27. Reiana
Reiana
some time later…
Afew days later, I was back at work and finally caught up enough that I didn’t feel like I was chasing my own tail.
Tasha had handled most things while I was out, but there were still contracts I needed to look over, invoices that needed my approval and a few clients who insisted on speaking directly to me.
I spent most of the morning in my office taking care of everything I had pushed to the side.
Around lunchtime, Tasha came in and dropped a folder on my desk.
“That’s the last of the new client paperwork,” she said as she sat down across from me. “Once you sign those, I don’t need anything else from you today,” she concluded.
“That sounds too good to be true,” I responded as I looked through the folder.
“It probably is, but enjoy it until somebody calls with a problem,” she countered with a laugh.
I laughed and signed where she had flagged the pages. Having Tasha there made running RéIA a lot easier than it had been when I first started. She knew the clients, the crews and how I liked things done. Most days, she handled whatever came up before it ever reached my desk.
My phone buzzed while I was finishing the paperwork. Mona had texted the group chat asking what everybody was doing for lunch, and Taryn immediately responded that she was hungry.
I told them I was at work and wasn’t leaving yet.
Twenty minutes later, Taryn called to tell me they were downstairs.
I shook my head and went back to what I was doing until they walked into my office carrying food from Rhythm & Brunch.
“I told y’all I was working.”
“And you still gotta eat,” Mona said. “Problem solved.” She shrugged.
Taryn put the bags on the small table near the windows and started taking everything out. “You’re welcome.”
We ate in my office while Taryn told us about a date she had gone on a few nights earlier that had already convinced her she was done with the man.
Mona kept interrupting with questions that only made the story worse, and by the time Taryn got to the end of it, I was laughing so hard I had to put my drink down.
“I would’ve been gone,” I told her.
“Shit, take me with you,” she countered with a frown.
“It was really that bad?” Mona asked.
“Bitch, I could’ve had a Cut Water,” Taryn replied and we all cackled at her dumb ass.
For the rest of lunch, we talked about everything from Mona’s plans with Q that weekend to where we wanted to go the next time all three of us had a free Saturday. It felt good having a conversation that didn’t need to be serious or connected to anything that had happened over the last few weeks.
My phone started ringing while Taryn was trying to convince us to try a new spot she had seen online. Lennox’s name came across the screen, and I reached for it before either one of them could comment.
“Hey,” I answered.
“What you doing?” He asked.
“At work having lunch with Mona and Tay?” I informed him.
“Damn, I was tryna come see you for lunch but I guess that has to wait until later.” I heard the underlying message and received it loud and clear.
“I got Rhyse with me, though, so you don’t have to leave and get him,” I said and I was confused for a bit.
I know he was in Cannon Hills now he’s telling me he has our son.
I sat there for a second, still processing Lennox traveling two hours to get our son simply because he asked.
“What y’all doing now?” I asked.
“Nothing yet. I was thinking about taking you and Rhyse to dinner when you get off,” Lennox responded.
“No need to go out. I’ll cook tonight,” I suggested.
“You sure?” Lennox questioned.
“Yeah. Give me a couple hours to finish up here and stop by the store,” I assured him.
“Aight… we’ll meet you at the house,” I confirmed.
“Okay. I’ll see y’all later,” I said before hanging up.
After we hung up, I put my phone down and caught Taryn smiling at me from across the table.
“Whatever you’re thinking, keep it to yourself.” I rolled my eyes at her.
“I didn’t say anything,” she replied, still smiling as she reached for her drink.
Mona helped me clear the table while Taryn finished her drink.
I was still thinking about Lennox dropping whatever he had going on to go get Rhyse, but I kept it to myself.
More than anything, I was glad Rhyse knew he could call his father and Lennox would come. That was exactly what I wanted for him.
I finished what I needed to do before heading home. On the way, I stopped at the grocery store and grabbed what I needed for dinner. I decided on stuffed shells with Italian sausage and spinach, garlic bread and salad.
I had just put everything in the oven when Rhyse and Lennox came through the door. Rhyse came straight into the kitchen and hugged me before going to see what I was cooking. Lennox followed him carrying his backpack and a shopping bag. When he got close, he pulled me in for a kiss.
“Y’all went shopping without me?” I faked pouted.
“Ma, you always shopping,” Rhyse said as he took his shoes out the box to show me. “Look at these,” he beamed.
I smiled as I watched my son show me the things his father bought him. I assured Lennox he didn’t have to buy him things to make up for lost time but he insisted that wasn’t the reason, so I left it alone.
Lennox came farther into the kitchen while Rhyse headed upstairs with all the stuff Lennox got for him.
“How was work?” he asked, stopping beside me.
“Busy, but good.” I nodded.
“That’s wassup. You need me to do anything?” He offered.
I glanced around the kitchen before handing him the pan I was about to move. “Put that on the table, then grab the drinks.”
“Aight,” he agreed.
He took the pan from me and carried it to the table before grabbing the drinks.
By the time Rhyse came back downstairs, everything was ready.
Dinner started with Rhyse filling me in on his afternoon with Lennox.
He told me about the ride from camp, the conversations they had and, of course, the new shoes and clothes he was still excited about.
Rhyse talked through most of dinner, jumping from one thing to the next while Lennox ate and let him have the floor.
I didn’t need a full recap to know he had enjoyed himself.
It was written all over him. At one point, I caught Lennox watching him with a small smile before he looked back down at his plate.
