Page 40 of Sugar Baby
Once the graduation was over, we met up with him inthe lobby for pictures. After that, we headed to his favorite restaurant for dinner.
“Can I have a glass of champagne to celebrate?” he asked.
Terry shook her head and chuckled while Tony gave him a quick no. “You might as well let him have it here in front of you,” his mama said. “If you don’t, he’s only going to go somewhere and drink alone or with people he doesn’t know.”
“You got that right,” Sugar grumbled under her breath, but he heard her anyway.
As they bickered in true sibling fashion, I took a few off guard pictures that I’d show her when she was missing him. When our waitress came back, Tony ordered champagne for the whole table, including Tyreek. Tony led the toasts, followed by his wife and Sugar. I wasn’t a man of many words, so when they all looked at me expectantly, I pulled the envelope out of my pocket and slid it across the table toward him.
“Proud of you, young man. You kept your word, and that’s your reward. Congratulations, and good luck with your continued success.”
“Thanks, Cash!” he replied excitedly as he ripped the envelope open.
Inside was Tristan’s information so he could work with him directly, the information on his app and the contact information for the tech team I’d hired to help him build it, and a check for a quarter of a million dollars. That was more than enough to keep him from having to worry about working so he could focus on his studies and the app.
By the time he was done looking everything over, he hopped from the table and ran in my direction.
“What is it?” Terry asked, reaching for the contents of the envelope.
“Thank you, Cash,” he muttered against my shirt, gently beating my back as he held me tightly. “Thank you so much. I promise you won’t regret believing in me. I swear.”
“I know I won’t. Congratulations again, and never hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
After he released me, Tony pulled me in for a hug with tears in his eyes. He thanked me, and so did a weepy Terry. When I sat back down, Sugar Baby wrapped her arm around me and used her free hand to turn my head in her direction. She planted a sweet, tender kiss on my lips before saying, “I’m going to show you how much I appreciate you when we get home.”
Smiling, I kissed her again before declaring, “I like the sound of that.”
We finished our dinner, and by that time, the car Tony and Terry had gotten Tyreek had been delivered by the dealership. He cried again before thanking them and pulling out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell. I watched in amusement and pride. If I felt this proud of a boy I’d just met this year, I couldn’t wait to see how good this shit would feel when I did it for my own children.
August
Sugar Baby was finally doingwhat she loved—baking full time. She’d done her soft launch last month and it was a success. I wasn’t into social media, but I spread the word on the streets and told them to share it with everyone theyknew. This time around, she received just as much support for her baking as she did her catering. I felt like when she initially tried to start her bakery, it just wasn’t the right season.
Now, her aunt was thriving with the catering company, she was thriving with the bakery, and everything just felt . . . right. If nothing else, the love and appreciation she had for her success as a baker was worth the work and the wait. People tended to appreciate things less when they were easy to come by. Every day she woke up with a smile, and that was partly because she was finally doing what she loved. I knew that baking was how she felt more connected to her mother as well.
We’d just gotten tattoos and were cruising through the city. She got a tribute to her mother, which was a slice of pie and her mother’s signature underneath it. I’d gotten Pops name on my neck. What Sugar thought was a random drive was very much intentional. As soon as we pulled up to the small storefront suites to the right of the beach, she sat up in her seat.
“Are we getting food?” Her chipper tone and hopeful expression made me laugh.
“We sure can. I gotta show you something first.”
“What?” she asked, so excited she opened her own fucking door.
“Aye!” I yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her back inside the car. “You don’t open your own damn door. The fuck is wrong with you?”
“I forgot! I’m excited!”
“Excited for what? You don’t even know what it is.”
“I have an idea!” she yelled as I got out of the car.
I chuckled as I walked over to her side. This girl truly made me smile, and for a man like me, that said a lot. Sheadded a softness, a sweetness to my life that had been missing. There wasn’t a thing about her that I would change. I took her hand and led her to the third building. The windows were intentionally covered so she wouldn’t be able to see what was inside.
“What’s your idea?” I asked, standing in front of the door.
Her cheeks damn near touched her forehead from her smiling so hard as she looked up at me. “I don’t want to say it and be wrong.”
“Say it,” I commanded, pulling her into me. I dropped a kiss to her lips after pinching her nose.
