24. Mercy
MERCY
“You sure she’s okay?” I asked Cross as I walked through my hotel room.
I’d been going nonstop since the plane landed this morning, but I had to check in with my family.
My mind was going a mile a minute, and even though I needed to crash and would soon, I wouldn’t rest peacefully if I didn’t know how Corinthians was doing.
I knew holding on to her secret all these years was taking a toll on her, and I wanted her to know we all had her back.
“She seems to be,” Cross answered. She was at home, in her kitchen, doing her wife and mommy duties with ease.
I sat down on the couch and wiped my hands over my face.
I had a million and one questions, but I didn’t know where to start.
“I went by there this morning on my way to the store, and Four answered the door.”
“What did he have to say?”
“Nothing,” she giggled. “Krude pulled up and immediately called him King Beat Box, so he slammed the door in our face.”
“Legit, he’s a bully,” I laughed and shook my head. “Only Krude would think it's okay to make fun of someone's speech impediment.”
“What does it make us since we laugh?” she lifted her brow, and I could only smile. “Exactly.”
“I don’t laugh,” I denied and shook my head.
“Now who’s lying?”
“I don’t,” I laughed. “I giggle. There is a difference.”
“You’re a liar, and the truth’s not in you,” Cross replied as she seasoned her food. “But anyway, I plan to go by there again later when Love is napping. I want to sit with her. No questions, no words because I know what it's like to hold onto something like that and think no one will understand.”
“Truthfully, I still don’t understand,” I said with a shrug. “I mean, how did she think this was her fault? She was a child.”
“Because guilt is a fucked up thing,” Cross answered.
I knew that Cross understood Corinthians better than we all did.
She blamed herself for years over her parents’ addiction and death.
It wasn’t until recently that we knew the truth, and yeah, we were mad at her, but not for the reasons she thought.
“Well, when you see her, give her a hug for me,” I said, and she nodded.
Someone knocked on my door, and I stood; I hadn’t ordered food yet, but one of the perks about staying at The Stone Hotel was knowing the owners. Pyrite’s older brother, Citrine, was the owner and looked out for me every time I visited.
“I’ll have to get in the house to do that,” Cross replied.
“Just don’t show up at the same time as Krude next time,” I said as I walked to the door. I peered through the peephole to see Givens standing on the other side with his hands in his pockets and a mug on his face. I pulled open the door and looked around. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?” he questioned as he looked around the hallway. He hiked his shorts up and turned to face me. “Huh, what do you mean?”
“You’re here,” I replied and his body visibly relaxed. “What’s wrong?”
“DeCorte, ain’t shit wrong,” he answered with a shake of his head. “I came to see you. I missed you.”
“It hasn’t even been twelve hours,” Cross's voice echoed through the speaker. “Mecca! The light skin thug is showing up out of town! It’s a wrap!”
“Shut up, Cross,” I laughed as I looked at the phone. “I’ll call you later.”
“No, you won't,” she said, shaking her head. “But that’s okay. I’ll check back with you after I talk to Corinthians.”
“Later,” I nodded. “Love you.”
“Love you more.” She said, then hung up.
I stuffed my phone into my pocket and saw Givens stepping into my personal space. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.
“DeCorte,” he said my name as he buried his face into my neck. “We have three minutes until that menace of a daughter of mine steps off the elevator and ruins the moment.”
“What can we do in three minutes?” I laughed as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “That is too short of a countdown for each of us.”
“Just kiss me then, DeCorte.” He lifted his face from my neck and smashed his mouth into mine.
His kiss was everything I didn’t know I needed.
It was breathtaking and invigorating at the same time.
I opened my mouth, and he pushed his tongue into mine.
The sounds of my whimpers and moans echoed through the private hallway.
This man made me feel things I’d never imagined, and I wasn’t mad about it.
Givens lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.
“Oh, y’all nasty,” Faylin said. We pulled apart, and I turned to see her standing beside us with her arms crossed over her chest and smiling. “I’ma tell Madea y’all being fresh.”
“You have been hanging out with Krude too long,” I laughed and shook my head. “And why didn’t we hear the elevator?”
“Because you were too busy sucking each other's faces off,” Faylin shrugged, and all I could do was bury my face into her daddy’s chest.
“Man, Faylin, go inside,” Givens laughed. The sound of the door opening and closing hit my ears, and I looked up to see Givens smiling down at me. “You embarrassed?”
“No,” I answered truthfully. “She knows what’s going on between us.”
“Good.” He kissed me quickly and then pulled back. “Cuz if you were, then we’d have some problems.”
He lowered me to my feet and then fixed my shirt. “Why?” I asked.
“Cuz how you gonna be embarrassed when a nigga falling in love with you?” he replied, then kissed me again.
I couldn’t be because I was doing the same damn thing.
“Are you sure she’s okay at the hotel by herself?” I asked Givens as I looked over my menu.
“She’s good,” he replied with a nod, but I wasn’t convinced.
After surprising me earlier, Givens explained they would spend the weekend with me while I worked.
I welcomed the company because even though this was a work trip, I still was bored when I had downtown.
My hotel room was a three-bedroom, two-bath suite, so I had more than enough room for Givens and Faylin.