I didn’t say anything, but I noticed it.
After dinner, Rhyse carried his plate into the kitchen before heading upstairs to shower. Lennox came in behind me with the rest of the dishes and started loading the dishwasher while I put the leftovers away.
While I packed the leftovers away, Lennox loaded the dishwasher beside me.
“Rhyse wear you out today?” I asked.
“Did he?” He laughed. “That little nigga’s battery never dies,” he stated.
“Sounds about right.” I laughed.
“I’on mind the shit, though.” Lennox smiled.
I put the last container in the refrigerator and looked over at him. I could tell he meant it. Having that time with Rhyse mattered to him, even if he didn’t always say much about it.
Once the kitchen was clean, we went into the living room.
Rhyse came back downstairs in his pajamas and picked a movie, then stretched out on the sectional with a blanket.
He made it almost to the end before falling asleep.
Lennox noticed before I did and stood without saying much, lifting him from the couch while I turned off the television and followed them upstairs.
Rhyse barely moved when Lennox laid him in bed. I pulled the covers over him while Lennox put his phone on the charger, and after I kissed his forehead, we left the room and headed to mine.
Once we made it to my room, I grabbed what I needed for the shower and went into the bathroom, but before I could close the door, Lennox came in behind me.
I looked at him through the mirror while I pulled my hair up. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“About to kill two birds with one stone.” He shrugged. “I need a shower, and I need that pussy… so come on,” he ordered as he slapped my butt in the process.
There wasn’t any need or reason or argue because I needed that dick too. Once the shower warmed up, I stepped inside and Lennox followed. As soon as my feet got wet, Lennox was backing me into the shower wall.
“Damn, I missed you,” he confessed through his kisses.
All I could do was moan into his mouth as a response because between the kiss and the way he was stroking me with his fingers, I was about to become undone.
I felt my orgasm start to crash through my body as Lennox quickened his pace, causing me to cum all over his fingers.
“Gah damn,” he groaned as he examined the mess he made. Before I could come down off of that high, Lennox was picking me up and slamming me down on his dick.
“Ooh… shit,” I hissed as he drilled me into the shower tiles.
“Fuck, baby. I feel how wet this pussy is through the water. Fuck,” he groaned as he bit the crook of my neck.
I didn’t know when the water went cold, but by the time Lennox had made me cum for the fourth time, and he finally finished, it was freezing.
Laughing, we hurried and cleaned up and got of the cold ass water.
We dried off and got into bed without bothering with getting dressed.
Once we were in bed, Lennox leaned over me and pushed inside of me at the same time causing my center to quake.
“I hope you ain’t think I was finished with you,” he said as he eased in out of me at a slow pace.
No words could form as he provided a pleasure that I prayed I never had to go without again. After making love to me, Lennox fucked me so good, I had to bite his shoulder to keep Rhyse from hearing me. Now we were laid up, basking in the afterglow.
“I want you and Rhyse in Cannon Hills with me,” Lennox said after a while.
I lifted my head from his chest and looked at him. He had brought it up before, but I still hadn’t given him an answer. “You’re really sure about that?” I asked.
“I’m positive. I want us in one house, Ree. I want to be closer to you, and I want both my kids close. I already missed seven years with Rhyse. I’on want to keep missing the everyday shit because we live two hours apart,” he responded.
I understood where he was coming from. Seeing him leave Cannon Hills just because Rhyse called and wanted his father had shown me how serious Lennox was about being there whenever our son needed him. Still, moving wasn’t something I could decide based on what felt good between us.
“My company is here,” I reminded him. “That’s the biggest thing for me. I can’t just move to Cannon Hills and leave RéIA behind.”
“I’m not asking you to leave it. Expand into Cannon Hills if that’s what you want or keep Arbor Point and commute a few days a week.
Tasha can handle more when you’re not there.
You built that shit, so I’m not expecting you to give it up for me.
I just want you and Rhyse home with me.” He paused before adding, “And I want to change Rhyse’s last name. ”
I stayed quiet for a second, taking in everything he had just put on the table. The move was something I still had to work through, but Rhyse having Lennox’s last name didn’t feel nearly as complicated… that was the easy part.
“We can do that. I’on have a problem with him having your last name,” I replied.
Lennox nodded, and I felt his arm tighten around me slightly before he kissed the top of my head.
“The move is different though,” I continued. “I need time to think about that. It changes a lot for me and Rhyse,” I stated.
“I understand.” Lennox shifted. “But I need you to understand where I’m coming from too.
I got my son now, and I want to be able to be his father every day.
Take him to school, pick him up, get on him when he needs it, and be there for whatever he has going on.
I want Lennyn to have her brother around when she’s with me, and I want you there too.
I’m not trying to take anything from the life you built.
I’m trying to be part of it,” he countered sincerely.
Changing Rhyse’s last name was the easy part.
Lennox was his father, and I didn’t have any reason to stand in the way of him carrying his name.
Moving back to Cannon Hills came with more to consider.
RéIA was in Arbor Point, Rhyse had school, and this was where I had built our life for the last seven years.
Lennox had given me options that could make the business work, but I still needed to figure out what moving would look like for everything else.
I understood why he wanted us there though. He had already missed enough with Rhyse, and now that he had the chance to be his father every day… he didn’t want to miss a beat. After watching the two of them together, I couldn’t blame him for that.
I wasn’t ready to tell him yes, but I wasn’t dismissing it either.