Chapter 17
This was the first time a woman had ever been interested in what Caden did—legally and illegally.
He’d taken Dru on a tour of one of his pharmacies and his warehouses.
She asked questions and bubbled over with excitement the whole time.
It was so cute he couldn’t help but laugh and be filled with pride.
As soon as they got into the car, she said, “This has been so fun and enlightening. You really are that nigga, K. I love what you do.”
“Thank you, beautiful. That means a lot to me.”
“I think it’s so cool that you offer a monthly subscription for prescriptions. And I love that you offer discounts for those whose insurance doesn’t cover their medicine. You’re really out here doing God’s work.”
His mind went back to the young lady who didn’t have insurance but had a medical emergency.
She couldn’t afford her pills, because a three-month supply was over two thousand dollars.
Usually, his pharmacy allowed customers to buy what they could until the total amount of pills were filled, but for her, he only charged her ten dollars for the entire prescription.
“Watching my grandparents struggle to be able to afford their medicine, knowing how much they needed it, did something to me growing up. They could barely afford their health insurance when my grandfather retired. He’d spent thirty years working for the same company, thinking he’d be able to retire and take care of them for the rest of his life, just for them to fire him a year before he was set to retire and receive full benefits.
That shit broke a part of him, and it stuck with me, clearly. ”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Are they still around?”
“They are, thankfully. And I take pride in being able to take care of them and my parents.” When she didn’t respond, Caden looked over and found her smiling and looking at him in awe. “What?”
“Nothing. Just . . . that made me like and respect you more.”
Caden took her hand into his and kissed it. “Do you have a specific taste for lunch? I got about two hours before I have to drop you off and handle some business.”
“Hmm, can we try that new sushi place in the entertainment district?”
“Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
When she smiled and danced in her seat, Caden laughed.
He loved seeing the soft, happy, relaxed version of her.
They’d been living together for a week, and so far, they hadn’t had any issues.
Caden didn’t want to jinx it and say he was sure she wouldn’t leave him in two months, but if things continued to progress the way they were, he was confident she’d stay.
“Oh!” Dru said, pulling him from his thoughts. “Did I tell you Dreya said she was going to homecoming next month?”
“Nah. Last time you mentioned it, you said she didn’t want to go.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what kind of magic Granny is working on her, but she’s happier now. And maybe it’s just because she’s safe and away from Tina.”
“Could be both. You see how happy you are now that you’re away from her.”
“True,” Dru mumbled with a sigh as she looked out of the window. “Sometimes I wonder why we were born into the family we were, to the mother we have, but it doesn’t really matter. All that matters now is she’s safe, and things are finally looking up for us.”
“We might not be able to choose the family we’re born into, but we’re able to choose whether we deal with them or not. What we’re willing to tolerate. I’m proud of you for finally getting out of that toxic situation.”
“With much thanks to you. There’s no doubt in my mind that God positioned you in my life to help me get out of that. And I don’t want you to think that’s why I’m with you. I’m not with you for your hand, Caden. I genuinely want your heart.”
“I know, sweetheart, but it was nice to hear you say it.”
Truth was, there had been a lot of women in his past who wanted Caden because of his status and money.
Eventually, he started using women solely for sex.
When that felt played out, he stopped dating altogether.
Things with Dru were progressing so naturally the drought felt like preparation for her, and Caden was optimistic about what fate had in store for them.