Chapter 8
The sound of a phone going off jolted me from my sleep. I realized I was still on the couch. Slowly, I sat up, only to realize that Devin was still here. His phone was going off, yet he was knocked out. I took a moment to take him in. God, this man was so damn fine.
It was never a plan for him to stay over. After my embarrassing trip to the bathroom to spew my guts last night, we’d settled on the couch and watched a couple of movies while we got to know each other a little better. I actually enjoyed his company, just like I had at the wedding reception.
I wasn’t sure what it was about him that made me so comfortable, but I felt safe with him. Maybe it was his size or knowing the family he came from. Whatever it was, it gave me peace. After what I’d been dealing with involving Patrick, I needed peace and the distraction.
“Devin,” I said, shaking him. “Devin, wake up.”
He stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. His head turned to mine, and he leaned over to kiss my forehead before grabbing the phone.
“What, nigga?”
I shook my head at the way he answered the phone. Deciding to give him some privacy, I went to stand to go to the kitchen to get something to drink. I was surprised as he pulled me down onto his lap. He peered at me with lustful eyes as he licked his lips.
“Where you going?” he asked in a low, gruff voice.
“I—I um… I was just going to get a drink.”
“A’ight.” He released me, and I got up. “Nigga, don’t worry about where the hell I am. You in my business.”
I giggled as I retreated to the kitchen. I needed that cold glass of orange juice to calm me down. Devin Dillinger was dangerous. My inhibitions around him got weaker with every exchange, and I wasn’t in a position to let him have me in different positions.
Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned to see Devin strolling into the kitchen.
“My bad for intruding in your space last night,” he said, coming to a stop in front of me.
“I didn’t mind. Besides, we both fell asleep.”
“Still, I’ll holla at you first next time.”
“I appreciate you checking on me, though.”
“It’s nothing. I gotta go. That was my brother calling. I’ll see you at our next session.”
“Okay.”
I walked him to the front door. He turned back, his eyes trailing me from head to toe.
“You and lil’ baby here be easy,” he said, poking my stomach.
I felt Juri jerk inside me. “Ooo! You scared her.”
He chortled as he reached out again, gently rubbing my belly. “My bad, baby girl. I’ll be gentle next time.”
His hand lingered for a moment before he pulled it away. Winking at me, he opened the door and walked out. I stood there watching until he’d gotten into his car. As he was backing out, my sister was pulling up. Her nosy ass rolled down her window and yelled at me.
“Who dat!”
I shook my head as I watched her quickly pull into my driveway and get out.
“Oh, no, ma’am!” she declared, walking up the front steps. “Who was that creeping out of here?”
I rolled my eyes. “Nobody was creeping, Renay.”
“No, you were absolutely creeping because, what man was that?”
“Devin—”
“Smoke Dillinger?”
“Yes.”
She rushed me inside and closed the door. I rolled my eyes as she ushered me over to the couch.
“Spill it.”
“There’s nothing to spill. He just came over last night to check on?—”
“Last night! Oooo, bitch!”
My sister always got overly excited when she thought there was tea. I was about to burst her bubble.
“Nothing happened. He brought me snacks. We watched a few movies and talked until we fell asleep on the couch.”
“Look at y’all being cute and shit. See, I knew it was more than you taking shooting lessons from him when he put his dick on you.”
“Nay, that man doesn’t want me. And he didn’t put his dick on me. He literally towers over my short ass.”
She waved me off. “Anyway! Go on and take your fast ass a shower so we can go get my baby.”
“Where are we going?”
“See, now you’re worried about too much. Shoo, shoo!”
I couldn’t even be annoyed. Renay had always been the ultimate big sister. I never had to worry about anyone fucking with me, because it was known that I was her little sister. She took me everywhere with her. When she got her first job in high school, she was always taking me out to eat or buying me something. She’d never treated me like a bother or a burden.
In my room, I stripped down and hopped in the shower. Twenty minutes later, I was out and moisturizing my skin. When I was done, I dressed in a tank top, my favorite pair of floral palazzo pants, and a pair of sandals. I styled my locs into a pineapple and added simple gold jewelry. After tossing my essentials into my crossbody, I went back out front to my sister.
“You look so cute!” she said, coming to rub my belly.
Even at almost seven months, I wasn’t huge. You really had to look at me to see I was pregnant in most of my clothes.
“Hi auntie’s baby!”
Renay kissed my belly and rested her head against it. I smiled. She did the same thing when I was pregnant with Korri. I loved how close they were, and I knew it would be the same with Juri.
“Auntie’s baby ruined my snacks last night.”
Renay shook her head. “You were probably eating some nasty shit, and she didn’t want that. Stop playing with my girl. Come on here. We have to pick my baby up. Auntie got a nice bonus at work, and I want to spend it on my favorite girls.”
“Nay, you don’t have to spend your hard earned?—”
“You trying to tell me how to spend my money?”
I raised my hands in mock surrender because I didn’t feel like going back and forth with this girl.
“Lead the way, big spender,” I said, motioning toward the door.
“I’m glad you see it my way.”
She flipped her hair in my face and walked to the front door. I shook my head. What was I going to do with her?
