Page 111 of 10,000 Hours With A Rich Menace

“I can hear your thoughts all the way down here, Wonder,” his rough morning voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“How do you know that I’m thinking?”

He snorted. “You wake up with thoughts, baby. Wanna fill me in, or is this your quiet hour?”

“We’re getting married today.”

He looked up, resting his chin on my chest. “Tell me if this isn’t something you’re ready for.”

“Do you think I’m ready to be a wife?” I questioned.

“I do.”

“Are you just saying that ‘cause you need one?” I giggled and pinched his nose while he continued to stare into my eyes.

He kissed my stomach. “I’m saying it because I think you are ready to bemywife. Forever ain’t shit that I ever believed in until I met you. I want forever with you and I want to take care of you. This house has never had love in it, and you came in and brought that shit with you. The staff loves you, Wonder. You brighten their day when you come down humming or giving them a canvas that yo’ ass never finished but got them looking at it like it’s a deeper meaning to it.”

“It is… why you being loud?”

“’Cause I heard you the other day talking about that canvas you half finished… why you lie to Carmen like that?”

I laughed so hard my entire body was shaking. “She said it was beautiful, and I messed up on it, so I gave it to her.”

He kissed my hands. “Wonder, if you told me this was all too much for you, I would respect it as long as I don’t lose you. I don’t ever need no muthafucka, but you… I need you.”

I held his face as he came closer and kissed my lips. “I need you, too, Mavie.”

“You mean that shit?”

“With my whole heart, baby. I have so much to do today and that starts with going to the salon, and then explaining to Alex that I am getting married today.”

“Bringing up a random man’s name is a sure way to have me crash out, Beloved.”

I laughed. “He’s a fake uncle that owns the store on my block. My mother made him promise to always look out for me and he has. I’ve been keeping in touch via text message, but I know he’s worried about me… like Cindy is.”

“I get to meet this fake uncle?”

“If he can get away from the store to come… I kind of told him last minute on purpose because I didn’t want to hear the lecture.”

“Means he cares if he is giving you a lecture.”

“I had to do this on my own, Maverick. When my mother was alive, I always relied on my mother to guide me and then when she passed away, I was so lost. When Skyler moved here, I relied on her guidance even though she’s younger than me. I’ve felt lost for a long time, and this time I needed to make this decision without anyone else’s opinion. I had to form my opinion on my own, go with what my heart and gut was telling me. As much as I love Alex, he would have called me crazy and tried to convince me to do the opposite.”

“What are your gut and heart telling you now, Wonder?”

I used my finger and brushed his lashes, my favorite thing about him. “That you are the one for me. You give me the space to live in my head, but you also reel me in, too. I can never gettoo deep in my head before you’re telling me that I’m thinking too loud,” I giggled while my eyes filled with tears. “I feel protected and safe with you, Maverick. I hope I make you feel the same way.”

He kissed my lips. “Ain’t never had a woman make me feel the way that you do, Wonder. When I pull through our gates, I can’t get up the hill quick enough because I know you are waiting for me. Coming home to an empty house was something that came with my life and I never put much thought into it. I was lonely and craved someone who understood me, and not many do. I’m not even sure that you understand me, but you are patient with me. You don’t try and make me someone that I’m not. Like I said, I need and want you… can’t see me not having you. I’m glad you’re a thief because we wouldn’t have crossed paths.”

“I am not a thief, Mitchell.”

“Wanda, you had shorty putting my money in your account… I’m gonna go with you a partial thief. Oh, and baby you don’t gotta steal grapes no more… we got money to buy some.”

“Anyway, we may have crossed paths eventually. When Skyler, Corleon and Jeffie got married… or tried to get married. Either way, when they had a ceremony, I would have met you.”

“That’s too long for me; I need you now. Skyler acting slow, so who knows when that will happen.”

“Maverick!” I pinched him, as he rolled over, and pulled me on top of him.

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