Page 123 of Don Caselli

She looked at me like she wasn’t sure. “He’s an accountant,” Zoya confirmed for her. “Can help you out, get you tax breaks and funding beyond Case Cares,” she continued to explain.

“Oh, no problem. I can email you everything.”

We exchanged information and I knew I was going to have gray hair when I looked over Jordan’s books. She was learning and didn’t know everything that came with having a non-profit. I was confident that I could get her shit on the right track so thatdonation wasn’t ate up within seconds. I came in here for a damn dog and left having a new client and charity to support.

Zoya held the door opened to her new Range Rover, and Bando’s ol’ sophisticated ass jumped up in the passenger seat like he knew what the hell he was doing or knew where he was going.

“If I call you at midnight crying, it’s because he lied to me and he might have to come back to get killed.”

“Zoya, what the fuck?” Amber gasped hearing the words that left her mouth. “She’s fucking around,” I lied, never really knowing what the fuck went through my sister’s head.

I watched as she put the window down, and Bando stuck his head out the window, excited for his freedom ride home. Zoya beeped her horn, slapping her sunglasses on her face, and pulling away from the curb, while I watched and waited for Mink-Mink to come out.

“Chill, Mink… stop pulling me,”I yanked her back slightly, and she settled down. “I get you excited, baby, but you got to chill out. We ain’t gonna see Mommy for a few days,” I spoke to her, as the doorman tried to become one with the back of the door when he saw her.

“Hi, Mr. Caselli… a dog?”

“It’s my girlfriend’s dog,” I replied, walking to the elevator, while holding her tightly. She wasn’t aggressive, but I could see why people would be afraid to walk up on her.

When we made it upstairs, I took the leash off and let her explore her home for the next few days. She followed behind meas I made my way to my desk and powered on my monitors and sat down.

“This is either the sweetest shit I’ve ever done, or the most stupid, but we shall let Pooh decide,” I spoke to nobody in particular, as I checked the accounts and saw the wires from both me and Menace’s account.

I looked over at the documents that Pooh needed to sign and smiled to myself, reaching out to pet Mink’s head. She mushed her head onto my hand wanting more, as I looked down at her.

“You a Caselli before yo’ mama,” I laughed, looking at the paperwork that the shelter had given me when I signed my life on the line for her.

19

NavyBLEU

Recommendation: Listen to “Wifey” by Next

The front deskdidn’t ask me where I was going or who I was here to see the minute that I entered Landon’s building. They smiled, allowing me to head toward the elevator with the fob he gave me to access his floor.

A girl felt all official because he given me a fob to his house. That was like giving me a key to his house, right? I held the grocery bag in my hands as the elevator took me up to his floor. Tonight, he was having a dinner for my parents and his siblings to meet. I was going to meet his family, officially, and I was nervous. I was so nervous to meet his sisters and then Menace again.

Music played through the penthouse, and I could smell the delicious aroma of food. Landon had me skeptical when he told me he was going to cook for tonight. I hadn’t seen him since I had been back from St. Lucia.

As much as I wanted to be in his arms, I was invited by a makeup brand to a quick staycation outside of the city, and then I had campaigns that were due, so I had to lock in. Being in love was cool, but I refused to allow that to knock me off my square.

I had a plan to retire my family.

Being consistent was important and I needed that time to handle that. Next week was the abortion and when they called me to confirm, I nearly screamed for her to confirm the appointment.

“Someone I could spend my life with,” I heard Landon singing, and followed his voice to the kitchen. He was singing into the spoon, and I laughed, putting the bag down.

He had his durag on, no shirt, and a kitchen towel was tossed over his shoulder. I watched as he sang the song with everything in him; while tasting the food he had simmering on the stove. When he spun around, he saw me standing there, a big ass smile came up on his face.

Abandoning the spoon, we rushed toward each other, and he picked me up, kissing my lips a million times, while holding me tightly in his arms. “This your song, huh?”

I held his face and kissed his lips. “I missed you, Pooh.”

“I missed you, too… we shouldn’t be this down bad for each other. It’s actually sickening,” I laughed as I kissed his lips a few times.

He put me back down on the floor and grabbed my hand and spun me around. We were dancing in the middle of the kitchen as he sang to me, and I laughed because this was one of my favorite songs.

“Will you be my wifey?” he sang out the words, but it felt different from the lyrics. It was like he was asking me without asking.

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