Page 41 of Save Room for Us

“Nah, I never do.” When I stared at him in shock at the fact that he would leave a Lamborghini running and in the hood, he said, “I double dare a nigga.”

Figuring it was his car and not mine, I allowed him to help me out of the vehicle.

Of course, the store clerk spoke to him, grinning hard at Asif being in his store.

“Who is this one, Sif?”

“The missus,” he said again as I waved to the man who nodded at me with a smirk. “Where yours at?”

“Hopefully dead by the time I get home.” The older black man scoffed, causing Asif to laugh heartily.

“Nigga, you’d be ready to leave this earth, too, if she was. You can’t fool me.” He grabbed a pineapple soda, then silently asked if I wanted something, to which I chose one of those artery clogging honey buns.

“Shiiit!” The old man tapped on the register to ring it up once we approached. “I’d go right and get a little honey dip like you got right here, little nigga.”

Asif laughed even harder, making me chuckle at how happy he looked. He was handsome all the time, but when he laughed, showing off that perfect smile, slight dimples, and pretty eyes, it was mesmerizing. I loved his laugh—deep, raspy, but with a good youth to it.

“Bye,” I said as Asif took my hand in his free one to lead me out.

“Bye, pretty girl,” the old man said back.

Asif slapped hands with some nigga walking into the store as he led me out, and sure enough, his damn car was still there, untouched and now onto a new song.

We ate our snacks the whole ride home, and I realized I hadn’t thought about my trial or possible impending doom the whole time I was with him.

“This was fun, Asif.” I smiled, checking my phone. “It’s seven p.m. I feel so bad for leaving her all day though.”

“Happy mothers raise happy children, love, so don’t feel bad.” He gave me a subtle, closed mouth smile, talking as if he knew this to be true. “If you miserable, she gon’ feel it.”

He parked when we got to my mom’s, then climbed out to come open the door for me, helping me out like always.

When we got to the door, me up on the steps and him still on the flat ground, he said, “Hit me if you need anything, love.”

“Like what?” I frowned, truly wondering.

“Anything, even if it’s wipes and Pull-Ups.”

“Okay.” I nodded, knowing I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing such a thing.

“Or shit, just to kick the shit, vent. I don’t really care what it is long as I see ya name on my phone. I know shit can get lonely being in the space you in, feeling like everybody hate you and shit or got some opinion about you.”

“Thanks.” I half smiled, fidgeting from the nervousness he’d brought about as the cold night air damn near froze my fingertips off. Thank God I’d had on this jean jacket. “Will Milan be on the phone too?”

He chortled deeply, too, making me do the same at the fact that he found what I said to actually be funny.

“Nah, she don’t wanna witness that shit.”

“Witness what?”

“Us.” Before I could say anything, he came up onto the bottom step, invading my space. “Come here,” he muttered before slipping his hands under my jean jacket, and pulling me into him slowly before pecking me. That felt too good.

“Asif,” I said, just before he kissed me again, hands on my ass and gripping. We kissed a few more times, parting our lips a bit, and it was perfect as my hands rested on his strong arms.

“I know we friends, but I want you. Long as I ain’t making you uncomfortable, let me do me. A nigga can’t see something I want and be idle, baby. I’m a go-getter.” Moving a piece of my hair from my face as he peered down into he continued, “I’m yours and you been mine since you walked into that fucking office. When I thought you was happy, I was willing to suffer and be a homeboy or some shit but now that you free, love, I gotta do what I gotta do; go for what I want. I’m ready to lock you down, ice out that finger, put Sophie on a nigga’s taxes, and take care of you. When you ready, of course.”

I guess he read in my eyes that I was compliant because his soft lips were back on mine, before he slipped his tongue into my mouth. I loved the way his beard scratched my skin, the way his big hands caressed the body I wasn’t as confident in as if he couldn’t get enough. His dick hardened against me, but I didn’t move as we both began to moan softly.

When I heard Sophie shout something happily, I snapped out of the trance and jolted back a little bit.

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