Page 39 of Save Room for Us

As his thumb made circles on my exposed leg, I tried to breathe and relax, hoping I didn’t leak out on his seats in this nice ass car, because my panties weren’t exactly the thickest.

Once we got our food, he parked so we could eat. Usually, I wouldn’t sit around this area in a car, eating food, but anything Asif was okay doing, I was too.

Several times, men walked by and nodded their heads at him, and he returned it. I saw him place his gun in the pocket of his door, letting me know he was always on ready.

“You’re well known I see.” I opened my tacos.

“Something like that. Not always a good thing, but I can’t help the shit. As much as these niggas speak and act cool, I don’t trust ’em.”

“Do you trust anybody around you? Other than your brothers?”

“Not really. These muthafuckas are either haters or only fuck with me so they can get put on. I can’t trust people like that.” He bit his taco, so I did the same.

The flavor of the chicken was way too good, but food in the hood was always better.

“What about women?”

“What about ’em?” He glanced at me, pretty eyes seeming to light up the dark vehicle.

“Do you trust women?”

He smirked a bit, sinking down into his seat as he stared out the windshield, thinking on his answer.

“I’m trying to, well as of late. With you and shit. Outside of you though, nah.” He shook his head. “Females is on the same shit. They like who I am and what I do. They fuck with what I’m known for. If shit hit the fan or if I ever hit a low, though, I wouldn’t be able to get them to pick up the phone.”

“You think I would pick up the phone?” I moved onto my second taco.

He finally gave me his eyes again and responded, “I’d like to think so. You not like any woman I’ve ever met.” He wiped his mouth with the napkin.

“I hope that’s a good thing.” I smiled, making him do the same.

“You selfless, beautiful, you got ya own shit going, don’t seek attention wherever you go, but you definitely get it. You loyal, maybe even when you shouldn’t be. My favorite is that as soft and womanly as you are, you strong. You don’t sit up and whine about shit. You either deal or handle it.”

“Thank you. That was sweet.” I couldn’t stop smiling, so I focused on my food.

“I don’t need you handling shit from here on out though.”

He was genuine in his words, so I nodded to comply, just as someone came to the window. When I saw an exposed midriffinstead of a white T-shirt with a gun tucked under it, I calmed down a bit. That was until Asif cracked the window, and Milan peered inside, shooting daggers my way.

It hit me then that I didn’t truly know the ins and outs of their relationship. Sure, he said she was just a fuck buddy, but niggas lied. Cedric had made up a whole story about our relationship, and none of it was true. So though Asif didn’t seem like the type of man to play a game with me, you could never be too sure, and I needed to tread lightly.

“I didn’t know about this party,” Milan said sweetly, but I could hear the venom lying underneath.

I could also see the irritation in Asif’s calm expression. His jaw was slightly clenched, and he would only give Milan his eyes for a second at a time.

“Milan.” His deep voice reverberated off the car interior.

“I’m just kidding, daddy. I’m out with my girls anyway.” She reached in to touch his beard, and I hated that it bothered me. “You gonna be free tomorrow night? I’m recovered from that last dick down, so I’m ready for more.” She giggled salaciously, again, wanting to get under my skin.

Unlike the past, her words actually did irritate me. I didn’t really want to think about Asif having sex with her. He looked like he was very good at it, and judging by how thirsty Milan was, I was probably right.

“Stop.” Asif finally held her eyes for a long ass time. Her lustful grin dropped as she swallowed hard. “Go back to yo’ people. You pull this type of shit again, love, and I’ll cut it off.”

“I won’t. I wasn’t even trying to be like that. I’m sorry.” She waited for Asif to grant her forgiveness, but he just jutted his chin out, telling her to go.

Milan gave me one last sad look before doing just that. What I’d just witnessed was crazy to me. Him having her in check was an understatement.

“Is that how all your women are? Well trained, or is she afraid of you?” I questioned.

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