Page 24 of Made to Love Ya

I pulled up at my complex and dragged myself out of the car. I hoped for once that Izael wouldn’t be home so I could have a pity party alone. I had gone on the blind date that Eve set me up on to get over Izael. Unfortunately, when I opened the door, I saw Izael sitting on the couch.

He took one look at me, frowned, and asked, “What’s wrong, baby girl?”

I shook my head and placed my keys and purse on the foyer table as I headed deeper into my three-bedroom apartment.

“Come here,” he called to me and wiggled his fingers.

“I’m good, Zae.”

“Hey, let me call you back,” he said.

That was the first time I noticed he had his AirPods in.

“Don’t,” I stated, but it was too late.

He removed them from his ears, stood, and walked to me. When he grabbed my fingertips, I wanted to curl into his arms and have him make everything better.

“You been crying, Cinnamon?” he asked as his thumbs swiped underneath my eyes. A little gasp escaped my lips because he hadn’t called me that name since I was in high school. “What?”

“You haven’t called me that since I was in high school.”

He smiled. “Don’t change the subject. Why were you crying?”

“I’m just tired, Zae.”

“Of?”

“Men.”

“Come on. I’ve got something for you, baby girl,” he assured, then tugged my hand toward the kitchen.

“I’ve eaten dinner.”

“This isn’t about dinner,” he countered.

“Well, I don’t want whatever it is,” I whined.

“Hop up here,” he ordered and patted the counter.

I crossed my arms and shook my head. “I’m not getting up there.”

“What I tell you to do, Cinnamon?”

“You’re not my daddy, and calling me that sweet name won’t make me do what you tell me to do. You and Tahj always acted like?—”

He smirked, lifted me, and sat me on the counter. “I’m not ya daddy, and I’m not ya brother. Now, sit your ass here and behave.”

I crossed my arms and pouted some more as I watched him. He fixed me a gigantic bowl of butter pecan ice cream and sprinkled crushed walnuts and drizzled homemade caramel sauce that I made the night before on top.

He made himself a bowl, too, handed mine to me, and tugged my hand. When I jumped off the counter, he led me back to the living room.

“A’ight. So, you had a date tonight.”

“How did you know?” I asked before I spooned some ice cream into my mouth.

“I know what’s going on with you, baby girl. I pay attention.”

“To what?”

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