Chapter 17-Kenya
I got out of the car and for a moment, I stood still, taking in Devon’s home.
The house was absolutely beautiful. He lived in a bricked two-story home with a gorgeous wrap-around porch, a professionally manicured lawn that had perfectly groomed bushes and an aesthetically appealing flower bed full of vibrant flowers.
Nothing about the exterior hinted at the single father who lived within.
My day had been victorious but nonetheless draining.
Ahmad did his best to attack my character in court, trying to say a mistrial was necessary because of a conflict of interest since the two of us dated.
His debacle was below the belt, but I knew that was the kind of charade he loved to indulge in. Little did he know, I’d already forewarned Mrs. Smith that Ahmad was my ex.
I knew that if he was anything like the man I remembered him to be, he’d try to use our past against me. He claimed that my ill feelings towards him and the end of our relationship wouldn’t allow me to represent my client to the best of my ability.
Thank God, the judge saw straight through his shenanigans and dismissed his request, even going as far as to note that if nothing else, our past worked in the best interest of my client.
The divorce proceedings were already dragging, and I wanted to get my client what she was due.
With his motion for a mistrial denied, we could present the evidence, which was irrefutable because I tracked down Mr. Smith’s mistress along with their two children.
His mistress had all the proof we needed, not only showing up with the two children who were spitting images of Mr. Smith, but also providing their birth certificates with his signature scribbled wide with pride on each document.
I wasn’t sure what persuaded the mother of his children to join us, but I had a feeling it had something to do with the woman sitting next to Mr. Smith, staring at him with nothing but lust and adoration.
Nobody could miss the rock adorning her finger even if they tried, which wasn’t a wise move on his part.
With the way we showed up, it was no wonder Mrs. Smith walked away with fifteen million reasons to smile. Coincidentally, that didn’t include her monthly alimony payments she’d get for the rest of her life or until she decided to remarry.
For all that Mr. Smith put her through, I wouldn’t be surprised if she indefinitely swore off love.
I shook away my thoughts of the day and prepared to enjoy my evening. Today was the day for me to meet Devon’s son.
Devon was the first man I’d dated who had a child, which made all of this very new to me.
I was almost intimidated to come face to face with him.
Yes, a twelve-year-old had me unnerved, but I knew meeting him was critical.
I was starting to see Devon as part of my future.
The dating app we’d met on had been deleted and I was solely focused on him.
Meeting Dreux was a deal breaker because if I didn’t like him and vice versa, I knew that there wouldn’t be much of a future between Devon and I.
Ultimately, tonight would determine if Devon and I could move forward.
I walked up the driveway and toward the front door. Although Devon told me to park in his driveway, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to do so.
This was my first time at his place, and I didn’t want to seem too comfortable.
His street was well lit, and it was a nice enough neighborhood for me to feel safe parking on the street.
When I arrived at the steps leading up to his porch, I inhaled a deep breath.
My arm extended but stopped, allowing my pointed finger to linger in the air.
What if Dreux answers the door? I’d mentally played this scene out more times than I could count, and each time it started with Devon introducing me to Dreux as his girlfriend …
or maybe he’ll say his special friend … or maybe he’ll say my favorite, baby girl.
Either way, it never started with Dreux being the one to greet me, but it was far too late to turn around and make arrangements for Devon to be the one to open the front door.
I’d prolonged the inevitable long enough, so instead of lingering, I bit the bullet and pushed the doorbell. No more than a few seconds later, the door opened.
When it did, I did my best to put on a smile and act like everything was great and not like my mind was going 1,000 miles an hour in every direction except the way I needed it to go, which was nowhere at all.
“Hey—Who do I need to shoot?” His words caught me off guard but also made me smile.
This time the grin was genuine and brought instant warmth and peace to my heart. A sentiment that was foreign before Devon broke his way into my life. I was sure Devon had a gun, and while that should’ve been a turnoff, it only made me feel safer and more protected.
“Nobody, babe,” I assured.
A flash of disbelief and suspicion crossed his face. His mesmerizing eyes flickered before narrowing, fixing on me with a piercing stare. “You sure, cause all you gotta do is say the word.”
“I had a long day in court, but I’m fine.” Although being around him had effortlessly improved my disposition, it still didn’t sit right with me that Ahmad still possessed enough power over me to negatively impact my mood.
On any given day, I could leave whatever happened at the courthouse, but I couldn’t get Ahmad out of my head.
I knew I could talk to him about anything, but how could I say that to Devon without sounding like I still had a connection to my ex because that wasn’t the case.
At least I didn’t think so.
“Would you tell me if you weren’t?”
“I can handle any—”
“That’s not what I asked you,” he interrupted me.
