Page 45 of Hooked on Loving Him

“You’re right on time. Come in,” Letitia says.

The atmosphere in the room changes as a looming presence causes me to slowly lift my head to see a man approaching me.

“Thank you for allowing me to hijack your session for a few minutes. I won’t be here long, and no one but the three of us will know. I’m Pastor Lorenzo Reese.” Extending his hand out, I stare into the friendly eyes of Ashari’s godfather and my brother’s new pastor.

Putting my hands in his, I allow him to pull me to my feet and wrap me up in a hug that doesn’t feel predatory or sexual in nature. As if I’m outside of my body, uncontrollable weeping takes over me as Pastor Reese tightens his hold. As it turns out, Letitia Baxter is related to Pastor Reese and asked me if I minded him coming to pray with me after my appointment today. Knowing his association with Ashari and Kyce, I agreed because while I don’t pray often, I can appreciate its power.

“Most Holy and Sovereign King, I come to You now on behalf of Kayshon. His heart is heavy, and his mind is weary. Father,I know You to be a mender and the lifter of heads, so I’m asking that You do both for Kayshon. Give him clarity where he needs it. Give him supernatural strength, oh God, that he can stand through the storms of his life. Even as I embrace now, let an exchange of Your love seep into his pores. No matter what Kayshon faces, oh God, by your word, I call him blessed. I call him free. I call him an overcomer. Thank You in advance for being El Shaddai in Kayshon’s life. All these things I ask in your name. Amen.” With that, Pastor Reese gives me a tighter squeeze before releasing me and walking out the door as if he was never here.

“Thank you,” I say to Letitia. She nods wordlessly, and I resume my seat, feeling lighter than before Pastor Reese’s arrival. “So, you weren’t gonna mention to me that he’s why you suggested I pray not long ago?” I ask, smirking when Letitia picks up her pencil and places her trusty notebook on her lap.

“Although my husband and I attend another church, Pastor Lorenzo Reese is a giant in the kingdom of God. With whom you’re trying to sink your hook for the rest of your life, I figured who would be better suited to interact with you today. Unless, of course, I’ve misinterpreted your future plans with a certain somebody,” she says, winking as a warm feeling spreads throughout my body at the thought of Ashari.

“Nah. You’re spot on. Good looking out.

“You’re a cheater. Remind me of your inability to play fair the next time you want to do this,” Ashari says, laughing.

“Nah, you just don’t know how to drive, Shari.”

Turning my wheel, I prepare to steer my bumper car in another direction, knowing I’ll be ramming into Ashari’s carshortly. Rolling her eyes, Ashari takes off again with one hand on the wheel and the other in the air. It’s precisely why I keep catching up and ramming her. Somehow, Ashari doesn’t understand the purpose of bumper cars, which is not to look cute while driving.

*wham*

“Kayshon!” Ashari shouts, as I throw my head and crack up at her wide eyes coinciding with the jerk of her head when I crash into her again.

“You make this shit too easy, love.”

“I don’t want to drive anymore. You’re gonna give me whiplash,” Ashari says, pouting.

“Awe. I’ll massage every inch of your body to remove any pain.”

Seeing the light twinkle in Ashari’s eyes has my dick jumping, which causes me to subtly adjust so no one can see what she does to me.

“Deal. Can we get something to eat from the concession booth? I need a minute to regroup.”

“Of course. I’m sure the kids are tired of seeing you cry anyway.”

Flicking me off, Ashari drives off toward the guy in charge of the car return as I follow her with a goofy grin I can’t contain. Given my history with women, I’m sure my past jump-offs don’t believe that I’m incapable of not only falling in but being in love with a woman. However, no one has given me a reason to exercise my right to show the love my mother showed me before her untimely death. Love has never been the issue forme… Making love was. Thanks to Ashari, I can finally say that’s a limitation I no longer have.

“What do you want?” I ask Ashari a few minutes later as my pulse races with the warmth from our hand connection.

“Nachos, a personal supreme pizza, a pretzel, and a cherry icee.”

Releasing Ashari’s hand, I give her a sideways look because how on Earth is she about to eat all this shit by herself?

“What?”

“Did you eat today?”

“Yeah, I had a turkey, ham, Swiss panini, two bags of salt and vinegar chips, and three white macadamia nut cookies.”

Damn. Does little baby have a tapeworm?

“What can I get for you two?” the girl behind the plexiglass asks, popping the gum she’s chewing that has a frown upturning my lips as she puts me in the mind of Teyana Taylor in that Tyler Perry movie.

“Someone with manners,” I say as Ashari nudges me while mouthing for me to be nice before placing her order.

“Your total?—”

---