Monday morning rolled around a little too quickly for me.
I’d spent the weekend with my baby, and while I loved knowing she was safe with my parents, I felt like a bad mother with a custody agreement. I knew she could come with me any time, but I just couldn’t have her in the house when I didn’t know if or when Patrick would show up or have someone show up on his behalf. Until I could ensure he would leave me alone for good, she was safer with my parents.
I pulled into the parking lot of Pure Glow Beauty Bar and shut off my car. I noticed my receptionist was already here, which was weird because she never got here before me. After grabbing my things, I headed in through the back. Once I’d dropped my things off in my office, I made my rounds, opening the shades and checking each suite to ensure everything was in order.
Just as I prepared to go down to the basement where the laundry was, the door opened, and my receptionist walked out. She jumped when she saw me.
“Jesus, Romi! You scared me!”
“Sorry. What are you doing here so early?”
“Oh… I thought I’d come help out. I know you like to make sure everything is in order before we open, and that belly is getting bigger. I turned the dryer back on. A few towels were still damp.”
“Okay. Well, thank you. I still need to go down, though.”
She stepped in front of me.
“Boss lady, you really don’t need to be going up and down these stairs. You could fall. Tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it for you.”
I sighed. I hated that everybody here treated me like I was handicapped instead of pregnant.
“Wax beads and strips, nail files, and tweezers.”
“Gotcha.”
She headed back down to the basement while I headed back to the front. I made myself busy by stocking the coffee and snack bar. By the time I was done, the rest of my employees began rolling in. There was Rhonda, my hairstylist; China, my makeup artist; Gabbi, my nail tech; and Tommie, Lacy, and Prima, my estheticians. I dabbled in everything but the hair portion of the beauty bar. I’d always loved having my hands in different things because it meant I could always hustle if need be.
Laurel finally emerged and took a spot behind her desk. She was nose deep in her phone, fingers moving a mile a minute. The phone started ringing, and she was so engrossed with whoever she was talking to that she didn’t bother to answer. I watched for a minute before walking over and snatching up the phone, causing her to jump.
“Pure Glow Beauty Bar,” I answered.
It was a customer inquiring about a nail appointment. I shooed Laurel out of the way to check the system and ensure that Gabbi had availability before confirming a time with the customer. After thanking her, I hung up and rose to my full height.
“Is this going to be a problem today?” I asked, motioning to the phone.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “My boyfriend just really needed me to check on something for him.”
“Boyfriend or not, you’re on the clock, Laurel. I need you to be focused.”
“I understand. I’m focused, I promise. See, phone is up.”
She tucked the phone into the desk drawer and offered me a smile. I didn’t say anything as I headed back to my office. I liked Laurel, and she was usually a good receptionist. Lately, it seemed like she’d been distracted, and it was always by the damn phone. I hated to micromanage because my employees were grown, but she was making me consider implementing some new rules around here.
I’d been working for about an hour when there was a knock on my door. I looked at the clock because my first appointment wasn’t until ten.
“Come in,” I said softly.
The door opened, and Laurel walked in with a delivery bag.
“What’s this?” I asked as she placed it on my desk.
“I don’t know. I was just told it was for you.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded as she left the office. Moving my keyboard out of the way, I pulled the bag to me and broke the tamper proof seal. As I peered into the bag, a smile broke out on my face. I laughed as I pulled out a jar of pickles and another jar of marshmallow fluff. This was nobody but Devin. Pulling out my phone, I called him. He answered on the second ring.
“Wassup, love?” I could hear the amusement in his voice.
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
He laughed. “Whatchu’ mean?”
“Sending me my pregnancy snack. I thought it was nasty?”
“It’s nasty as fuck, but you like that shit.”
“Look at you being nice.”
“Ain’t I always nice to you?”
“You are, but it doesn’t come without you talking shit. I’m guessing that’s your love language.”
“If you ever really meet my family, you would understand.”
I giggled. “How did you know where to send this?”
“You mentioned owning a beauty bar, so I looked it up. It was literally the only place with beauty bar in the title.”
“Well, thank you. Me and Juri will enjoy our little snack.”
“You’re welcome. Listen, I gotta go. I have a client coming in, but I’ll check on you later.”
“Devin, you don’t have to do that?—”
“We’re friends, right?”
“Um…”
“Damn! Just hurt my feelings.
I laughed. “Don’t be dramatic. I just… I’m surprised you’d want to be friends. I mean, I’m a client.”
“You’re cool people. I like chilling with you… even if you eat nasty ass pregnant shit.”
“Whatever! I eat real food too. If you want to be friends, maybe we should do more than eat.”
“Hold on now. I like to eat too.”
I almost found myself asking “Eat what?” , but I held it in. This man didn’t need to see that side of me. It was bad enough that I was attracted to him. He just had this way of making me all hot and bothered without even doing too much. When he pulled me onto his lap the other morning, I could feel the stiffness of his dick pressed against my ass. I knew that man was out there fucking up some walls.
I didn’t want to end up dickmatized.
I’d already been hoodwinked and bamboozled once. The last thing I needed was for it to happen again. We could be friends, but I needed to remind myself that that was all we could ever be.