Page 49 of Hooked on Loving Him

My phone vibrates on the table, causing me to jump slightly as my heart races, and my hand shakes when I pick it up. Two unread messages pop up on the screen as I bite my lip while opening my text app.

Papa Ren:

The way your eyes froze before looking away from me is the only reason I chose to walk away. However, God still shared some things with me concerning you. For now, I’ll hold onto the information. Love you much, Ashari Jade.

My heart rate elevates, causing my breath to hitch while reading and rereading Papa Ren’s message because I knew something was up while looking at him. Although I’m gratefulthat he didn’t share the message with me at this moment, I’m now curious about what he’s withholding. Releasing the breath gathering in my chest, I close out of Papa Ren’s message and go to the next one.

My Reformed Cat Catcher:

Hey, Shari. Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking about you. I hope you’re enjoying your girl time.

Kayshon’s words warm me in a way that causes my pussy to tingle and my chest to expand. Knowing that, even in our separation, Kayshon thinks about me makes my heart skip a beat. Falling in love with Kayshon wasn’t easy, but now that I’m feeling it, I don’t regret falling for him.

Now, if I can just get him to address the elephant stomping through the room we jointly occupy.

Not knowing what decision Kayshon made pertaining to our future causes my blood pressure to spike. Yet, I’m holding my thoughts until Kayshon opens up and tells me, even though fear silently grips me at the thought of not having children in the future.

“Are all of you married?”I ask, looking around the group of men surrounding me and my brothers.

“Yeah… married with children in the chokeholds that our women dropped on us like a WWE match,” Nino Bellamy says, shaking his head like his wife twisted his arm despite the light in his eyes.

“Ignore this emotional nigga. His ass loves the dirty drawers his wife smacks him with,” Gavyn says, smirking.

Tonight, Kyce, Jawaan, and I are kicking it with Caine, Nino, and Gavyn Bellamy because Ashari and I needed to spend time with our people. I love my woman, but I never want to get so lost in her that I don’t know how to breathe without her. I also don’t ever want her to feel like I’m suffocating or smothering her. Nordo I want her to feel like being with me means losing herself in what we have. I’m not an insecure nigga, so I don’t have to eat, sleep, and fuck my woman while sacrificing our independence.

“How is it that we all live in the same city, and this is the first time we’ve met?” Jawaan asks.

“Sometimes the plans of Big Homie are a mystery until it's necessary to be revealed. Obviously, He felt the need for us to link now,” Nino says.

“Oh, look at the wannabe best friend Big Homie will never confirm,” Caine interjects, causing everyone but Nino to start laughing.

“I want to laugh too. How about I come join this group of masculine perfection?” a female voice says, halting our laughter as everyone’s eyes fall on the unknown woman.

My lips curl into a snarl at seeing the woman standing at the entrance of the area we’re in atTy-Walt’s Clouds of Rhapsody.

“How about you spend more time investing in some shit that will regulate your PH balance, because the whiff of your pussy has my dick shriveling up like a baby turtle,” Jawaan says, frowning.

“Hell yeah. Walking your rank ass over here with those heels leaning to the side with your pinky toe looking like it wants to play peek-a-boo,” Nino adds.

Shaking my head, I fight the urge to laugh as the woman’s face drops, and her eyes fill with anger. Before she can say something, Kyce speaks up, attempting to soften the blow from Jawaan’s and Nino’s statements.

“No disrespect, little mama, but it’s just the fellas tonight. Besides, we’re all spoken for,” Kyce says.

“Shidd, no we all ain’t, but my dick ain’t never been desperate enough for the likes of her,” Jawaan says.

“Man, I’m adopting you into the Bellamy clan as a cousin because I can fuck with you,” Nino says.

As if the woman isn’t still standing there, conversation resumes, forcing the woman to stomp away. All of us laugh at her retreating back. Being in a relationship has a new meaning, and nothing in me makes me wish for my status to return to singlehood. Ashari is also not a woman who I’ll ever be cool with letting go of, so there’s that.

*bzz, bzz*

Feeling vibrating in my pocket, I pull my phone out as warmth and electricity spread throughout my body when I see Ashari’s name on my screen.

“Nah. Tonight is about us, fellas. We left the ball and chains at the crib. Come on, man,” Nino says dramatically.

“Oh, here comes the bullshit.” Caine shakes his head as Gavyn smirks.

“Don’t let this man have you licking and sucking pussy tonight to erase the unease your woman gets when you don’t answer,” Gavyn says.

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