Page 34 of Love me Like XO

His hands traveled further up, caressing my but through the athletic leggings that I was wearing. “You gon’ get used to it because that’s my job to appreciate everything about you. That way can’t no gas pumping ass nigga come with shit new.” He gave my ass a firm squeeze before he was on his feet. “On my mama when you gimme some I’ma make you have to put some PTO in. They finna have to prepare all the others.”

“Not just a few of them, huh?” I had to join in on his stupidity.

“Nope, all of ‘em.”

Dinner was good,we ended up at an American steakhouse where both of us got burgers and fries. He got a turkey burger while I got beef. Then we talked for a while and even shared a cookie cake for dessert. Our waiter probably thought we were fucking teenagers the way we acted and ordered, but that wasthe fun of it. Enjoying the company and presence of another so much that you forgot your age. You forgot you were in a room full of people because the only person you cared to even think about was right in front of you, trapped in your eyesight.

Instead of going back to his place we ended up at mine because it was closer. That was fine by me, because after working a long ass day I could stand to take a moment on my sofa to decompress. Not to mention I needed to pack a bag for this stupid ass destination wedding my father wanted to have. In three days we’d be stuck hearing my sister whine about how unfair life was and what she needed.

“Yo, what you thinking about?” Malik’s voice interrupted my thought.

“This wedding and the fact that my fath?—”

“You’re staying with me, right?” he asked.

“You almost sounded like you were asking me.” I chuckled.

“I tried to act like I was, but we both know that answer.”

Silence swept the space, then somehow my eyes found their way on his. He looked like he was about to say something, but he held it back. That was unlike him, unlike the outspoken rude ass nigga I was growing accustomed to.

“I ain’t never wanted to be with no female like this. Like a nigga wanna hear ‘bout yo’ day and actually give a fuck about the shit that irritated or bothered you.”

A grin covered my face. “That’s because you like the chase. What happens when you’re no longer chasing me?”

You would’ve thought I cracked a joke because he started laughing immediately after and his laughter lasted for at least a minute.

“You really think I’m chasing you, Lil’ One? ‘Cause I’m not. I already got you and you call yo’self making me wait, and I respect that but baby girl like Lil’ Miami or whatever her fucking name is said, we go together real bad.”

I just looked at him, wanting to believe what he said and jump in headfirst, but men were… men. “If that’s true then are you entertaining other women, currently?”

He didn’t flinch at all or get nervous. “Entertaining is a strong ass word.”

“Then what word would you use?”

“Fucking. I see a few females around the way, but I told you. I ain’t never been serious about anything the way I am about this or you. I want you and I ain’t only talking about physically.”

I nodded my head. There was that jealousy again. The idea of this man spending time with anyone other than me, bothered me. It bothered me bad, even though he wasn’t my man, but I wanted him to be, right? Or did I? Was I even ready for another relationship so soon after Hadees and his bullshit? I just didn’t want Malik to be a rebound because he deserved more than that.

ZERO

I walked the warehouse with a big ass smile on my face. Now I was nowhere near a smile for no reason type of nigga, but life was good, and we had successfully entered our first stage of expansion. Malik did his part, and now it was my turn to handle the talking.

“So, you’re willing to front me fifty up top just so my streets don’t dry up after all this bullshit that hit the streets,” this hood nigga name Henny asked never taking his eyes off mine.

“As long as I’m making my shit right back off top, I don’t see where there’s a problem.”

He nodded. “This is all fucked up. Georgie got it at the freight station and on TSA. Though he had a markup out of this world, his shit was pure, and I could step on that shit a million times before a anybody noticed.”

I nodded my head. “Look I ain’t out her trying to compete with prices or any of that shit. I know my product though and as you can tell, ain’t no shortage in sight for me. You could refuse this deal and your blocks dry up while you wait on Georgie and the boys to get back up and running.”

He pressed a closed fist against his lips as if he was thinking. “You know this gonna have them motherfuckers coming at you, right?”

I chuckled. “I’m already banking on that. Shit the way I see it, old dude can’t keep up with supply and demand. I’d be a damned fool not to capitalize off it.”

“You’re right. These the streets, niggas don’t say can I. Fuck the pleasantries.”

I nodded agreeing with him.

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