Chapter 12
Twelve
Navy Achebe
"Girl, I think there was something wrong with that sushi," Chosyn grumbled, falling onto the couch in my office.
"Nothing was wrong with it. You were being greedy, ordering with your eyes and stuffing your stomach like you didn't know you had to help me with dinner," I told her, rolling my eyes and placing my phone on my desk.
"First of all, I didn't know. You said you had to be back for dinner. You didn't say anything about me helping."
"It was implied." I shrugged.
"It really wasn't, but I'm not gon' hold you.
I'm so happy I had a girl." Chosyn sat up a little, rubbing her stomach soothingly.
"Seeing how all those boys act at different ages is an eye-opener.
If I ever have another child, let it be a girl because a boy with Wolfe genetics is going to eat me out of house and home. "
"That's the life of a boy," I replied, frowning. "Wait, what does Wolfe's genetics gotta do with anything?"
"A lot." Chosyn waved her hand like I was slow and missing the point.
"The last thing I need is Wolfe's mini him eating up all the food in my house and driving somebody's daughter insane.
Do you understand the amount of stress I'ma be under being the grandma on the daddy's side?
" Chosyn huffed like she was an actually pregnant with a boy.
"Chosyn, please with the dramatics."
"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "Don't say I didn't warn you when I'm dragging you out of the house to kidnap Cho-Cho's baby because the momma wanna act dumb."
I paused, shuffling through the few pieces of mail my assistant had left on my desk, and looked at Chosyn.
"What?" she frowned.
"Who the hell is Cho-Cho?"
"Me." She grinned proudly. "I don't wanna be glam-ma or any of that other corny shit these grandmothers name themselves. Cho-Cho is cute because it sounds dependable but also fun. I need my grandbaby to understand Cho-Cho is a good time, but Cho-Cho's baby will not be getting over on Cho-Cho."
"Chosyn, please!" I laughed so hard that tears came to my eyes. "I'm going to check in with Tamera to make sure I didn't miss any messages. When I'm done, we can leave, and you can finish telling me about your dreams of becoming a Cho-Cho."
"If you wanna be my biggest hater, just say that!" Chosyn called after me as I left my office.
I walked down the hallway feeling better than I did when I left to go out with her.
I didn't fill her in on Mekhi's surprise, but we talked about my awkward start to the day with Honor.
She said her peace about me not telling Honor about Solace and promised she wouldn't mention it either, and I appreciated that.
Sometimes it felt like Chosyn was team Honor because she married Wolfe.
I knew she would never do anything to hurt me, but she had a way of giving an opinion that always cut a little too deep.
Today, she didn't make me feel like there was a right or wrong in the matter.
She just let me vent, and honestly, that was exactly what I needed.
"Hey, Tamera," I greeted, reaching the front desk. "I'm heading out soon and wanted to make sure I didn't miss any messages while I was at lunch."
"There were no messages, but these are for you."
Tamera reached behind her and lifted a stunning bouquet filled with navy calla lilies so dark they almost looked black until the light caught them.
Tucked in between were creamy white blooms, bright enough to make the navy stand out even more.
The arrangement wasn't over-the-top, didn't scream grand gesture, but it wasn't so subtle that the gesture wasn't felt either.
"These are beautiful," I cooed, taking them out of her hands. The stems were wrapped in white paper and tied off with a satin ribbon bearing my name in gold script. "And they smell so good."
"I said the same thing when the delivery guy dropped them off. I meant to text you because Honor did his big one with this bouquet. The roses he normally sends are cute, but these?" she nodded toward them. "These are a flex."
"Why are these a flex?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Oh, did I overstep? I'm sorry, I just—"
"No, you didn't. I honestly want to know," I told her.
"The roses are always beautiful, don't get me wrong, and most women would love getting them delivered weekly, but… in my opinion, they feel a little…" she hesitated. "Are you sure you're okay with this? My thoughts are just that, my thoughts. They mean nothing."
"It's fine, Tamera. Go ahead."
"They feel a little impersonal to me. It's the same bouquet every time, and I don't know… it gives subscription. These aren't just flowers. They're a message, like Honor saw them and thought about you."
Tamera leaned in as if she were about to spill the hottest tea. "Do you know how rare navy calla lilies are?"
"I don't."
