Page 48 of Desire

“You do?” they asked simultaneously.

“Yes, I do. Is that so hard to believe?”

“I mean, not really. Hell, I swear I was in love with Nolan after our first date,” Dream said.

“Real talk. I fell for Hudson within weeks,” Destinee added.

“Then why do y’all sound so surprised? Besides, he confessed his love for me first.”

“He did?” they sang in unison.

“He sure did. He came home for lunch today and had me on a platter.”

“Damn!”

“Okay, sis!”

“At first, I thought the sex was making him say things he didn’t mean, but he doubled down on his confession when we finished to make sure I knew he meant every word.”

“Let me shut my mouth and mind my business because it sounds like he’s the one,” Dream said.

“Me, too. I’m rooting for y’all, and I hope my new niece or nephew is on the way.”

When it came to relationships, it felt like Dream and Destinee were my big sisters. They’d maneuvered the ins and outs of love and marriage for years when I could barely keep a steady boyfriend. Their concern was out of love, and I appreciated it, but Aziel was my one, and I was his.

“Tammy, can you clear my schedule from eleven to one?” I spoke into the speaker on my desk phone.

Instead of replying through the phone speaker, she entered my office.

“You have a meeting at 12:30 with?—”

“Reschedule it or push it back. I’m having lunch with my wife and daughter.”

She scoffed. “You need two hours for that?”

“Probably not, but I don’t want to rush.”

“It’s the middle of the day. Why isn’t Azaria in school?”

“Desire is homeschooling her until she finds another job.”

“She quit her job? Why am I surprised? She looks like the type that?—”

“Tammy, chill out before you’re out of a job.”

“Whatever, Aziel. You say that every other day. You’ve been acting funny since you got married. I’m starting to wonder if it was a mistake suggesting you do so.”

“Nah, it was just the push I needed to find my forever. Did I ever thank you for getting the ball rolling?”

She rolled her eyes. “No, you didn’t. Why do I get the feeling this isn’t just for votes anymore?”

“It stopped being about votes as soon as I realized I was marrying the woman I’d fantasized about for months.”

“Is she why you were so adamant about dropping off and picking up Azaria from school?”

“Partially, but at the time, I was her only parent, so I was very intentional with everything I did concerning her.”

“You don’t want another term?”

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