Chapter 32
“I think you’re addicted to me,” Remedy buzzed against his lips. She inhaled the scent of her then kissed his lips to pull her flavor from them.
“Strawberry juice is my favorite. Better than water. If I don’t have it first thing in the morning, I turn into a muhfucka,” he spoke, laughing and kissing her neck.
“I know. I got to keep this supply up. Get all you can before I’m swollen and too big to move.”
“That won’t be an issue, baby. I’m built to carry you,” he assured. “Just watch how I handle you.”
“My eyes are wide open. I’m going to tell you now, I won’t be able to give you nothing six to eight weeks after having your big baby. So drink up.”
“I got all day to drink. Ernie wants to have breakfast with us. When I say us, I mean Cherie. He said she rubbed his back last night. That’s why I was in here cold without my thighs and titties?” Erys teased.
“Precisely. We had a little chat about baby names.”
“What’d he say? He wants to name my boy something like Lil’ Nigga Tyshawn or some bullshit like that?” Erys quizzed.
“Actually he’d like the baby to be named Heir so he inherits all the good he didn’t,” Remedy shared. “How do you feel about that?”
“I can dig it,” Erys agreed, kissing her stomach. “You need to eat. And then I want to go on a walk. Got you a sundress.”
“Because you want to see my ass in it?” Remedy teased.
“Nah, I want to see you in it, Mouth. All of you. I want to see you smile in it, giggle, talk your shit all of it. Can I do that?”
Remedy bit a smile. “You can do whatever you want.”
“Don’t tell me that, I’ll make you my wife today,” he stated, exposing his hand too early.
Remedy cocked a brow. “You’re playing. Come on, Ernie is waiting.”
Erys stood up and rubbed the top of his head, visibly nervous.
“Are you okay?” she asked brows fused.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Let’s eat,” Erys stammered over himself.
The last unlocked emotion that proved she had full control over him.
Nervousness. His control nowhere to be found.
He fumbled over himself like he was that thirteen year old boy about to get some for the first time.
His mother was too busy working to teach him about the ins and outs of a woman.
So everything he learned, he’d learned from the streets.
Remedy wasn’t some girl on the street he wanted to get his dick wet, Remedy was his life.
Without a doubt in his mind, he was going to create life with her and when the time came he was going to die in her arms surrounded by the evidence of their love and the legacy.
She was the remedy to his chaos and he needed her like the air he breathed.
Out on the deck, they ate, listening to Ernie talk about the potential women he could pick up on his walk on the beach later.
How he had a few politicians on the hook back in the day because he had them set up with his girls.
How he avoided big charges because he knew what kind of honey they liked.
Without question, Ernie had lived a wild life.
After breakfast, Erys stood on the deck next to his father and watched the waves crash on the shore.
“You love that girl, don’t you?” Ernie asked.
Erys took advantage of this clear moment. “I do. With every fiber of my being.”
“Then why the hell don’t you marry her? You ain’t no punk bitch, nigga.
Who cares if she just slapped your ass last night.
Lock her down before she runs off. I bought a ring for your momma the week before she ran off with you.
I still got that ring.” Ernie pulled the necklace out of his shirt, showing the diamond band.
Erys had seen it many times before but always figured it was a pinky ring to remind him of the good old days.
“Give her this one too. She’ll tell you yes because she loves you too.
It’s in the fieriness of her eyes. A woman named Remedy, coming into all our chaos and calming the storm.
That’s who you build a home with – a life with.
Do better than I did, son, for the sake of your children.
So they don’t grow up hating you. Hearing me? ”
“I’m hearing you.” Ernie nudged him in the direction of Remedy in the white sundress after placing the ring in his hand.
“Don’t come back here without that last name changed to Moore. Remedy Moore got a ring to it,” Ernie said with full pride in his voice. “No one else fit to rewrite our history but her. Walk, nigga.”
Erys chuckled and moved his lead-like feet over to the object of his obsession. “Mm mm mm. You look good, Mouth.”
“I know I do, Franklin. I would’ve been down sooner but I was feeding Bud,” Remedy shared, holding her hand out for him to take. “Why are you so nervous? I can feel you. It’s worse than my first night on the pole. Knees knocking, breath all shallow.”
She moved her fingers to his wrist. “Heart rate through the roof. What’s going on?”
“You really want me to blow my plan out the water don’t you?” Erys posed, regaining possession of her hand leading her down the beach.
“I saw the news,” Remedy spoke after five minutes of anxious silence. “Sylvia, Gina, Willis, and Dustyn all arrested for wire fraud, tax evasion, and trafficking of narcotics. Paul and his wife for obstruction of justice. How’d you swing that?”
“People find me to be persuasive, I guess,” Erys shared.
“So the house that sits across the lake, any plans for that?” Remedy asked. “If not, I have an idea.”
“Does it include knocking it down?” Erys asked.
“I was gonna burn it down but that works too. Wait…it’s gone? Is that why we’re here?”
“Yes and not really. I didn’t want you to see it fall, I just wanted to offer you a clear view of land that’s yours.
But I brought you here because I wanted to do this.
” He dug into his pocket and pulled out both rings.
“One’s from Ernie. It was supposed to be my mother’s.
I never loved someone in this sense before.
Raw and up close and personal like this.
I want to spend the rest of my life with you.
With however many kids you’re willing to give me and learning every version of you.
I’ve never needed anything like I’ve need you, Remedy.
You’re my remedy, you calm my chaos, you make me feel things that I’ve never felt before. ”
Erys got down on one knee and peered up at her tenderly. “Marry me.”
“I couldn’t imagine anyone else I’d rather do life with. A million times yes. One condition.”
“Anything.”
“There’s a chapel in town. Let’s do it today with Ernie clear-minded. He needs to see this.”
Erys placed the rings on her finger. “Already have an appointment. Remember, kicking and screaming.”
Remedy laughed and threw her arms around his neck. Erys picked her up and kissed her. “I love you, Franklin.”
“I love you too, Mouth.”
From the beach to the courthouse, Erys felt like his puzzle was complete.
He was wandering before returning home – trying to find something worth rooting himself in.
That phone call from Tone literally saved him from falling any deeper into darkness.
Remedy pulled him out with a smart mouth, fire in her eyes, and the tenderest touch.
Waynesville was home and now, Waynesville was his, with Remedy by his side, he could face anything.
To keep Remedy in her position, he’d do whatever was necessary for her.
“Got damn it, boy!” Ernie cheered. “You did something right. You did something right!”
Erys licked his lips and smiled at her. “I did. I got to be the luckiest man in the world.”
Remedy beamed. “You are the luckiest man in the world. I’m a lucky woman.”
“Damn right. Got that Moore all in you,” Ernie laughed. “I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. No in law shit. You are mine too.”