"Shit me either, but I looked it up, and according to Google, they're specially planted or dyed. These don't look dyed tho. They smell fresh," she smiled. "Something about them just brings solace to my soul."
"Solace," I mumbled, then quickly started looking for a card. After a little searching, I found it tucked off to the side.
"Did you say something?" Tamera asked.
"Uh, no." I forced a smile. "Thank you for your thoughts, and you're right. These do feel intentional." I smiled.
"See, I be knowing." She giggled.
I walked away, power walking back to my office.
"Oh, good, you're back," Chosyn declared the moment I stepped inside.
"I was thinking maybe being the Cho-Cho on the daddy's side won't be too bad since the grandma on the mom's side always has the baby anyway.
If I get stuck babysitting all the time, when am I gonna get it rocking with Wolfe? 'Cause old or not, I still wanna—"
"Chosyn, shut up about a fake grandbaby from a fake son and look," I huffed, frustrated.
"Look at what?" she glanced at the bouquet. "Your flowers? Honor always gets you flowers. What's new?"
"These aren't from Honor, that's what's new bitch," I grunted, flopping into my chair behind my desk.
"Wait, what?" Chosyn gasped, rushing over. "Who the hell is sending you flowers?"
"Solace," I mumbled.
"Run that back. I don't think I heard you."
"You heard me bitch, and I said Solace." I sighed and tossed her the card. "Solace sent them."
You came across my mind on more than one occasion today.
Don't really know what it means, but I know you deserve more than a nigga thinkin' 'bout you.
You deserve action behind those thoughts.
This is mine. Enjoy the flowers & know yours is still the prettiest I've ever seen.
Hit me if you wanna chop it up. No pressure, love.
929-237-3954
Solace
"You must taste like sugar dipped in gold if he's doing all this and all he did was nibble on that coochie."
"Can you please not joke! This is serious," I huffed.
"I wasn't joking. I meant exactly what I said," she replied, tossing the card on my desk and picking up the flowers to smell them. "Are you gonna call him?"
"For what?" I frowned.
"I don't know, maybe to say you have a man who'll track his ass down and tear his limbs from his body."
"He already knows about Honor. I told him I had a boyfriend."
"Before or after he was wearing your pussy juices as Chapstick?" she asked, pursing her lips.
"That doesn't matter."
"It does because if you told him before and he still took you in that bathroom, then that says something, Navy."
"What does it say?"
"Are you serious?" Chosyn's brows pinched. "It means he doesn't give a fuck about you having a boyfriend."
"Solace isn't like that," I defended.
"How would you know when you don't even know him?"
"Fine, I'll call."
"Do it from your office phone in case Honor gets the urge to check your cell."
"He wouldn't."
"I didn't think you would cheat on him, but you see how that went."
"Woooow," I dragged the word out, shocked she'd throw it in my face.
"I'm just saying we can't put anything past anyone." She shrugged. "Now call and put it on speaker so I can assess the situation."
"Fine," I muttered, snatching the receiver off the cradle. My fingers hovered over the buttons for a second while my heart thumped fast, over a nigga I barely knew.
Chosyn leaned against the edge of my desk. "Dial."
Sucking my teeth, I shot her a look. "If you say a word, I'm hanging up. I need you to let me handle this."
"Handle it then, big dawg." She grinned.
I forced out a breath and dialed the number. The phone rang twice, and by the third, I was already regretting making the call.
"Speak." His voice came through quiet and bass-heavy yet calm, like he wasn't the type to repeat himself.
My stomach dipped, and Chosyn eyed me, ready to say what I didn't. I cleared my throat, stopping her, then whispered, "Solace."
The phone went quiet. Then I heard him smiling through the phone and my name floating from his lips.
"Navy," he hummed the same way he hummed pretty against my clit. "I was wondering if you was gon' call."
Chosyn's eyes widened as she mouthed, " Oh, he likes you."
I waved her off then spoke. "Uh, yeah, I got your flowers."
"Cool. You like 'em?"
I glanced at the bouquet Chosyn was still holding and blushed.
"They're beautiful," I admitted, softer than I wanted it to sound. "You didn't have to send them."
"I know, but that's why I did. You didn't read my note? You deserve more than a nigga thinking about you, love"
“I’m on not your—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he cut in laughing. “Like I said you deserve more than a nigga thinking about you, love.”
"And how does sending me flowers help with that?" I sassed.
His voice dipped.