Chapter 20
T he Next Day
Blake groaned as she shuffled in bed, slowly waking up to start her day.
Last night had thrown her for a loop, and they’d stayed out way too late helping with the kids and then christening every room in the house.
As she rolled over, the light hit her ring perfectly, causing her to smile.
She was now engaged and blown away, but there was guilt.
She felt it. It was slight, but it was there.
She was upset with herself, and no matter how many times she apologized to Emon for her accusations, it still didn’t feel like enough.
“Stop looking at me like that,” he said in a low grumble, catching her watching him again.
He’d grown to love waking up to her. He smiled at her and opened one eye.
She was beautiful with her hair piled on top of her head, with a white cut off shirt that slightly showed the bottom of her breast, and in a pair of his boxer briefs.
Her eyes held her feelings, and he didn’t need to hear it, but knew she was going to apologize again anyway. “Blake baby, we good.”
“No, I need to say I’m sorry about last night again. You didn’t deserve that,” she whispered, twiddling with her fingers. Emon didn’t say anything, just pulled her close and let her rest her head on his chest.
“I ain’t trippin’ on that shit.”
“But you should be. You’ve been nothing but good to me and I was wrong.”
“And you apologized. I’m a simple man. That was enough for me.”
Blake didn’t understand her future husband because had it been her being accused, she’d be fuming for a week.
But that was Emon. He didn’t hold grudges or play games.
When something was handled, it was handled.
He put his energy into moving forward, not looking back.
It was one of the things that made him successful; his ability to address shit and keep it pushing.
“How do you do that?” she asked, tracing the clouds tattooed on his chest.
“Do what?”
“Just... forgive so easy.”
He shifted to look at her. “Ain’t nothing to forgive. You saw something that didn’t add up and you called it out. That’s what I love about you. You don’t just accept things blindly. I don’t need blind obedience.”
“Still...”
“Still nothing, woman. Plus, the way you let me fold you up like a Cinnamon Sugar pretzel from Auntie Anne’s last night made us even.
” He smirked shaking his head at the visions of her throwing ass, deep throating, and contorting in ways he’d never seen before.
Shit, he hoped he got to see it again, and soon.
“Emon, be serious.” She laughed, swatting his arm.
“Okay, for real. Let that shit go. What we gotta talk about is them kids.” He sat up, suddenly serious. “What you think I should do?”
“What do you mean?”
“About them staying at my mama’s. It can’t be permanent, but.
..” He trailed off, and Blake understood.
These kinds of decisions weren’t simple.
He’d done enough and put himself at risk by taking them last night, and from the scene of a crime at that.
However, Emon didn’t care. He was never going to leave those kids to fend for themselves, and to be honest, it would be hard for him to turn his back on them after this.
“You already know what you want to do,” she said softly. “I see it in your face.”
“Yeah, but I want to hear your thoughts. Obviously, some real shit is going on at home, but we also tryna start our life together. I don’t even know these kids. I’m conflicted, and what’s up with the mama shit?”
Blake was quiet for a moment, thinking about her own relationship with her mother.
They loved each other, but there had always been this distance, this inability to really connect.
They didn’t do girls’ day, nails, hair, or talk boys.
Her father had been the one who really got her, who she could talk to about anything.
Sometimes that mother-daughter relationship just wasn’t as smooth as it should be.
“Kids need stability,” she said finally, but she had an attitude.
Her mother and her didn’t have a perfect relationship, but she was present.
She still made sure they had a good life until she couldn’t.
“Sometimes kids just need someone to show up for them. To choose them.”
“They do. I know it’s a lot to consider, so keep it a buck with me,” he said, removing himself from the bed and sitting with his elbows on his knees. He was conflicted and trying to consider everyone involved, his mother included.
“It’s not though. Actually...” She sat up too, pulling the sheet with her. “Watching you with them last night? That was everything. You just jumped right into action, and I could’ve beat that cop’s ass. Rude. ”
“Man, fuck twelve,” he laughed, and she rolled her eyes. “But for real, it’s not a decision we gotta make today.”
“No, but we can. You worried about me, and I’m not worried or bothered at all. Whatever you decide, I’m fine with it. Yes, we are trying to start our own lives, but just like I didn’t turn my back on you, I can’t turn my back on them.”
