Fifteen
Ace
Our conversation with Stephen and Sierra went better than I expected.
Probably because I gave them an expensive-ass apology gift.
After leaving their suite, Kema and I walked along the beach.
It was our last night in Cancún. I came here as Kema's fake boyfriend and was leaving not wanting anything about us to be fake.
Kema had been quiet for most of the walk.
And I knew it was because she had questions she needed answered. “I can hear you thinking.”
She looked at me. “How can you hear somebody thinking?”
“I just—”
“Kema, you don’t have to worry about what happens when we get home. I want you. I ain’t coming up off you.”
She stopped. “How you know what I was about to say?”
“Because I know you.”
“You do not know me that well.”
“I know you been thinking about this shit all day.”
She rolled her eyes and started walking again. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back. “Talk to me.”
“What if this only feels right because we’re here? We’ve been on vacation, having sex and pretending to be together. Real life isn’t like this.”
“I know.”
“What if we get home and everything changes?”
“It will.” Her face fell. “Not like that.” I laughed. “Shit changing because I’m not going home pretending this ain’t happen.”
She stared at me. “I don’t want to go back to seeing you every now and then. I don’t want to be the nigga you call when you need some dick, and I damn sure don’t want to see you with nobody else.”
“So what do you want?”
“YOU.”
“It can’t be that simple.”
“It is for me.”
She looked toward the water. “I brought you here to make Markel jealous.”
“I know that. And I also don’t care.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You know everything, huh?”
“When it comes to you? Most shit.”
She rolled her eyes. “I meant what I said at the rehearsal dinner. Timing was fucked up before. It ain’t now.”
“What about Markel?”
“What about him?”
“He was your best friend.”
“WAS.”
“Ace.”
“Kema, me and Kel ain’t stop being friends because of you. I got tired of watching him hurt you while expecting everybody else to stay loyal to him.”
She got quiet. “I don’t regret choosing you either. Even after that nigga hit me in my mouth.”
She touched my lip. “He did get you good.”
“Watch yourself.”
“I’m just saying.”
“And I still beat his ass.”
“Barely.”
I stared at her. She laughed and tried to walk away, but I caught her around the waist. “You talk too much shit.”
“You love it.”
That shut me up. Because I did. Her smile slowly disappeared. “I’m scared, Ace.”
“I'm scared too.”
“I don’t want to look stupid again.”
“You won’t.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“Nah. But I can promise I’m not Kel. I’m not finna cheat on you or have you questioning where you stand with me. Let me earn the rest.”
She stared at me for a few seconds. “So you really want this?”
“I been wanting this.”
“No more fake relationship?”
“Hell nah.”
“What about the rules?”
“We broke them shits the first night.”
“That was your fault.”
She smiled. I pulled her closer. “And since we being honest, I’m falling in love with you.”
Kema froze. “Damn. Finally got you quiet.”
“Oh my God shut up.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.” She looked down before meeting my eyes again. “I think I’m falling in love with you too.”
“You think?”
“Don’t push it.”
I laughed. “I’ll take it.”
She kissed me. When she pulled away, I grabbed her hand and we started walking back toward the resort. I pulled her into me and kissed her forehead. I came to Cancún as her fake plus one. I was going home as her man.