Chapter Nine- Dior
I had never been this geeked before. Buddha held on to my hand tight as hell; it was almost as if he was scared I would run off and act a fool in this car dealership.
“What about this?” Buddha asked, pointing at the Navy blue Lexus. I stared long and hard at it, then shook my head.
“Nah, I don’t feel like this is the one,” I told him. Releasing a frustrated air, Buddha looked at me as though he regretted my very existence. This was the fourth car he’d shown me since we got here, and it still didn’t feel right.
“You’re stressing me the fuck out,” Buddha grumbled, letting my hand go.
I smiled at him because the realization that I loved him was wild.
Hearing Buddha say those words yesterday at the hotel after we had sex was so trippy.
For the remainder of the day, I smiled so hard.
Shit, as a matter of fact, I wanted to live in his skin all day.
He couldn’t do shit without me being right on his ass.
Every time Buddha turned around, I was right there.
He even stepped on my foot a couple of times, until he told me I was worse than a fucking tick.
“Maybe I can show your wife a new series we received only two days ago,” the salesman, Michael, interjected. He had been assisting us and was probably tired of me, just as Buddha was.
“Sure, what is it?” I asked, turning to him, praying that he would show me something I would finally like.
“It’s just over this way,” he said, picking up the pace as he led us to the vehicle he was referring to.
“This is the 2024 Porsche Macan. It’s a cross between an SUV and a sports model.
This is the only one we got in this burnt orange color.
Inside is extremely roomy, and it also comes with a sunroof feature.
This particular Porsche is very popular among females.
” Michael opened the driver’s door so I could have a look inside.
I released Buddha’s hand as I smiled. This is it, this is the one. I paid close attention to Michael as he showed and explained all the features of this SUV. When he was done, I turned to Buddha with a broad smile on my face.
“You like this one?” He asked me.
I nodded enthusiastically as I clasped my hands, waiting to hear whether he’d get it for me.
“How much is this?”
“This model is $97,500,” Michael answered. Now, we were both waiting for the verdict from Buddha. I held my breath as I looked at him.
“You sure this is the one? Dior, you get on my nerves real bad. Next week, don’t say to me that you made the wrong choice getting this.”
“I promise I won’t,” I said, with a hand against my chest.
“We’ll take this one,” Buddha said to Michael. I squealed in excitement and leaped into his arms, throwing my hands around his neck.
“You’re lucky I love you,” he said in my ear before he kissed my neck. I blushed like crazy when he said that. I don’t think I’d ever get tired of hearing him say that he loved me.
While Michael prepared all the paperwork needed, Buddha and I stood out front. I wanted to talk to him about two things, and I believed this was the time because he seemed to be in a good mood.
“Hey,” I said, reaching for his hand and interlocking our fingers. He turned to me, waiting to hear what I was about to say.
“What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk to you about something. You have to promise to keep an open mind, ok?” Buddha’s expression changed, and he got a look as if he was having a heart attack.
“Jesus, what did you do, Dior?” He asked, pinching between his eyes. I was low-key offended by his response.
“Wow, that face is really unnecessary,” I let go of his hand and folded my arms.
“I’m listening.”
“It’s about my sister, Chanel.” Buddha frowned at me, obviously curious about where this conversation was leading.
“I didn’t mention to you, but I went to my old home yesterday.
Apparently, Lewis has been doing a piss, poor job of looking after Chanel.
She’s staying with his sister, and he hasn’t been providing for her properly.
My aunt called and complained to me. Anyway, I was kinda wondering…
” I allowed my voice to trail off, wondering if Buddha would be cool with what I was about to ask.
“You were wondering?” He asked, twirling his index finger for emphasis.
“Maybe Chanel can come live with us? I mean, that’s if she wants to. I know she seems to like being with Aunty Debbie. I promise that if she does come, she won’t be any trouble. I’ll take good care of her and make certain she doesn’t bother you. I’ll al—”
“Stop, stop, what are you doing?” Buddha said, holding his hand up to my face.
