Page 19 of Can I?

I was nervous as hell, and I didn’t know why. She smiled big, and I realized Milana had definitely inherited that from her.

“No apology needed. I take it that you’ve looked me up at some point. What’s your name?”

“My name is Ferris Botley. When Asad introduced me to the rodeo world, I started looking people up, especially when I saw you and your team relay at the Bill Pickett one year. Congratulations on all of your accomplishments. You’re a beast.”

She smiled again. I was talking too damn much. I supposed I was somewhat star struck.

“Thank you, Ferris. It’s nice to meet you. I guess I’ll be seeing you around?” she asked with her eyebrows slightly lifted.

I glanced at Milana and squeezed her hand. “I truly hope so.”

She smiled again and left us alone. When Milana chuckled, I knew she was laughing at me. “What’s funny?”

“You spazzing out in front of my mama. She the shit, though, so I get it.”

I slid my hand down my face. “Maaaan, I couldn’t even control my excitement. Sad.”

Before she could say anything else, they’d finally gotten our tables situated. When we got to our area, I pulled out Milana’s seat. Once she sat, I noticed Ashanni sit on the other side of her and Asad sit across from Ashanni. His ass was going to be staring at her the whole time we were here. I just hoped she didn’t get uncomfortable.

After sitting next to Milana, she grabbed my hand again. It was like she couldn’t be close to me without touching me in some way. I loved that shit, because I felt the same way when Iwas close to her. As I looked around the table, I could see her mom and dad watching us with a slight smile on their faces. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but I would accept it as somewhat of an approval. Leaning over to Milana, I inhaled her scent. She smelled like a sweet flower.

“You look so beautiful. Every time I’ve seen you, it’s been hard to keep my eyes off you.”

“Thank you,” she said as her chocolate complexion reddened.

“Why you blushing? I know that you know you’re gorgeous.”

“I absolutely know it. Have you seen my parents? I didn’t have a choice but be. It still feels good to hear someone else acknowledge what I already know.”

“Well, shit. I appreciate a woman who knows her worth. Yours has to be weighed in rubies.”

She smiled, then asked, “What is it about me that attracted you?”

“Well, the first thing I noticed was your height. I love tall women. I swear you look like royalty . . . like you supposed to be on a throne. Then it was your eyes. They are so exotic looking.”

“I have my grandmother’s eyes. My mom’s eyes are slanted, too, but not as much as mine. Whenever I look in the mirror, I see her, and it warms my heart.”

“How long has she been gone?” I asked as I caressed her hand.

“Umm . . . maybe about five years or so. I miss her a lot.”

“I bet. One of my grandmothers died a few years ago too. You reminded me of her with how you were tearing that chicken up earlier.”

She laughed and shoulder bumped me. “I take it she liked fried chicken.”

“Hell yeah. She used to suck the bones.”

“I do that sometimes at home. The flavor that comes out of it is so good.”

I frowned as I stared at her. She couldn’t be serious. That was some old people shit. When she looked over at me, she laughed loudly. “Ferris! You’ve never done that?”

“Hell naw. I ain’t never had a desire to do that shit either.”

She nudged Ashanni and said, “You remember we used to suck the chicken bones sometimes?”

“Hell yeah. I still do that shit from time to time,” Ashanni said and laughed.

That had to be a country thang, because there was no way I was finna suck a damn bone like I was starving, when I could just get another piece of chicken. “I take it y’all suck the heads off crawfish too?” I asked then curled my lip up.

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