Page 28 of The Love Dealer

Nick chuckled as he lifted his hands in surrender. “I won’t press you. I know ol’ boy waiting for you in Memphis.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he gave me that signature half smile as he walked away. All I could do was laugh because that was true. Alonso and I may not have planned to get together as soon as I made it back to Memphis, but he was my person, and I couldn’t wait to get back home so we could be one again.

epilogue

Bre

Six MonthsLater

I was so damn nervous.I thought my plan was cute, but it could backfire on me. As hard as it was, I wanted everyone to keep me being back in Memphis a secret. There were a few things I wanted to get in place before reconnecting with Zo.

After my talk with Nick, I came back home with Trinity that following weekend. Thankfully, I was able to get my old position back, and they were so happy to have me, they gave me a raise. We stayed with my parents for two months before I was able to move into my own place.

After Trin’s first birthday, I put her in my aunt’s daycare. Nick and I tried the two-week thing, but he ended up getting his job to transfer him back to Memphis. With him being here, we had a good schedule in place that allowed us both to switch turns taking and picking her up from daycare. He had her three days out of the week, and I had her four, and we alternated weekends.

Because I was working and back with family and friends, my social life was back popping. More than that, I took time for myself daily. Usually, it was before I woke Trinity up, on my lunch break, and after I put her to sleep at night. Things were really good for all of us, and I was finally ready for the cherry on my sundae…

I had one of my homegirls call him and ask him to come and look at the air conditioner. It was March and we were alternating between cold days and hot days. She gave him my address, and it would be the first time we would have seen each other since September.

Business had been going well for him. So well, he made her appointment for a week later because she specifically requested him. I was glad about that because I knew his goal was to increase his customers, so he could increase his employees, then decrease the amount of hours he worked.

I looked around my bedroom one last time. It was the middle of the afternoon, but because of my blackout curtains, it was dark inside. Candles, a small lamp set, and my two aromatherapy diffusers illuminated the room. Since Zo had roses and candy for me when I first came back, I had roses and Doritos with cheese dip for him. Just glancing over at them had me thinking about how we would watchGeorge Lopezfor hours while eating chips and dip.

The doorbell rang, and my heart palpitated. I quickly made my way into the bathroom and looked myself over. He loved me in blue, so I had on a baby blue crop top and shorts set. I would have put on some lingerie, but Zo was such a simple man. He’d salivate no matter what I had on.

I made my way to the door, but instead of immediately opening it, I paused and took a deep breath. I unlocked the door and my hand wrapped around the knob. Pushing my hair behind my ear, I exhaled and opened the door.

As soon as our eyes locked, mine watered. His lips parted before forming a smile. Then he released the cutest chuckle I’d ever heard.

“Bae,” he called sweetly, lifting me and wrapping my legs around him. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too. I’m home now. For good.”

He kissed my neck, then my lips. “Promise me you won’t leave me again.”

“I promise, baby. I’m yours forever.”

Our lips connected again, and I knew it wouldn’t be hard for me to keep my promise. I’d come home to Memphis in need of a break and received so much more. Alonso had returned to my life like lyrics to a Marvin Gaye song.

If you don’t know the thing you’re dealing

Oh, I can tell you, darling, that it’s sexual healing

Except Zo wasn’t just giving me sexual healing; he was my love dealer, too. He validated me and gave me the affection, attention, and confidence I needed when I was too tired and drained to give it to myself. My self-love had become the standard in which I required all others to love me, and Alonso met my new requirements with ease. I couldn’t wait for the next chapter of our lives, but for right now, I knew I was in store for a little sexual healing when he asked me… “Where’s your room?”

I told him down the hall to the left, and that’s where he carried me.

“You really surprised me.”

“I’m glad. It was hard keeping being back from you, but your reaction made it worth it.”

“I’m sure this dick about to make it worth it too.”

I laughed as we entered my bedroom, and Zo put me down shortly after. He looked around, visibly surprised by what I’d done. His eyes scanned my face before he walked over to the edge of the bed where the tray of goodies was.

“I figured we could watch a few episodes ofGeorge Lopez. If you had the time,” I suggested quietly.

“This is perfect, bae. Thank you.”

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