“I asked you, would you tell me if you weren’t fine?
Do you trust me enough to carry the weight of what you don’t want to deal with?
Hell, do you trust me enough to deal with the things that you actually want to deal with but don’t have the capacity for? ”
The decision was instantaneous; I didn’t need any time to think about it. “Yes.” My answer was genuine. I trusted Devon to the fullest, but telling him about Ahmad was outside my scope of comfort.
“I feel like you’re telling me what I want to hear, but one day you’ll be ready to stand ten toes down on your answer.
You’ll say it with your chest and whole-heartedly mean it.
” I was about to defend myself and tell him that I did mean it, but he silenced me with a kiss before I had the chance.
It was simple and sweet. Exactly what I needed.
“Didn’t I tell you to park in the driveway, baby girl?
” I stared at him, blinking slowly. “Yeah, you didn’t mean it.
” He shook his head, and just like the last time, he said something that provoked me, but he didn’t allow me the chance to defend myself.
“One day you’re going to give it all to me and let go of that your way or no way mentality, and when that happens, I’m going to change your life. ”
The heaviness of his words and the conviction in his tone left me unsettled, but not in a bad way.
His warning almost made me want to surrender every way I had about myself so that he could take the lead.
I wasn’t against submitting to a man, but I also couldn’t comprehend trusting anyone more than I trusted myself. Particularly not a man.
Yes, things with Devon were good now, but who’s to say that that would always be the case?
Devon pulled me inside his home and shut the door behind us. His home was cozy, neutral and inviting, with touches of masculinity that showed his suave personality.
I didn’t expect his living room furniture to be velvet because leather was what all bachelors typically had, but I wasn’t upset by the aesthetic either. It was casual enough to be welcoming but formal enough to prompt me to take my shoes off at the front door.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Devon said, wearing a smirk.
“Devon—”
“I’m just messing with you, baby girl. Lighten up.
I can tell you’re in your head, and there isn’t a need to be.
” He leaned down, placing a kiss on my lips, this time allowing his tongue to break the barrier of my closed mouth.
His kiss erased all of my worries, and although his kiss was taking my breath away, oddly enough, I felt like I could finally breathe.
“All you need to do is relax and be the woman who I’m falling for. ”
A smile covered my face, finding all the reassurance I needed in the man in front of me.
Hand in hand, with me trailing behind him, we walked further into the house.
Venturing down a long hallway, we passed one painting after another.
Each piece depicted a vibrant explosion of black, gray and white, framed in gold, portraying a menagerie of animals: majestic lions, sleek jaguars, and unwieldy bears, all rendered with implausible detail.
There was a theme of strength in each piece that couldn’t be missed.
“Dreux, our guest is here!” Devon called out.
A minute later, a shorter, younger version of Devon came around the corner and into the kitchen.
He brought a wave of positive energy with him that calmed the remnants of my jitters.
His eyes, hazel just like his dad’s, had a youthful glow to them as they bounced between us.
“Dreux, this is my girlfriend, Kenya. Kenya, this is my son, Dreux.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Kenya.” Dreux closed the space between us and extended his hand out in my direction.
I was pleasantly surprised that he didn’t bombard me with a hug.
Then again, I had to remember I was dealing with a preteen boy who probably thought hugs were against the grain. “Is it okay if I give you a hug?”
No sooner than the thought floated across my mind, he proved me wrong. Obviously, that was a trait he inherited from his dad.
I looked up at Devon, who was already staring at me, wearing a smile.
“Um—Yes, Dreux, you can give me a hug.” He wasted no time, wrapping his arms around me and holding me in an embrace.
I knew he had to miss his mother, and while I didn’t have the maternal instinct he was missing out on, I hoped the little instinct that I had from being an aunt would help to fill the void.
He stepped back from the hug and looked over at Devon. “You were right, Dad. She’s really pretty.” Then he turned to look at me. “Ms. Kenya, you’re really pretty.”
“Aye, son, fall back before I accuse you of tryin’ to steal my woman.”
“If I can steal her, then she was never yours.” His quick retort had all the makings of a talented attorney, and that, along with his wittiness, elicited a laugh out of me.
“I don’t see nothin’ funny,” Devon claimed with a serious expression, which only made me giggle harder.
“Thank you, Dreux. I appreciate the compliment, but you don’t have to call me Ms. Kenya. Kenya—”
“The hell if he will. He’ll address you with respect.” Devon placed a kiss on my cheek and then went to check on the dinner he and Dreux prepared.
I looked over at Dreux, expecting to see him wearing a look of shame or embarrassment, but he didn’t show either emotion. If anything, he looked amused, wearing a knowing look, mirroring the expression of the man I was slowly, but very surely falling for.