Page 25 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
“I’m going to be honest with you, Khalif. I’m in love with you.” He took a few steps back from me.
“You’re a child, Bobbi.”
“I’m eighteen.”
“That’s still a fucking child to me. Don’t ever try to pull no bullshit like that on me again. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s best that you come ’round here no more. I’ll find someone else to keep Khali for me.”
“Are you serious?” Moisture filled the brims of my eyes. This wasn’t how I was expecting this to go.
He gripped me by the forearm and dragged me toward the front door. “Very much serious. Don’t even play with me like that.”
Snatching away from him, I faced him with tears cascading down my cheeks. “I’m not playing. I’m really in love with you. I thought you would’ve understood.”
“You need to be worried ’bout someone yo’ own age. It ain’t shit you can do for me.” He opened the door and said, “Goodnight, Bobbi.”
I stood there, peering at him with shimmering eyes. He was really putting me out of his house because I expressed my love for him. This was straight bullshit. I’d never be able to step foot in this house again. I’d have to find myself another part-time job. My life was ruined because I thought that he’d understand. I was far from a child. He just needed to see that.
I reached for him, and he stepped back. “I’m not playing with you, Bobbi. Get out.”
My heart felt as if it had been ripped out of my chest. Lowering my head, I exited the house. When I turned to say something, he slammed the door in my face. Fuck.
Taking the steps down, I went to my car and climbed inside. The floodgates opened soon as I shut the door. Wiping my eyes with my fingertips, I backed away from the house and headed home. Since I stayed down the street, it didn’t take me long to get there. Ma and Daddy were already there because both of their cars were in the driveway. That reminded me that Ma hadcalled twice, and I never called her back to see what she wanted. Maybe that should’ve been my main focus.
Wiping my face with the hem of my dress, I got out the car and headed up to the front door. It pulled open soon as I reached the porch, and Ma stood there with her hand resting on her hip. “And just where have you been?”
“I was down there at Khalif’s house. He needed me to watch Khali.”
“How come you didn’t answer the phone when I called?”
I knew I couldn’t tell her that I was too busy trying to seduce a grown ass man, so I was quick on my feet and said, “I was helping Khali with her homework, and then I did some tidying up around the house. I didn’t know you had called.”
“Uh-huh. I wanted to see if you were in town. I was gon’ ask you to stop by the store and bring some milk.”
“Sorry.”
She stepped out of the way and allowed me into the house. I wasted no time going to my bedroom. After what happened with Khalif, I didn’t want to be bothered. Soon as I entered my room, I shut the door behind me and tossed myself onto the bed. Khalif may look at me now as if I’m a child, but he damn sure isn’t before it’s over with. I’m gon’ get my man.
Chapter 11
Remedi
A few days later
Noises came from the front of the house. Prada barked at my bedroom door. The last time I checked, I was the only one here. There shouldn’t be any noise coming from up there. Stepping into the closet, I grabbed the baseball bat out of there that I had and tiptoed to the bedroom door. No one ever spoke about break-ins around here, but I couldn’t be too sure what’s going on. There’d been whispers of other crimes happening. I wouldn’t dare put anything past anyone.
I eased the door open and jumped out of my skin when I saw Reese standing there with her fist in the air. This woman has been gone so long, it’s like she didn’t even live here anymore. Now, she pops up out the blue, trying to give me a heart attack.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I told her and lowered the bat.
“What were you about to do with that?”
“Beat your ass.” I tossed the bat back into the closet and shut the door.
“What if I was a burglar with a gun? What you think that bat would’ve done?”
“It was going to do enough. Want to find out?” My brow arched to my hairline, and she snickered.
“Oh, no, I don’t want to find out.” She tossed her hands up in surrender.
