Page 16 of Maceo

“You look so damn good, baby,” he said, pulling me in closer. “I almost told you to meet me in Salima’s office.”

I giggled. “You want my girl to curse us both out, don’t you?”

He grinned. “Seriously, though. You look beautiful.”

He leaned in and kissed me. I loved when he was soft with me. Don’t get me wrong, the ruggish, thuggish side of him was forever my favorite, but I was in the era of just wanting to be loved on these days. I loved the cuddling, the lying on his chest and getting booty rubs, or taking baths together.

I loved cooking for him, and he’d come up and wrap his arms around my waist. I loved falling asleep with him still inside me after fucking like animals. All that shit.

“I love you,” I said, peering up at him.

“I love you too, mama. You know this is gonna be us one day, right?”

“I don’t know shit until I see a ring on this here finger.”

“Damn, bae. It’s like that?”

“Straight like that.”

He chuckled. “I hear you.”

His phone must have vibrated in his pocket because he pulled it out and checked it briefly before putting it away.

“Everything okay? Do we have to leave?”

“Nah, everything is good. That was just Zeno telling me that Detective Gates just left.”

We’d gotten up early this morning to check on the safe house since we knew we’d be busy with wedding business all day. Everybody seemed to be in better spirits except Charity. Zeno said she didn’t sleep last night. Instead, she sat on the back patio, staring out into the darkness for hours.

She was the only one up when we got there. She didn’t say anything to us, even when we spoke to her. She just kind of looked right through us. I didn’t trust that bitch. The sooner we could get her out of there, the better.

“Were they able to talk to their families?” I asked.

“The ones that had families, yes. The others spoke with a friend or someone who agreed to come get them. All except Charity. She’s gonna need arrangements to get back to wherever the hell she came from.”

“Hmmm.”

“What? You still on her being off?”

“Nope.”

I was absolutely still on that shit. He was convinced she was just in her head about the traumatic experience. I’d let him have that for now. Someway, somehow, I was going to figure out what she had going on.

The reception was wellunderway at this point. Maceo had gone off to smoke with his brothers, father, and uncle. Salima excused herself to go breastfeed Darlyn. That left me to fend for myself. As I looked around the event space, I spotted Jaeda and Mia sitting together, sipping on drinks and people watching.

I grabbed another drink and made my way over to them.

“Ladies.” I greeted them with a smile.

“Hey, boo,” Jaeda said, standing to hug me.

As I went to hug Mia, she gave me a quick one before gently shoving me aside.

“Girl, move, you’re blocking my view.” She peered around me at the crowd.

“What are you looking at?” I asked.

“Mr. Aaron’s fine ass nephew.”

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