“Why are you going on and on explaining shit to me? All you had to say was you want your sister with you, and that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s cool, we’ll figure it out if she wants to come live with us.”
Buddha held my face as he reassured me that I had nothing to worry about. I felt immense relief, like a weight had been lifted off me.
“Thank you; it’s just Lewis has turned into this man that I no longer know. I can’t believe he’s the same person. I even told him he had a month to pack his shit and leave my mother’s home. He moved a woman into my mother’s home. They’re over there playing house, and he forgot all about Chanel.”
“Your stepfather is just showing you who he’s always been, which is a spineless, selfish coward.
It was very obvious from what he did to you that he only cared about himself.
Don’t worry about that stronzo (asshole).
If he gives you any trouble moving out of the house, just let me know.
” I smiled when he bent and kissed the middle of my forehead.
I just knew he’d have my back; Buddha was definitely my happy place where I felt safe.
“Now, is that it?” He asked, pulling away from me. I made a face at his question. “Jesus, what now, Dior?” He grabbed his forehead, something I realized he did a lot when talking to me.
“Well, I know I’m no longer on social media, and I’m certain I won’t be allowed to do my modeling jobs.”
“That would be very fucking accurate,” Buddha said, nodding his head.
“Anyway, I explained that I don’t believe being pretty is enough.
So, I was wondering since you said running the pizzeria was your least favorite thing that maybe I can do it.
” I watched carefully as Buddha’s face sort of dropped at my request. This time, instead of grabbing his forehead, he grabbed the back of his neck. What is it with this man?
“We’ll talk more about it. I could use the help running that restaurant,” he said, with a tight smile, almost as if it were forced. I thought his reaction was a little strange, but I let it go.
“Mr. that rule still stands.” He warned me. I smiled and placed my hand up to my head.
“Aye, aye, captain,” I said, in a mocking tone which only made him look at me as though I truly got on his nerves.
“Come here,” he said, sticking his head inside the open window. I smiled and willingly leaned into him so our lips could touch. I closed my eyes as we tenderly kissed. Buddha’s tongue grazed my lips as he outlined them with the tip of his tongue.
“I love you,” he told me as he broke our kiss.
“Be safe.” He didn’t even wait for me to say I love you back to him.
He just turned and walked over to his Bugatti.
I started my engine and smiled, still not believing I was driving a Porsche.
I waited for Buddha before I drove off, and he followed behind me.
We both drove out of the dealership, and Buddha stopped beside my vehicle. I turned to him and smiled with a wave of my hand. He honked his horn once before he drove in the opposite direction.
I took the route to Mia’s house; my thoughts were all over the place.
I can’t even lie, I was so fucking happy Enzo wasn’t Buddha’s and Catalina was back in Italy and away from our lives.
I also took a mental note not to be too eager to trust Victoria in the future.
That woman was something else; she was very cunning and manipulative.
I had to remember never to let my guard down around her.
I smiled, remembering Buddha saying I love you, and I couldn’t believe that the man whom I once feared was now my husband. Hearing the words, I love you from his mouth was trippy. Life sure was something else, that’s for certain.
With a smile still on my lips, I dialed Buddha’s number.
“Dior,” his sexy ass voice answered on the first ring.
“You know, when you tell somebody you love them, you’re supposed to allow them to say it back to you. Not just walk away before they can return the gesture,” I told him as I signaled to turn onto the street where Mia lived.
“Oh, is that how that goes? I’ve never been in this situation before where I say shit like 'I love you,’” I frowned a little, hearing Buddha say that, and felt it was kind of sad.
“Well, let me teach you, I love you too,” I said, cheesing like an idiot.
“Ok, baby, be good, and I’ll see you when I get home,” Buddha said before ending the call.
“Aaahhhhh!” I screamed while blushing like crazy. My dumb ass done fell in love with the man I was forced to marry.
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