Chapter 22
Thirty days. It’d already been halfway through the sixty days and didn’t even feel like it. Savion was gently tugging on my heartstrings. If someone told me that I’d be in a situation like this years ago, I’d tell them they were crazy. No way.
Here I was, this man’s wife, sleeping in my own bedroom in a hole in the ground. I couldn’t lie, though; being there with him had been some of the best sleep I’d gotten since I was small. It was just something about this man that calmed me. He made me feel safe.
My phone vibrated, and I picked it up from the nightstand off the charger.
Imani: I just scored us some tickets to this party. You have to come. It’s tonight. Be ready in two hours.
I didn’t have any plans, so it would’ve been nice to go out with Imani.
We hadn’t been hanging out like that ever since I told her that I was married.
She wasn’t keeping her distance from me or anything.
Imani was newly married and trying to transition into being a wife.
She was working hard to make her marriage work.
Me, on the other hand, my marriage just fell into my lap.
Me: Okay. What’s the dress code?
The three dots popped up immediately. Imani wasn’t about to let the invitation slip away from her.
Imani: Anything your aesthetic is fine.
Me:
Tossing the phone onto the bed, I got up and went into the closet to see what I wanted to wear.
Her just saying that didn’t help me none.
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to wear a cocktail dress or a floor-length dress.
She didn’t let it be known what sort of party she was taking me to.
I guessed, to play it safe, I’d choose something in between.
Stopping on the red lace body-con dress, I pulled it from the hanger and found me a bag and pair of shoes to match. Exiting the closet, I went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. While I waited for it to get hot, I did my skin care routine.
The bathroom steamed up, letting me know it was time for me to get in the shower. I stripped out of my clothes and stepped over into it.
After I was done, I wrapped a towel around me. My body glistened from the body oil I put on. I pranced out of the bathroom and grabbed my dress from the bed. “Enjoy the show,” I said underneath my breath, knowing that Savion was most likely somewhere lurking and watching me.
I was surprised that he hadn’t made a move on me.
Every now and then, I’d masturbate to the camera just to see what he’d do.
Nothing. It was like he was scared to admit that he was yearning for me.
Shoot, I was horny and hadn’t had any dick since he brought me here, and the nigga wasn’t handing it out.
I was trying my best to be on my best behavior and not just straight up ask him for it, but damn.
Stepping to the vanity, I sat down and applied my makeup and curled my hair.
By the time I was done getting dressed, my phone chimed.
Grabbing it, I saw that Imani was sending me the location for the party.
Normally, she would’ve come and picked me up or we’d ride together, but she didn’t even know where I was staying right now.
After that shit with Savion, I didn’t know if it was safe to even tell her. For her safety.
I took my phone and clutch and left the room.
Hopping in the car, I drove out of the garage.
The party was at a venue that was forty minutes away from the house.
When I arrived, there were quite a bit of people there.
I parked in the nearest empty space and climbed out of the car.
Soon as my feet touched the ground, a car slammed on brakes in front of me.
The driver’s door opened, and Savion stepped out.
He popped his trunk and grabbed me by the forearm.
Before I could even react, this man had tossed my ass into the trunk and slammed it down.
“Not again, man,” was the only thing I could muster.
“What did I do?” I yelled but wasn’t even sure if he’d heard me.
The car shifted, and I slid a bit in the trunk.
I fumbled with my clutch to grab my phone out.
I couldn’t blame anyone else for the position I was in.
My family gave me the option to get out, but I didn’t take it.
I got to Savion’s name and pressed dial. The mufucka casually picked up as if I wasn’t back here in this got damn trunk. “Yeah, wifey?”
“Why am I in this mufucking trunk?”
“Can you just sit back and enjoy the ride?”
“I’m supposed to be meeting Imani. She’s gon’ flip when she sees my car out there and I’m nowhere to be found.”
“I handled that.”
“What you mean you handled that?”
“Just know I handled it.”
“Just know I’m gon’ shove my foot up your ass.”
“We’ll be there soon. For now, just sit back and enjoy the music selection.” The phone beeped in my ear. I blankly stared at the screen. Seconds later, I heard Chris Brown’s voice. This man was out of his mind.
Five songs later, the car came to a halt. I heard the driver’s door open and shut, and then the trunk opened for me. I lay there, gazing up at Savion’s handsome face.
“You gon’ get out or just stare at me?”
“I’m debating if I want to slap fire out of your ass.”
“Just get your ass out of the car.”
Savion gripped me by the arm and pulled me from the trunk. I stumbled to my feet and saw that we were in the parking lot of a restaurant. The thing was, the entire parking lot was empty. Not a single car in sight.
“What are we doing here?”
“We’re on a date,” was all he said.
“You kidnapped me to take me on a date? Are you serious? You could’ve just asked me out. What’s wrong with you?”
“I can just stuff your ass back in that trunk.” He stood there looking at me all calm. I think that was what bothered me the most.
Folding my arms over my chest, I mugged him.
“Restaurant . . .” He pointed toward the building and then said, “Trunk . . .” and then pointed at the trunk. “Which one?”
Without uttering another word, I marched toward the entrance. Savion caught up to me and opened the door. When we entered, I was blown away. He really went all out for this date, for someone who didn’t even mention that he was planning something in the first place.
Soon as I walked through the door, there were candles sitting on the floor, leading a trail of rose petals up to a single table that sat in the center of the floor. Hundreds of pink heart-shaped balloons floated against the ceiling.
“You did all this for me?” I questioned him.
I wasn’t used to people doing stuff like this for me.
I’d always been the planner. Even Zayden didn’t go out his way too much for me.
Every special occasion, I was the one who planned everything.
It got exhausting. I was tired of seeing everyone else getting everything that I wanted while I quietly watched.
“Nah.”
He pulled the chair out for me, and I took a seat. Savion went around to the chair across from me and sat down. A waitress came out and brought a bottle of wine with her. She popped it open and poured us both a glass.
“I’ll be back with your food,” she said and left the table.
“This is really nice,” I told him, taking in my surroundings. “I really appreciate you doing this for me.”
Savion smiled. It was rare whenever he did it, so I always made a mental note in my mind whenever he did. There was no telling when he’d do it again.
“And yet, yo’ ass was complaining.”
“No.” I lifted my index finger in the air. “I was complaining about being kidnapped. There’s a difference.”
The waitress came back with our food and placed it on the table in front of us. My mouth watered at the selection: Parmesan-crusted lamb chops, asparagus, potatoes, and rolls.
We ate our food and had small talk. Once dinner was over, the waitress brought out our dessert—strawberry-covered cheesecake. I didn’t know how he knew that I loved cheesecake, but he got some brownie points for that.
Once we were done with food, Savion took us home. The day might not have been that spectacular in other people’s eyes, but it was the perfect first date for me.
When we made it home, Savion pulled into the garage and shut off the car. Turning and facing him, I stared at him. “Thanks for tonight,” I spoke and leaned over and pecked him on the corner of his mouth.