Chapter 13
I looked between Shirah and Benjamin, both waiting for an answer. I think she’d willingly ditched me to give us time together. All day long, she hadn’t been too far. I could see her on her phone and pointing the phone in our direction. If I had to guess, she was talking to Jordan. I could almost bet that they were in on this together.
I wasn’t mad at her for that.
Truth be told, I was enjoying my time with Benjamin and Charlie. This was now twice that I’d had the most fun being home and, ironically, it was with the two of them. Finally breaking eye contact, I cleared my throat.
“Well… if Benjamin and Charlie don’t mind me tagging along?—”
“We don’t mind!” Charlie answered. “Do we, Daddy?”
Benjamin chuckled. “Nah, we don’t mind. I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”
Shirah pursed her lips. “Mmm hmm. I bet you will.”
Willow smacked her arm. “Let me walk you to this car.”
Shirah laughed. “I’ll see y’all later. Bye, cutie pie!”
She playfully pinched Charlie’s cheek, causing her to grin. When she did the same to Benjamin, he smacked her hand.
“Don’t play with me like that, woman.”
“I’m not gonna take offense to that because you have a preference for who touches your face.”
She looked at me and laughed as she walked off.
I shook my head. “I’ll be right back,” I said.
“We’re gonna take a break to get something else to drink. You want anything?”
“A strawberry slushie.”
“Gotcha.”
I playfully flicked Charlie’s nose and touched his arm before running off to catch up with Shirah. When I caught her, I gave her head a mush.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked.
“Why… whatever do you mean?”
“Shirah Granger.”
“Willow Dawson.”
“You asked me to come here and immediately ditched me the moment we saw Benjamin. Then, you’ve been watching us all day.” I pointed a finger in her pretty, smug face. “Were you on the phone with Jordan? Did you two set this up?”
She grinned. “Maybe.”
“Why?”
She sighed. “Because Jordan and I both agree that Benny needs a good woman, and you need a good man. We see what the two of you aren’t.”
“I didn’t come here for a hookup, Shirah.”
“Maybe not. But I also know that you aren’t going back to Ellis. You booked a one-way flight to get away from that man. You’ve barely thought about him the whole time you’ve been here. It’s been what? Three weeks.”
“That’s not enough time to move on.”
“I’m not trying to push you into anything, but baby, open those pretty eyes. I watched you and Benny all day. You two have amazing chemistry. You are so much more like yourself with him, Willow. You can’t tell me you don’t feel that.”
I was quiet because that much was true. I didn’t feel like I had to wear a mask with Benjamin. I was free to be myself… someone I hadn’t seen in a long time. We’d always had a cordial relationship as kids, but getting to know the grown man version of him… I was enjoying that.
“This is crazy,” I said, shaking my head.
“It’s not. Something is brewing between you two. I think it could be something beautiful.” She shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a reason to stay. I wouldn’t be mad at that. Maybe I’m selfish, but I miss you, Willow. I miss you and I need you. Your parents miss you. My parents miss you.”
She sniffled and I think it was the first time in a long time that I’d seen her get emotional. She quickly pulled herself out of it and shook her head.
“Anyway! Enjoy your time with Benny and Charlie. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Shy.”
We shared a warm embrace before saying our goodbyes. I walked back toward the block party, stopping to use the bathroom. Thankfully, the Black Thorns sprung for these fancy portable restrooms. After relieving myself and washing my hands, I stepped out of the trailer. As I closed the door and turned to leave, I ran smack into Tierra.
She stood with her arms crossed and a frown on her face. I wasn’t one for confrontation, especially not in a public place. Swallowing hard, I stepped around her.
“Tierra,” I said in a friendly voice.
“Don’t speak to me like we’re cool, bitch.”
“Bitch? What’s with the name calling?”
“What do you think you’re doing with Benjamin?”
“I’m here enjoying the block party just like anybody else. And Benny and I are friends.”
“Well, you look very fucking cozy to me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were using my daughter to get closer to him.”
“Well, I’m glad you know better. Excuse me.”
I went to walk off, but she grabbed my arm.
“I’m not finished talking to you,” she spat.
“Tierra, get your hands off me,” I warned.
“Or what? What are you gonna do?”
“I would hate to have to do anything. Your child is here. You want her to see you like this or do you enjoy breaking her heart?”
