Page 44 of Next Level
I spoke with her a bit more about future decisions, but she said she would never get into a car with any man or boy unless I was aware of it. We discussed Jared further, and I tried to learn more about him, but she didn’t know much. They kept her in the dark. Jared mostly whined to her about his life.
Cherry texted me that she was home safe and to call when I got a chance.
Well, the time was now. Sam was asleep on her bed, so I grabbed my phone and headed out to the pool right outside our door. Grabbing a seat, I dial her number. I have butterflies in my stomach and feel like a teenage boy calling his first girlfriend.
I chuckle to myself. Stop being a bitch.
“Hello, handsome.”
“Hi, beautiful. How’s my Blossom?” My voice is laced with longing.
She giggles. “I’m good. Is it weird that I’m missing you?”
Yes. My Blossom misses me.
“Fuck no. To be honest. I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight without you sprawled out on top of me.”
I can tell she’s smiling when she answers, “Well, hurry home then.”
“Hmm. You have no idea. I’m driving straight through tomorrow. Maybe stopping for gas and some food, but I’m ready to be home.”
She sighs. “I bet.”
Something my daughter said keeps bothering me, so I ask, “Question for you.”
“I’m sure I’ll have an answer for you.”
Feisty. I like it.
“Smart ass,” I huff. “So, why did you really come all the way to help me? You could have just given us the information and called the cops. It’s kind of crazy for you to fly a state over to meet a man. A man like me, without even knowing me.”
I hear her take a deep breath.
I wait.
Another deep breath, and she answers, “You got me.” I can tell she’s smiling that gorgeous smile of hers. “Like I told you, I saw your video—the devotion you have for your daughter—and to go after her.”
She pauses. “I felt something and wanted to meet you. When I talked to Sunshine, she told me you were a great guy.And…you’re fine as hell.”
Her words hit me right in the chest.
“What if I had an ol’ lady?” I question.
“Um…I may have asked Sunshine, who asked Dawg, if you were in a committed relationship,” she says truthfully.
I let out a full-belly laugh. My Blossom chased me.
“What? Don’t laugh,” she whines.
Wiping the tears away, I say with amusment in my voice, “I’m shocked. So you chased your man, huh?”
Cherry fires back, “So, youaremy man?”
“Oh, I’m your man and then some,” I growl.
“What about those other women, won’t they have something to say about it?”
“I don’t give a fuck. I’ll deal with them when I get back. I want to explore us.”
