Chapter 13
MAKEUP GIFTS: LATER THAT EVENING
Pretti lay in bed, watching TV. She had finally calmed down and was feeling better.
The bleeding had stopped, and she was no longer sore after taking some Tylenol.
She waited for the sun to come up so she could get back to work.
She fell asleep at nine in the evening. However, she was awakened to the sound of Lunden creeping into her room an hour later.
She had given him a key because he always came over while she was sleeping.
“Baby love, wake up. I’m back,” he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck. She woke up and sat up in bed.
“Damn, nigga. What time is it?” She looked around her dark room.
“It’s just ten o’clock. Get up, I want to show you something.” He walked over to the lamp and turned it on. She put on her slippers and walked into the living room.
When she walked in, she smirked at the shopping bags on the couch. Bags from every brand she liked filled her sectional. He’d also got her three dozen white and pink roses and a beautiful diamond necklace.
“Wow, thank you. You really didn’t have to,” she said as she pulled out a pair of sparkly Louboutin heels from a Saks Fifth Avenue bag.
“Yeah, I did. I’m your man now, so I have to act like it.
I’m sorry I walked out on you this morning, but a nigga just got scared.
I made all these commitments to you, and I thought I couldn’t deliver.
But I’ve been thinking, and this is what I want.
I want to be committed to you. I know I was in a relationship for five years, but never like this.
I take you on dates, cash you out, and now I’ve taken your virginity.
So, I know I have to step it all the way up. ”
“Lunden, you are my first everything, and sometimes you make me feel like I’ve made a mistake with you.
You know, I’m learning about being a girlfriend and being in a relationship.
When I think I’m being a good girlfriend, you always seem to knock me down.
Then you try to make things up with me because you know you were wrong.
You have to promise me you won’t walk out on me again and will stop talking to me like I’m one of your little hoes you play with in the streets.
We’re supposed to be building together, and I be feeling like I’m in this relationship alone.
I can do bad by myself. I’m with you because I want to, not because I have to. I don’t need you… I just want you.”
Lunden felt like an idiot as she spoke to him.
He knew she was right, and if he didn’t get his act together, she was independent enough now to leave him where he stood.
He also knew Storm had enough power to make Pretti call it quits with him as well.
He never thought twice about marrying a girl or even just having one woman, and he knew they were going down the marriage road.
Even when he was with his ex, he always had something on the side.
Now he had let all his side bitches go for the sake of Pretti.
“You’re not in this alone; you do have me. And I’m going to prove it to you from here on out. Do you accept my apology and gifts?” He gazed into her eyes.
Pretti stood in front of him, thinking about the what-ifs, but she decided to move forward with him.
“Yes, I accept your apology, but don’t let me down.”
“I promise I won’t.”
From that day, Lunden kept his head on straight.
He had his moments of jealousy when he saw Pretti with her clients at work, but he never stepped out on her or tried to control her.
He let her live and do her job while he did his in the streets.
However, three years into their relationship, Pretti and Lunden got the call.
Dexten was coming home...