“You don’t know the first thing about me and my daughter.”
“I know enough. I know you’re so worried about what Benny and I have going on that you didn’t bother to ask about your child. I guess that should be expected, though, considering that you don’t even want her.”
She stood toe to toe with me, shoving her finger in my face.
“Say another fucking word and I’ll beat your ass right here.”
“No you won’t because I’m not above dragging your ass in self-defense. Please don’t ever think you can punk me, Tierra.”
She laughed as she pulled a phone from her pocket and tapped on the screen.
“I like a good fight. Just tell me, why are you running behind my baby daddy when you have a man?”
She turned the phone around to produce an Instagram post of me and Ellis that he tagged me in.
“Does Benjamin know about this?” she asked, thrusting the phone in my face.
I smacked her hand away. “Girl, please. I don’t have anything to hide. You could show him that picture and he wouldn’t bat an eye. There is nothing you can pull up to expose me to that man, Tierra.”
She frowned. “I don’t know what Benjamin would see in you. You always thought you were better than everybody?—”
“I’ve literally never thought that. That was the narrative you made up in your head to justify not liking me. I’ve never had any beef with you, Tierra. Never have, never will. You don’t bother me, and you can’t bother me. Have a good day.”
I left her standing there, yelling obscenities at my back. All I could do was shake my head. I wasn’t even going to bring this shit up to Benjamin. He’d already had one run in with her today. I didn’t want to piss him off with her bullshit again.
Instead, I put a smile on my face as I found Benjamin and Charlie at the face painting station. She was already seated in a chair, gleefully kicking her feet.
“You made it just in time,” he said, handing me my drink.
“I’m getting a dragon!” Charlie said happily. “What are you getting, Daddy?”
“I’m leaving the face paint to you, baby. Maybe Ms. Willow?—”
“Aht, aht!” I said, shaking my head. “You don’t get to sit out of this. If I have to do it, you have to do it. Right, Charlie?”
She nodded her head vigorously. “Right. You can get a motorcycle, Daddy. How about a sunflower for you, Ms. Willow?”
“I think that’s perfect.”
I grabbed Benjamin’s hand and pulled him over to a chair to sit down.
“You two are out of control,” he fussed. “First, you make me dance, now I’m getting my face painted. What’s next?”
I laughed as I playfully fingered his beard. “Don’t be grumpy. Admit it. You’re having fun. Nobody told you to hit that Harlem shake like your name was Lil Bow Wow.”
I hit the dance just for emphasis. He tried his hardest not to smile, but I saw it peeking through. I smirked as I took a seat and waited for my turn. When Charlie was done, she found her way into her father’s lap. I smiled as I watched them share a moment while the artist worked on him.
There was no doubt this little girl loved her daddy to the moon. She sat there talking to him about what she wanted to do next, all the while tracing the patches on his vest or playing with his beard. At one point, she kissed his cheek and told him she loved him and my heart couldn’t take it.
“You wanna do the picture machine, Ms. Willow?”
The sound of Charlie’s tiny voice broke me from my thoughts.
“Sure thing, baby.”
When the artists finally finished with me and Benjamin, Charlie insisted on a selfie. Benjamin snapped a couple of pictures before we finally moved to the picture booth. It was a classic booth, not really big enough for two people, let alone three.
Benjamin was a big man. Not fat, but he was tall, and he had muscles. I, on the other hand, had hips and ass. There was no way we were going to fit comfortably… or so I thought.
Benjamin took a seat on the bench and guided me onto his lap.
“Benny, I’m too heavy?—”
“No, you aren’t,” he said, pulling me close. He mumbled into my ear. “Stay your thick ass right here.”
I gasped as his lips brushed against my neck. Charlie was too busy choosing a frame, so she wasn’t paying us a lick of attention. For a moment, we just stared at each other, lust dancing in our eyes. Maybe Shirah and Jordan were on to something.
I was insanely attracted to this man and I couldn’t deny it. Ellis, who?
“I like this one,” Charlie said, breaking our stare off.
We both blinked and turned our attention to the screen. When she turned to see me sitting on her father’s lap, I could see the gleam of hope in her eyes. She didn’t say anything as she climbed onto his other leg and grabbed my hand.
The timer counted down, and when it got to two, she said, “Say cheese!”
