Page 42 of Divine II

“Cooking,” I said as if he couldn’t see exactly what I was doing.

“You’re supposed to be kicking back with a glass of wine. What happened to that?”

“I knew you would be hungry when you made it back, so I went ahead and cooked.”

“You also know that I’m supposed to feed you. That’s part of our after-care routine.”

“I know, baby, but I didn’t think it mattered who provided the food.”

“Now you know,” he informed me.

“Did you bring back food?” I asked.

“When I realized that my phone wasn’t done drying out, I couldn’t call to ask what you had a taste for. Plus, I couldn’t call in and order anything. I didn’t want to have to go inside somewhere and order then try to get it to you in a reasonable time. I knew I told you I was coming right back,” he explained.

“Aw, my baby. You’re always thinking of me,” I cooed as I moved around the counter to stand in front of him.

“You already knew that,” he said with a crooked smile.

“I’m always thinking of you too. That’s why I went ahead and cooked. I’m glad you didn’t try to go out and get anything. I didn’t need you taking any longer to get back to me.”

“Whatever. You wasn’t studdin’ a nigga until I tripped you with this third leg.” He chuckled.

“That’s a lie. I missed you.”

“I’m just fucking with you.”

“Good. Because you didn’t trip me with your third leg. You just slowed me down long enough so I could see what was important.” I smiled.

“Oh, really?”

“Hell yes. That dick got magical powers. It healed my heart when I thought it was hopeless. As magnificent as it is, it’s not what made me fall in love with you. It was you. You put me back together when I was broken. I didn’t even know how broken I was until I realized how much I loved you. I loved you from the bottom of my soul, but I still wasn’t willing to accept love from you. I knew I couldn’t have you, so I was never crazy enough to look deeper into what was growing between us.”

“Then I stunned your ass with this lightning rod.” He chuckled.

“Shut up.” I giggled, hitting him on the chest before turning to walk over to the stove.

I shrieked when he smacked me on the ass.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you, too, Lee Lee,” I said, looking over my shoulder with a smile as I assembled our stir fry bowls.

“Just now or the whole time I was gone?” he asked, pulling out a stool from my kitchen island and taking a seat.

“Every time you leave my presence, I miss you. When we’re in separate rooms, I miss you. When you go to the bathroom, I miss you, Liam. Those weeks when you were away, I thought I was going to lose my mind. You see, I broke down and went to Psalm for your parents’ address.

“I had to see you. Not only did I miss you, but I was worried sick about you. I know how it feels to lose a parent. I didn’t want you going through that alone. You never left my side when I was at my lowest. I wanted to be there for you, but you blocked me out. You can’t do that again, Liam,” I told him as I walked over and gave him his bowl.

“I won’t, baby.”

“Promise me, Liam,” I said, walking around the island to sit next to him.

“I’m not going anywhere, Divine,” Liam vowed, covering my hand with his.

“I was so scared when I didn’t know if you were ever coming back to me. I didn’t want to imagine how life would be after knowing that I had met the love of my life and lost him. I wish you could be here permanently. I should have let you go to Bishop,” I said, shaking my head as tears threatened to dampen my cheeks.

“Don’t.”

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