Page 24 of Beautiful Beginning

“A date with my boyfriend.”

I pulled her from the bench to sit her on my lap. “You know, for someone who wants to spend time with me, you sure did launch me into this busy ass lifestyle.”

She cringed. “Terrible. Horrible. Not good timing on my part. Things are getting good with us, and I throw you to the wolves to limit my time with you.” She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “What was I thinking?”

I smelled the sweet scent of her perfume behind her ear. “I can make time for you tonight. Let’s do it.”

She snickered. “Let’s do it?” with an arched brow.

Although my dick was straining in my pants. I didn’t mean to implythatnecessarily. “I mean, yeah. Because now you’ve awakened a beast.” I kissed her collar bone. “A proper date first though.”

“I like that. A proper date.” Her lips landed on mine and I imagined what a resignation letter would look like on the first day of my job.

“Hey Chaz.”

My head turned toward the girl from the coffee shop, and I sighed.

“What’s that all about?” Journey stared the girl down.

“Some girl who introduced herself in the coffee shop.” There wasn’t much more of a description I could give her.

She mumbled, “The wolves.”

ChapterEleven

Journey

“What would Whitley do?” Since seeing littleMissWave At My Manearlier in the day I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I didn’t want to overreact because Chaz didn’t seem to think much of the interaction. But still. I was in his lap watching this girl flirt withmy man.

I paced the room, huffing as I took each step. Then I blurted, “And I was in his lap.”

They’d heard the story a couple of times. Too many times probably. All the different angles I could imagine. All the ways I could find to tell them how it felt to be sitting there with that girl all in his face. And by all, I mean she wasn’t close to his face, but she could have been. That little wicked smile she wore before sashaying her ass on past us. She might as well have bent down to kiss him.

“I can’t believe she had the audacity.” I tried to think if I’d seen the girl on campus. Had classes with her. Saw her in the stands at the game. “I don’t think she’s a senior,” I finalized. “Maybe a junior. Looked a little too confident to be much younger than that.”

Nia shut her textbook and folded her legs onto the couch. “All she did was wave? Say his name?”

Okay, when she said it slowly, in a calm, reassuring voice, it didn’t soundthat bad.Still, “Yes, while I was sitting in his lap.” I tried to mimic her voice, “Hey Chaz…” I eyed Lauren, hoping she’d understand me. “You know that syrupy sweet voice a woman uses when she wants a man’s attention.” I flung my hand toward her.

“Ugh, yeah.” Lauren was tapping away on her laptop though. Likely not listening to my latest rendition of the story, an illogical rant. “We told you his newfound popularity could make him a wanted man…” She looked up from her screen and shrugged.

“That’s not as comforting as you may think.” I stood in front of the window and crossed my arms over my chest. I’d already dressed for my date with Chaz. He would be pulling up any minute. But the last thing I needed was to still be reeling from the chick.

“Look at it this way,” Nia waited for my eyes to meet hers, “if all works out you could be his Michelle. So, stick with him. He’s a good man, Journey.”

Lauren scoffed though. Burst my bubble when she said, “The jury is still out on that one for me. I never trust the quiet ones.”

Huffing, I said, “I must be a glutton for punishment. Because I did this to myself. I convinced him to run. Where were the two of you when I was doing that?”

They exchanged a look and laughed. “Right here saying you were doing too much when you enlisted us to help.” Nia reminded me. “Between classes, cheer, volunteering, and then this campaign.” She smacked her lips. “Girl, I’d thinkyouwanted to run for office as much as you were out here in everyone’s faces.”

“Definitely not that.” I plopped down into the chair across from them. “Okay, I need to let it go.” I let a stream of air invade my lungs.

Lauren and Nia said, “Yes,” in unison.

By the time a knock came at the door, I released it. The chick, the wave, and the smirk on her face. I was ready to go out withmy man.

“Hey babe.” Chaz held a bouquet of roses in the air. “For you.”

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