Page 72 of Maceo

“All day, every day. Just tell me your vision, and I can bring it to life.”

She smiled and looked at me. “I’ll keep that in mind when I ask your brother for jewelry.”

I shook my head. “Here you go. I’ll take it, Enzo.”

“Great. Just let me polish it to give it that extra shine, and I’ll box it up for you.”

“Bet.”

Salima went to slip the ring off, and the smile dropped from her face.

“What?” I asked.

“I can’t take it off.”

“Whatchu’ mean you can’t take it off?”

“I can’t take it off! It’s stuck!”

“Dammit, Salima. How am I?—”

She laughed loudly as she slipped the ring off and handed it to Enzo. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Don’t have a cow.”

“You play too much, woman.”

Enzo chuckled. “Give me a few minutes.”

He disappeared in the back, leaving us alone.

“I can’t believe you two are getting married!” Salima said excitedly. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you, sis.”

“I remember when Shar first admitted she liked you for more than a fuck. She was a little afraid you didn’t feel the same way.”

“Yeah, she told me that. The whole time my ass was falling in love.”

I’d been in slight denial about our relationship for a little bit. I’d convinced myself we were just a lil’ friends with benefits type of deal, but it was clearly more than that. I spent most of my free time with Shar. I brought her around my family, and I went around hers. I paid her bills, bought her shit, and gaveher spending money. We were out here doing relationship shit without a title.

I didn’t do that.

It didn’t take me long after that to realize I’d met my best friend. The fact that I had no qualms about doing anything with or for her let me know I was feeling her more than I admitted. It was only natural to make her my lady, and I asked her at the most random time.

We were sitting in her living room where she had me taking her braids out so she could wash her hair. My damn fingers were cramping up because she had these little ass braids, and we’d been at it for what seemed like hours.

“Yo, you bet not ever get shit this small again,” I fussed.

She laughed. “You volunteered to help me.”

“That was before I knew what a job it was.”

“You have sisters. They’ve never made you help take braids out?”

“Hell no. That’s why they have their mamas.”

“What about your little bust downs?”

“Bust downs don’t get this type of treatment.”

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