I tapped against his menu to get his attention, and Givens smiled. “Are you sure?”
“You wanna call her to check in?” he offered, and I nodded; instead of giving me a hard time, he picked up his phone, swiped the screen, and handed it to me.
“Hey!” Faylin answered with a smile on her face. “What’s up?”
“You okay?” I questioned, and she nodded. “You sure?”
“I’m good, Coach,” she said. “Legacy came to check on me and ended up staying, so we are watching a movie.” She turned the camera around to show me Legacy sitting on the other side of the couch with a bowl of popcorn in her lap.
Legacy waved, and I relaxed in my seat because I knew she was being looked after.
“Do you know she’s never seen Poetic Justice?
” Faylin turned the camera around and shook her head. “How has she never seen the classic?”
“It’s a bunch of movies she hasn’t seen,” I laughed, and Faylin scoffed. “You gonna school her?”
“Absolutely,” Faylin answered with a nod. “Uncle Hood taught me, so I have to teach her.”
“Oh really?” I lifted my brow in question, and Faylin nodded again. “Well, I bet your Uncle Hood would be proud right now.”
“I’m going to call him,” she announced. “Y’all have fun! Love y’all!” She hung up, and I handed the phone back to Givens.
“You feel better now knowing she’s being looked after?” Givens asked, and I nodded. He leaned back in his chair and traced his glass with his index finger. “You know this isn’t her first time in a hotel, right?”
“It’s different,” I replied and shook my head.
“How?”
“I can’t explain it,” I answered with a shrug. “But I worry about her. Don’t get me wrong, I know she’s smart, and you’ve done a good job with her, but I remember being fourteen, which is scary. You never know who has your back or doesn’t. I never want Faylin to feel like that.”
Givens’ finger stopped, and he stared at me with a serious expression. ‘’Did something happen to you when you were younger?”
“No,” I answered, shaking my head. “But that doesn’t stop me from worrying.”
“That mama bear coming out in you,” he said with a small laugh. He licked his lips and looked me up and down. “You know that, right? The feelings you feel are your protective instincts.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Fuck nah,” he sat up and smirked. “If anything, that shit is a turn-on. You are looking out for mine like she came from you. Her own damn mama don’t give a fuck about her like that.”
“So, I’m not losing my mind?” I asked with a laugh.
Givens shook his head and chuckled. “Oh, you definitely are, but that shit is worth it, though. Faylin thinks the world of you, so like I said, you having her back, too, is a plus. I know it's gonna be shit I can't explain to her because she’s a girl, and I’m a nigga, so it's good to know you got her.” His expression turned serious again. “I appreciate that shit, DeCorte. No lie, no faking. I know you got all the girls’ backs, but I see how you are with Faylin. You don’t play about her, and yo people don’t, either.
I will forever be grateful for that. So, thank you; legit, thank you. ”
I sat forward, resting my elbows on the table, and leaned toward Givens. “You’re welcome.” I motioned him to come to me with my index finger and smiled when he leaned against the table, and our faces were close. “Legit, you’re welcome.” I took his face between my hands. “Now, kiss me.”
He moved closer, and our lips brushed against each other.
I smiled when his hand went around my neck, and he deepened the kiss.
I whimpered when he pushed his tongue into my mouth and took control.
The fact that he didn’t mind that I was being protective over Faylin made me happy.
He was right; I did look after all the girls, but Faylin was my girl.
We bonded, which had nothing to do with my relationship with her daddy.
She was a good kid who was talented and worked hard.
“You trying to eat, or you want to go?” Givens asked after he pulled back from our kiss. “Cuz we can roll, grab something quick, and kick it in the city.”
“I got dressed up, Givens,” I playfully scolded him and shook my head. “I hate dressing up, but I did it for you.”
“And baby, you look good as fuck, but I also know you hate this shit,” he said with a laugh as I wiped lipstick from his bottom lip. “If you want to get out of here and just chill, I’m down with that.”
“No,” I denied as I sat back. “We can do this because when we get back to the hotel, I plan on riding you until I can't think straight.”
“Oh yeah?” he lifted his brow in surprise, and I nodded. “DeCorte, you ain’t making no argument that will make me stay here.” He started to stand, but I grabbed his wrist and laughed. “Nah baby, we getting the fuck up outta here.”
“Sit down, Givens,” I replied. “We have all night for that.”
“And every minute gonna count,” he said, nodding.
“So, let's wrap this the fuck up.” He looked me up and down.
“I wanna see you in just those shoes anyway.” He sat in his seat and then picked up his phone.
“Call Legacy and tell her to take Faylin to her suite cuz her mama and daddy need to practice making her a sibling.”
“No,” I laughed and shook my head. “We are going to eat and enjoy each other's company, and then you’re going to take me on that dance floor and slow dance with me.” He opened his mouth to say something, and I held up my hand.
“Then, when we are full and tired, we go back to the hotel and get our second wind. Not a moment sooner than that.”
“You already texted Legacy, didn’t you?” he asked, mugging me.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. I picked up my glass of water and took a sip. “I texted her while we were on the way and told her. I didn’t expect her to check on Faylin, too.”
“She on her auntie shit,” Givens said, laughing. “My baby got a whole squad behind her now.”