Page 41 of Truce Of The Matter

“You good?” I ask.

“Why you ask that?”

“Your eyes. They dipped a little. They overworking you already?”

“No. It’s not work. They are a great team. They are holding it down without me or my dad. It’s family stuff. I’m going back to my par… I mean, my dad’s in the morning. Daija and I are going through my mom’s stuff.”

“Oh,” is all I manage to say.

“Yeah. Tomorrow’s going to be a day.”

“I’m a phone call away.”

“And I know that. God! Sexy and sweet.”

“I don’t know about sweet but I do love and protect the ladies in my life. That’s the way I’m built.”

“Ladies?” she questions but with amusement. She knows I’m locked in on her.

“Yeah. Aryel, you, my mom, and my sister,” I tell her.

“Just checking.” She smirks. “I can’t be out here looking crazy, kissing you in my restaurant, and softening up for you, and you have other ladies.”

“Now that I finally got your sexy ass, I don’t even see any other ladies like that. I told you; I fell for you years ago. It just took us some time to get here, and now that we are, the only lady besides my family will always be just you.”

“Good to know. Now, aren’t you going to ask me about men?”

“Nah.”

“Rex,” she challenges. “You aren’t at all curious about the men in my life?”

“I know about your father and the men at the restaurant.”

While grinning she asks, “And the others?”

“Them ‘others’ niggas disappeared the minute you let me take you home that night at Flavor. Don’t try me, Truce. Just because I don’t get in the ring anymore doesn’t mean I lost my hands. I still have them.”

“You sound and look too serious,” she says, still smirking, but I’m serious as hell. Them other niggas don’t mean shit to me.

“’Cause I’m deadass.”

“Well, damn,” she says with a light titter. “It’s a good thing I’m only FaceTiming you after ten, in my PJs, in my favorite spot.”

“With them thighs all out, tempting me.”

“Yep. Good thing. Now smile. Stop looking so mean,” she says and I do. “See. So much better. Now, the even better thing would be if you could be right here with me.”

“I got you Saturday.”

“Remember you said that.” She yawns. “Go take your shower. I need to lay it down.”

“Good night, sexy.”

“Good night,” she says before ending the call.

After placing mine on the charging station, I trek into my bathroom to take a shower. My day starts early and I want to stop by the bakery in the morning to pick up something for Aryel and her class. After our conversation about Aria, I need to make sure my baby girl is straight.

Chapter 13

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