Page 37 of Truce Of The Matter

“That’s sweet of you.” My baby girl’s heart is so pure. When I have any doubts about anything I do or have done, one look at her and all that shit goes away. She is proof positive that I did some good in this world. “I love you, baby.”

“I know.” She smirks then adds, “I love you more, daddy.”

When I turn my head to check on Truce, I see her walking from behind the counter with a tray filled with what looks like our food. I immediately get up, rush to her, and take the tray.

“Don’t try me,” I tell her.

“You do know I grew up in here. I’ve done every job in here and can carry a tray or two,” she counters.

“But not if I’m around.”

As soon as we are back at the booth, Aryel studies the tray then looks at Truce. “If you want some of my food, you can have some,” she offers.

“Oh, thank you, cutie, but I’m not hungry,” Truce says and I eye her. In the past few days, she really hasn’t been eating but she promised to try and do better. Clearly picking up on my concern, she quickly adds, “I ate chicken and dumplings before I came here.”

“Good because you—” I begin but the urgent look on the server’s face who rushes over to our booth stops me.

“Sorry,” she apologizes then quickly says, “But they need you in the back.”

“I’ll be right there,” Truce tells her; then she looks at me. “Don’t leave without telling me.”

“I won’t.”

Truce slides out of the booth then rushes to handle her business. Aryel pulls her wipes out of her bookbag, hands me one, then takes one for herself. After we clean our hands, I bless our food and we eat. Questions about Truce dominate our conversation and I gladly answer them all to a certain degree.

Truce is the first woman I have brought around Aryel and she’s definitely the first woman to earn the title girlfriend. The whole thing is exciting and intriguing to my baby girl and she is overjoyed.

“Does Uncle Dax know you have a girlfriend?” she asks while we wait on her to-go box.

“No. Not yet. I had to tell the most important person in life first.”

“Well, can I tell Yaya?” she asks, referring to my mom.

“No. I’ll tell her soon enough. “

“Can I at least tell Kiana?” she asks, referring to her friend.

“Kiana, why you want to tell her?”

“So, her momma can stop liking you,” she says and I chuckle. She can definitely tell Kiana so her thirsty ass momma can fall the fuck back.

“Yeah. Tell her.”

Not only does Aryel look just like my sister, she also inherited Lyra’s desire to tell everyone’s business but her own. However, I’m letting her tell this time. My plan is to bring Truce to my parents’ anniversary party; there she can meet everybody at the same damn time.

Truce actually brings Aryel’s to-go container to our booth. While Aryel is preoccupied with carefully placing her spaghetti, corn, and half eaten roll in the box, I slide out of the booth and crowd Truce’s space. A small smile creeps onto her pretty ass face and when my arm snakes around her, her smile morphs into a full one.

“What time are you leaving?” I ask.

“In another thirty.”

“Hit me when you get home.”

“I definitely will.” My hand grazes the side of her face and she sighs softly. My desire to kiss her lips is strong and I don’t even try to suppress it. After moving my hand under her chin, I lift her head then kiss her passionately. When I release her lips, she smirks then shakes her head. “You can’t kiss me like that in public.”

“Why not?”

“’Cause that’s not a goodbye kiss. That’s a ‘mmhm, I’m here to stay and do other nasty things’ type of kiss.”

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