We all smiled before going through several silly faces with her. The more the camera flashed, the happier Charlie seemed to be. By the time we were done, we had a string of pocket sized pictures. I had to admit that they were adorable.
“Thank you,” Benjamin said, quietly.
“For what?”
“Hanging with us today. You came here with Shy and ended up giving us all your attention.”
“Somehow, I don’t think Shirah minded. I’m almost certain this was a setup.”
“Oh, it reeks of Shirah and Jordan for sure. They ain’t slick.”
I giggled. “Not at all. I had a good time, though. Besides, I couldn’t disappoint my new bestie here,” I said, tickling Charlie.
She broke into a fit of giggles and tried to hide behind him. Even still, she allowed me to pick her up. She smiled at me, then kissed my unpainted cheek and rested her head on my shoulder.
“I’m tired,” she said, yawning.
Benjamin blew a breath of relief. “You ain’t said nothing but a word. Daddy’s tired, too. How about we head on out? We can drop Ms. Willow off and get you ready for bed.”
“Okay.”
He reached for her, but I shook my head. “I got her.”
“Give me a second. I’m gonna let Duke know I’m headed out. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time.”
He left us and I took a seat on an unoccupied bench, rocking Charlie from side to side.
“Best day ever…” she mumbled sleepily.
I smiled. “Ditto, kid.”
By the time Benjamin returned, she was out cold. He took her from me, and we headed back to his car. Carefully, he strapped her into her seat while I made myself comfortable in the front. Once she was settled, he rounded the driver’s side and climbed in. Much to my surprise, he remembered the directions to my parents’ house.
When we pulled into the driveway, he left the car running and came around to open my door and help me out. An awkward silence fell between us as he walked me up to the front door. For a moment, we stood there with goofy looks on our faces, neither of us saying anything.
When Benjamin’s face turned serious, my breath hitched in my throat. He stepped closer to me, slipping an arm around my waist, then pulling me into his chest. His eyes shifted from mine to my lips as he licked his.
“We kind of missed this moment earlier,” he said quietly.
I nodded, unable to say anything, as my eyes lingered on the kissable set of lips on his face. He reached out and palmed my cheek, allowing his thumb to trace my bottom lip.
“I don’t usually do this…” he said, eyes trained on me.
He leaned in, then pulled back to stop himself.
“This shit is crazy, Willow,” he mumbled. “What the fuck did you do to me and my baby?”
“N-Nothing. I?—”
I was cut off by the feeling of his lips pressed against mine. Time seemed to stand still. I couldn’t hear anything outside of my heart beating a mile a minute. His lips captivated me… unnerved me. I closed my eyes and palmed the side of his face in return as I kissed him back.
It was raw.
Passionate.
Sensual.
So… fucking… delicious. When he slipped his tongue into my mouth, I released an unintentional moan. That only seemed to make him kiss me deeper. My hormones were in a frenzy. I had to remember where I was and as the front door opened, I was thankful for the reprieve because I was more than a little hot and bothered.
My father cleared his throat.
“Mr. Davis.”
Benjamin swiped at my lip gloss on his lip.
“Uh, good evening, Mr. Dawson.”
“Hey, Daddy,” I said, putting some distance between us.
“Princess. You two had a good time?”
I nodded. “Great time.”
“That’s good.” He stepped back and opened the door wider. “Thank you for bringing her home. I might have to talk to that Shirah Granger. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was ditching you on purpose.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “You know Shirah…” I turned back to Benny. “Thank you for a good time and a ride.”
“It was no problem. I should, uh… I should get Charlie home.”
I nodded. “Right.”
He leaned in and kissed me again, this time on my cheek. “Goodnight, Willow. Mr. Dawson, it was nice seeing you again.”
“Likewise.”
I watched as he retreated down the steps into his car. He gave a final wave before climbing into the driver’s seat and backing out of the driveway. I didn’t realize how hard I was blushing until I caught my father staring in my peripheral.
“Just friends, my ass,” he said, ushering me into the house. “None of my friends have ever made me this flustered. Go on and keep your secrets in the dark. Just know that daddy peeped game.”
I didn’t know what to say. I mean, what could I say to that? Instead of saying anything, I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Goodnight, Daddy,” I sang, floating past him and over the stairs.
“Goodnight, Willow.”