Page 49 of The Deed to a Gangsta's Heart

“Adam knows.”

Her body stiffened. “What did he say?”

“He’s cool with it. Mama will be too. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Good, because I really want to be with you.” I turned her in my arms. “It’s crazy that your brother breaking up with me led me back home, but I’m glad it happened because it led me to you.”

“You don’t have to spit game to me. You already got the dick.”

She giggled. “That was almost as cute as it was when I said it.”

“Mhm.” I lowered myself to her lips. Squeezing her ass, I tried to kiss her through her smile. “Sweetheart…”

“I can’t help it. I’m so happy here with you.”

“Happy enough to move in with me?”

Luci pulled back slightly and looked up at me. “You want me to move in?”

“Yeah. I mean… there’s plenty of room here though I prefer to have you under me. Your job is only seven minutes away. And I love starting and ending my days with you.”

“You don’t think we’re moving too fast?”

“Not at all. If anything, I feel like I’m waiting on time to align with what my heart has felt since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“Armor,” she cooed. “That was sweet.”

“That was the truth. So what do you say?”

Her mouth twisted to the side as she said, “Hmm… I say yes. Let’s do it.”

“Yeah?”

With a quiet giggle, she nodded. “Yeah.”

Unable to resist, I picked her up and spun her around. I didn’t think my day would get better after having a good conversation with my brother. Now, I had my girl permanently too.

28

Remedy

August

I lookedaround at what me and Callie had gotten done so far in her classroom. Words couldn’t express how proud I was of her. It was like a full circle moment for us getting ready for her first year as a kindergarten teacher… in this same classroom where everything started for us. She proved to me she was a safe space for me, and I thanked God for that every day because not all men were blessed to have that.

I couldn’t keep my eyes off her as she hummed and cut the numbers she planned to string along the wall. A content smile was on her face. I had no idea things would turn out like this when she made it back home, but I was glad they did.

When she was satisfied with the progress we made, we left for lunch. I pulled her in front of me as we looked overthe menu. We’d chosen what had to be the best place for burgers and milk shakes—A Good Burger. They didn’t have inside seating, so the order windows were always crowded. There were four round tables in front of the order station, and they were almost always full. Most times when we came, we knew we were going to have to eat in the car.

“What are you thinking about getting?” she asked me.

“Probably a double cheeseburger.”

“That’s it?” she asked me with a frown.

“Well yeah, because you’re going to want an order of cheese fries that you never eat all of, so I’ma have some of that. And a milkshake.”

Though she sucked her teeth, she smiled, because she knew I was right. “You swear you know me.”

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