Page 54 of Until the Ink Dries

Mutual chuckles came from them as they returned my kiss. My mother sat up and looked back at me.

“Where are you going?”

Nervously, I took a step back. I’d insisted nothing was going on with Benny and that he was just a friend. I wasn’t so sure about that anymore. I enjoyed his company… and his kisses. Gosh, his kisses made me squeeze my thighs together.

“Willow?” my father said, breaking my thoughts.

“I um… I have a date.”

Both their eyes widened as they spoke in unison. “A date?”

“Yes… with Benjamin.”

They looked from me to each other, then refocused their attention back to the television.

“You don’t have anything to say?” I asked.

“You’re grown,” my mother said, turning back. “I trust you know what you’re doing. Just… be careful. You may claim to be single, but you still have to deal with Ellis when you leave here. Remember that you will eventually leave. Don’t make it harder for you or this young man. From what Delores Carter told me, don’t make it hard on his daughter, either. She said you three looked like a little family at that fundraiser.”

Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. That woman loved to gossip. She would tell your business to anybody that was willing to listen.

“I’m being careful, Ma.”

Am I really, though?

“You didn’t tell us he had a child,” my father said.

“She’s five and the most adorable little girl. She’s such a sweetheart. You would love her.”

“Well, when are we meeting this young man and his daughter?” my mother asked.

I shrugged as I rounded the couch and took a seat. “I don’t know. I don’t know if we’re there yet.”

My father turned to me with a raised eyebrow. “Where is there?”

“Meeting the family, Daddy. We’re just friends right now.”

“So thereispotential for this to go beyond friendship.”

I was glad when I heard a knock on the door. It had to be Benny, saving me from this conversation. I walked over and unlocked it before opening the door wide. He stood there looking fine as hell in all black from head to toe. A light bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. I reached out to swipe it away.

“Hey, you,” I said, smiling.

“Hey, love.” He leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “You ready to go?”

“Yep. Mama, Daddy I’ll see y’all later. I love you.”

I quickly darted out the door to avoid an awkward conversation.

“Now your parents are gonna think I’m rude because I didn’t speak.”

I pointed over my shoulder. “Do you want to go back in there and get the third degree? Delores Carter has already told them how cozy we looked at the fundraiser.”

Benny frowned. “Ol’ gossiping ass. My grandma used to say you give a nigga a rib and they’ll tell everything.”

I laughed. “Mine said the same thing. She had a saying for everything, and it rarely made sense, but somehow, it applied.”

“It always does.” He picked up the second helmet. “You ready?”

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