explain the jealousy that spiked through me seeing Love with Danny or even Marlon and Naaman. I realized in that moment that I didn’t want any other man enjoying her small touches and bright smiles. I hadn’t lied to her stupid ass brother—Love was mine and despite Danny’s earlier words, I was tempted to smash his head through something.
“Just say the word, and he can find himself head-tapped,” Juvie mumbled.
He patted his lower back, where his gun rested. Chuckling, I shook my head, and we followed the three of them into the empty building.
“…was gon’ be an urgent care, but the plans fell through. I thought it’d be perfect for what you want,” Danny was saying.
My gaze swung to Love. Her eyes were big, and tears filled them as she covered her mouth with one hand. She turned around slowly, and I could almost see her mind working, envisioning the clinic she wanted to build. She took a few steps and peered down the hallway lined with multiple doors, then backed up to look at the loft that could serve as office space. The spot was big as hell and so clean, I swear it gleamed. I looked at her again. I could see she’d fallen in love already.
“Whitney is the realtor. I heard her talking about it and she gave me the door code cuz I wanted to show you. I know you got other stuff you needed to do before copping a place, but this, in Emancipation, is too good to miss,” Danny said.
Love nodded, blinking back her tears as she cleared her throat.
“How… how much?” she asked.
He quoted her a price that surprised me—a building like this in the city could go for almost twice that amount. But I saw her shoulders fall, and she sighed before looking at Danny.
“Not right now. The mortgage plus staffing before I’m an FNP would be a little more than I’m ready for. And no, I don’t want to ask anyone, so neither one of you better tell Prime and Em. They’ve done a lot for me already,” she ordered softly.
Danny paused, looking thoughtful, before trying again. “And Granny and PawPaw?—”
“You know farm life is up and down. And they’re older. I don’t want them dipping into their savings or retirement fund for me.”
“Ev, maybe I can—” her brother began.
“No. Everett, no. Whatever you have is for you, and you are not taking on debt for me. I love it, but everything in God’s time,” Love insisted, touching her brother’s shoulder.
“Shiii, a piece of nice commercial real estate like this, for that price? I’ll buy it,” I inserted myself right into their conversation. Three pairs of eyes turned to me. One honey-brown pair flashed hurt before going blank. I watched as a fake smile curved her lips.
“Montréal really is into real estate development. If he sees something in the property, you should… you should probably give him Whit’s number,” she said, her voice low as she crossed her arms over her chest.
I watched as Love’s gaze dropped to the floor. She wanted this building bad as hell. Shorty really had no clue. I unlocked my phone and started typing, putting my PA Melissa on research duty. If everything checked out, I really would grab this joint up. Danny walked closer and handed Juvie a card.
“The realtor’s info. Her name is Whitney Sanders,” he explained as I typed.
“Real, you got the information you need. Danny, can we go now?” Love asked, rubbing her temple.
It was her tell. She was upset. Danny wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her toward the door. A strange hiss sounded in the room. I ignored it, attention reverted to my phone. Then, it broke the silence again. I looked up just as Juvie widened his eyes at me. I realized this nigga had been doing his loud version of a “ psst .”
“What?” I mumbled.
“When I said she was yours to fumble? This what I meant, OG. You know you buying this shit for that girl. Tell her! ‘Cause you looking real shady right now, my guy, like you tryna steal it from under her,” he whispered.
“Who the fuck told you that? And she got Danny to make her feel better. She’ll be all right.”
It was petty, I knew it. But believing Danny didn’t change my feelings instantly. Juvie sighed loudly before grabbing his forehead dramatically.
“Bruhhhh! OG! I can’t believe you right now. That little green monster got you off! You can’t see the trees for the forest?—”
I mugged his silly ass. “That’s not how that shit goes, Julien. And you don’t know?—”
“Nah, you don’t know! Real! Da fuck! Yo’ thickums ain’t the sibling Danny wants!” he gritted out.
I frowned. “I’m sure Prime on the same kind of time behind Emory that I am behind her big-headed sister. That fool ain’t that stupid. And quit calling her?—”
He blew out another long breath that ended in a groan.
“You being real homophobic right now, my guy. I expect more out of a refined, progressive gentleman as yourself. You so focused on Thicku—uh, Everly, that you ain’t peep how them two was looking at each other, communicating with they eyes and shit. They popped up at the house this morning looking all comfortable. Probably spent the night together, my G. Think!” he said, pounding his temple with two fingertips.
I looked out the window. I was just in time to catch Danny and Everett standing near each other, their heads slightly bowed as they held a low conversation. Everett looked toward the truck where Love was sitting before looking back at Danny, worry clear on his face. Danny touched his chest as he spoke to him again. My eyes widened then shot to Juvie. He gave me an “I told you so” grill before stomping to the door.
“Everly Love! Get yo’ butt outta that truck, girl,” he yelled like he was from this country ass town.
She ignored him, of course.
“Juvie, what the hell?—”
“You gon’ sit in there pouting with them big ass lips like you don’t know this man buying this building for you?”
That had her opening the door and nearly falling her ass out. I took a step toward Juvie’s smirking ass. Laughing, he jogged off.
“Mothafucka—” I started.
“Montréal!”
Love’s voice sounded from outside, and I shook my head. I gave Juvie a look that promised retribution then walked out the door. She stood a few feet down the brick walkway, her eyes wet and red, her full lips trembling.
“Don’t cry,” I said, feeling unexpectedly awkward.
“Don’t buy,” she parried. “At least not for me. It’s too much.”
I gave in to the need to walk closer to her. I let my fingertip lightly trace the tracks of her tears down a honey-brown cheek. “I’on think you tell me how to spend my money,” I told her softly.
“Real, you can’t?—”
An idea suddenly popped into my head. I smiled down at her as plans began unfolding.
“You wanna discuss it? We can talk about it on our date.”
Her eyes flew to mine. “Wh-what?”
She’d never allowed us to call any of our limited outings dates. It was time to change that. I was fighting for my life with this stubborn girl.
“Now, that’s how you negotiate! You heard him, Everly Love. My OG wants a date!” Juvie crowed.
“Shut up, Julien!” both of us ordered, eyes locked on each other.
He muttered something, but I was too focused on the soft hand that had eased up to grab my wrist. She shook her head slightly, hair spilling around her shoulders.
“Real, don’t?—”
“The deed will be in your hand by tomorrow,” I interrupted.
She closed her eyes and sighed. “When is our date, Montréal?”
Victory felt good. A grin crept across my face. I needed to get this planned, put something nice together. She’d just have to be patient.
“I’ll keep you posted.”