Chapter 5
A Few Days Later
“Is any of that water actually getting in your mouth?” I asked Him with a laugh.
He’d just finished his morning workout and was drinking from a bottle of water, but it looked like more of the water was going down his chin and neck than into his mouth.
It was so animalistic it turned me on, and the last thing I needed to be right now was aroused at the sight of my best friend.
I’d called to share some good news with him, not think about how my pussy juices would look on his chin.
Hell, I’d never had thoughts like that in my life before.
I didn’t know what the hell was going on with me.
It seemed like ever since I’d lost Aunt Brenda, I clung to Him more,…
and not like we were friends. Like I wanted us to be… more.
Draco wiped his face as he laughed. “Leave me alone, boo. I’m thirsty as fuck.”
“I mean… you just ran ten miles, so I’m sure you are. I’m just trying to figure out where the water is going, because it’s not going in your mouth.”
He laughed again, and since he hardly ever did it, the sound was a sweet symphony, and the sight of his smile was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“What chu want, Cordova? I’m kind of mad at you because you made me run alone this morning.”
“Well, it was for a good reason!” I promised, wiggling in my seat from excitement.
“I didn’t want to say anything about it until I was sure, but I have a meeting with Sugar Baby.
She and her family are moving into a second home, and she wants me to decorate it.
Her following is huge, pooh. If I get this job, I know it’ll come with more clients. ”
Confusion covered his face. “What do you mean if? Of course you will.”
While I appreciated his belief in me, I also had to be realistic.
My mood and inspiration boards were fire, but I didn’t have that much experience.
Over the years, I did interior design for a few friends and people that saw my work on social media, but never consistently.
Since Auntie transitioned, I’d been using my grief as inspiration and posting more of my work.
Sugar Baby saw a few boards online and reached out to meet with me this morning.
I didn’t want to say anything to Him or Lily about it just yet, but I couldn’t contain my excitement anymore. I had to tell Him something.
“I hope so! It’ll be the first home I’ve done of this size. She said she and Cash have a ten thousand square feet home, and she’ll want every room designed and decorated by me. Do you know how big this is? I’m so excited, but I’m also trying not to get too excited until we meet.”
His head shook and mouth twisted to the side. “Nah. Be excited now. Claim that shit. It’s already yours. Congratulations in advance. We’ll have to celebrate, boo. What you wanna do?”
“Hmm… You know I’m simple. All I need is you and some good food. Oh! Maybe we can go to Rose Valley Hills before it gets too cold. I’d love to spend a little time on the beach.”
“Bet, say less. I’ll plan some shit. Call me after your meeting and let me know how it goes.”
“I will.”
“Who do you love?”
A smile instantly lifted the corners of my mouth as he started the routine we’d been doing for years. “You.”
“Who loves you?”
“You.”
“That heart my heart?”
“Forever and always. I love you, Him.”
“I love you too, Dova.”
We ended the call, and I finished getting ready with the biggest smile on my face.
This opportunity meant a lot to me. It would give me something to focus on beyond my grief.
By the time I finished getting dressed, I made my way outside, ready to conquer my day.
The alert that all four of my tires were low confused me.
I got out and looked at them, and sure enough, they were flat. Worse, they’d been slashed.
With a groan, I paced around my car. I was pretty sure one of my cousins had done this before they left yesterday because I told them I wanted to keep the house.
I couldn’t even worry about that right now.
There was no way I could be late for this meeting with Sugar Baby.
She didn’t live in Memphis permanently, so the fact that she’d come here to meet me said a lot.
I figured she’d just want to meet virtually while she was in Rose Valley Hills, but she wanted us to talk in person.
I called Him back just to let him know I’d be Ubering because he was so protective that he’d want to stalk my location.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, instead of saying hello.
“All of my tires are slashed. Can’t focus on that right now. Just wanted to let you know I’m going to Uber.”
“The fuck? Nah. I’ll take you. I was at the park up the street. Give me like two minutes and I’ll be there.”
“Otay, pooh. See you soon.”
He chuckled and disconnected the call. I’d been saying that shit all my life.
Uncle Joe used to say I watched The Little Rascals too much.
The thought made me smile during what would have otherwise broken me.
Usually, I was emotionally intelligent and available.
Even when I was sad or mad, I was able to navigate those feelings, find the source, and release them.
Grief was different. No amount of logic made it easy to get through.
I was trying not to let something so easy and quick to fix make me cry, but my emotions had been like a ticking time bomb since Aunt Brenda left me, so that was easier said than done.
In about two minutes, Draco was pulling up.
He was in his Escalade today, and I could only unravel into a fit of giggles when he waited at the passenger door to pick me up and put me inside.
He acted like I was so short, and I guess to his big ass, I was.
We made small talk as he drove. Though I insisted he didn’t have to wait for me, he assured me he didn’t mind.
I wouldn’t lie and say knowing he was outside didn’t keep me calm during the tour and while I was talking to Sugar Baby.
We didn’t talk long, because her baby started crying and demanding her attention, but by the time our conversation was over, she told me I had the job.
I was so excited I could cry. I whined and held back my tears as Draco reversed out of the circular driveway.
It finally felt like something good had happened.
Like God had smiled down on me. When we pulled back up to my home, I noticed my car was gone.
Draco quickly told me he’d gotten it towed to have the tires replaced, and I shouldn’t have been surprised.
I thanked him before getting out so he could go on with his day as he’d planned, but we did agree to seeing each other to celebrate later tonight.