Page 47 of Plea
“You don’t think y’all moving too fast?” he asked, tilting his head. “I respect where you coming from, and already, I trust you more than the last nigga from this conversation and what my family has been telling me about you. But she was just engaged to the last man. How are you sure this ain’t some rebound shit?”
“I was in love with your sister before I even knew her last name. We’re taking things slow, but I know she’s the one for me. You’ll see that with time.”
“Well, Son,” Michael said, squeezing Valentino’s shoulder. “What do you say?”
Extending his hand across the table for me to shake, Valentino said, “Set it up, bro.”
Chapter
Thirty
Venus
I could tellCarson was up to something because he was in his phone more than usual. When he offered to take me to and pick me up from work, I was cool with that, because he usually had my car detailed and filled my tank up too. I thought we were going straight home, so I was surprised when we ended up at the beach.
“Hmm… What’s going on?” I asked, unbuckling my seat belt.
“I figured we could unwind and grab a few drinks before going home.”
“Hmm, is that right?”
Carson chuckled. “You’re very skeptical.”
“I know my man, and this is not our norm. Something is afoot.”
He laughed harder that time, not even bothering to deny it as he cut the car off and got out. Since I wasn’t sure what I was about to walk into, I looked my face over in the visor mirror and smoothed my hand over my bun while waiting for him to openthe door for me. We walked hand in hand to the new sand bar, and for some reason my heart immediately started hammering in my chest. I looked up at him, and his warm smile calmed me down a little bit.
“You trust me?” he checked.
“Yes, but I can’t lie and say I’m not nervous right now.”
“You trust that I won’t put you in a situation I can’t control right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Remember I got you, and I love you.”
“Carson, what are you?—”
As soon as I saw my brother standing by the hostess station I clammed up. I didn’t realize I was taking steps backwards until Carson wrapped his arm around me and stopped me. He lowered himself to my ear like he always did when he wanted me to focus solely on him and what he was saying.
“I got you, sunshine. You don’t have to run away.”
A shaky exhale escaped me as I nodded. I didn’t want to do this, but I knew I needed to. It had been a long time coming, and regardless of how tough I acted, I did miss my brother. He’d always been my protector and my best friend, just as much as he annoyed the fuck out of me. The time we’d spent apart always made me sad, but I refused to force anyone to stay in my life—even my stubborn brother. The days of me gripping people who pulled away were over. If the love didn’t flow freely, naturally, and from a state of reciprocity, I didn’t want it.
“Wassup, bro?” Carson spoke as they shook hands.
“Can’t call it. Glad you two could make it.”
His eyes were on me, but I couldn’t look at him. Not yet. I didn’t trust him. I didn’t trust that this conversation wouldn’t end with another disappointing argument.
“Wassup, Sis?”
“Hi,” I muttered.
“Miss you.”
Gritting my teeth as my eyes watered, I looked down at my shoes. “Miss you too.”