“Baby, we don’t even know these kids. They seem like good kids, though, but what if they got trauma and shit?” That was Emon’s biggest concern. These kids had probably seen a lot, been through a lot, and missed a lot.
“I know, and if so, we can help them with that. They just need somebody to give a damn and be there for them.”
“So what does that mean for us? Are we adopting these kids? Or what?”
“I think we should take them and allow them to stay until we know something different and what our options are.”
“Yeah, I’ll call a lawyer and go from there.” He turned to face her, pulling her leg to him, causing Blake to giggle.
She leaned into his back, placing soft kisses on his tattoos. “You know, Jacques reminds me of you, taking care of his sisters, willing to do whatever it takes. You could teach him about the business while he’s helping you. They need us, don’t they?”
“Yeah, they do. Ma took them in last night and she already tryna keep them,” he laughed thinking about his mama.
“Gods been good to us all and maybe for this reason. I’m with Vicey. We got the room, the means... plus, it’ll be good practice.”
His body stilled. “Practice?”
“Yeah, eventually babies turn into teenagers.”
Emon groaned at the thought, but he appreciated his woman knowing his heart and having a heart like his.
It was an instant reminder of why she had the rock on her finger now.
But adopting kids was a lot, and their conversation had only conflicted him a little more.
Because was this God’s plan? Was he overstepping?
And did any of it matter because he was not turning his back on them. Still, they had time to figure it out.
“What you got going on today?”
“I need to link with the girls to show them this glacier on my finger, so I may go workout with them and maybe smoothies after.” Blake hadn’t stopped looking at it and wiggling her finger. She was engaged, and it was still settling on her.
“Yeah, I know how y’all women love doing the most. I ain’t mad at it. There’s a safe in the closet under my watch case. Get what you need.”
“I don’t need anything,” Blake said, now sauntering into the bathroom to start her day.
“Don’t be difficult. Your money ain’t good here,” he joked, coming up behind her at the sink.
“Really? My money spends just the same as yours.”
Emon wasn’t going to go back and forth with her. He went to the closet, unlocked the safe, and grabbed some money before returning to the bathroom. He dropped the stack of money on the counter. Her eyes traveled down to it and she shook her head.
“Why you always gotta be difficult, huh?” he asked with a whisper in her ear.
“Because you spoil me too much already,” she said, but made no effort to return the money. They’d done this dance before, him offering to take care of his woman without hesitation and her attempting to maintain her independence.
“And? That’s my job, ain’t it?” his arms circled her waist, watching her in the mirror. “You got a ring to show off now. Can’t have my fiancée out here not doing it big.”
“Fiancée,” she tested the word, smiling. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”
“Better get used to it quick. Next stop is wife.” He kissed her neck before stepping back. “I’m heading out to check on the kids. Tell the girls I said congratulations on the new brother-in-law.”
“You’re stupid.” She laughed but watched him get ready with pride. This man, who could go from talking about taking in four kids to making sure she had spending money, was really hers.
Paige: Fuck that gym and Maurice’s ass. I ain’t in the mood.
Taylor: Hell, same here. He starts that yelling and shit I’m liable to catch a charge. Mitchells?
Blake: What the hell happened to y’all for all the attitude? But Yesss to Mitchells!
Blake quickly showered and dressed for the day.
She was in semi baggy camo pants, a black crop top, and Jordans she’d gotten for Christmas.
Her hair was in a half up and half down style with a spiked bun.
She looked cute as fuck. She applied a little lip gloss, grabbed her Glamaholic bag and Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses, and headed downstairs.
Emon was in the kitchen on the phone in black basketball shorts, his signature white tee, and Kappa slides.
Even when he wasn’t doing a lot, he did it for her.
She smiled, and he smiled back before she blew him a kiss.
Emon caught it and she headed out the door.
In her Bronco, she sang loudly to Jazmine Sullivan’s “Need U Bad,” thinking about how different her life was now from just months ago. Her ring caught the sunlight as she turned the wheel, making her smile for the hundredth time that morning.
Emon: Be careful, I love you!