Page 42 of You Make Me Feel

“Kinisha, I love him. I miss him so much. Why can’t I forgive him, and we move on from this?”

“You know I love you, Ramsey. I’ll support you in whatever you choose, but I don’t think that’s wise. I know I’ve made some fucked-up choices, but that’s why I can tell you. I have plenty of experience with being a fool. He’s playing you for a fool. Don’t let him continue to do that.”

When I heard her sniffing, I wanted to leave work and go hug her. I knew she was hurting and lonely. Since Oliver and I had gotten to know each other, I’d pushed her and Ki to the back burner. My friend needed me, and I needed to make time for her. “Ramsey, I’m gonna come over when I get off. What do you want to eat?”

“Kinisha . . . That’s not necessary. You’re pregnant and embarking on a new relationship. I’m okay.”

“You said seafood? Okay. I’ll go to Boil City and be there right after I get off. I love you, Ramsey. I’m always here. You know that.”

“Thank you. I know.”

“Okay. I’ll call when I’m on my way.”

“Okay.”

I ended the call and returned to work to make up for missing Monday and part of Tuesday. Oliver had to go into his Houston office Tuesday before we made our way back to Beaumont. While Mr. Taylor suggested that I just take the whole day, I couldn’t. I didn’t get to the office until three but stayed until ten. Oliver met me here to make sure I got to my car safely. After today, I’d be all caught up.

After I finished the client file, Oliver appeared in my doorway, smiling. I smiled back. “Hey.”

“Hey, baby. How are you feeling?”

“Good. What about you, Oliver?”

“I’m good.”

“After work, I’m going to Ramsey’s. I need to spend time with my girl. She needs me. I’m afraid she’s gonna take her fiancé back. I need to go and talk some sense into her. I don’t know where I’m gonna find that sense from, though, since I act like I don’t have any most of the time.”

Oliver chuckled as he slowly shook his head. “I promise, I was thinking that very thing. It might be like the blind leading the blind.”

I giggled. “Hush.”

He laughed more, then said, “Okay, baby. Will I get to see you later?”

“Can we play it by ear? I don’t know how long it will take me to convince her to leave that nigga in the gutter.”

“Okay. Hopefully, I get to see you. I wanted to rub you down tonight. If not, I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan, baby. You know I love your rubdowns.”

“Yep. You almost done in here? I wanna at least walk you to the car.”

“Almost. Give me another ten minutes.”

He nodded and walked out with a slight smile on his face. Sunday, we were expected to eat at his cousin’s house. I couldn’t wait since it would be my first time meeting someone from his family. He’d already met my entire family. Since his parents were deceased and he was an only child, meeting family was difficult for him because it made him long for them. He’d gotten somewhat vulnerable with me while talking about his parents, especially his mother.

Oliver appeared back in my doorway as I finished what I was working on. I smiled at him as I grabbed my things from my desk. He walked closer to me and took them from me. “I got it, baby.”

I swore that my insides turned to mush whenever this man spoke to me. He cleared his throat as I stood there in a daze. I blinked rapidly as he chuckled, then followed him out of my office.

Mr. Taylor was standing there at the front and gave us a smile on our way out. “See y’all tomorrow.”

“Okay, Mr. Taylor.”

Oliver placed his hand on the small of my back as we walked out. When we got to my car and he put my things in the backseat, he turned to me. “I don’t care what time you get home, call me. I’ll come through. You know you my power source. I need to charge up, beautiful.”

He slid his hand over my cheek, then lowered his lips to mine.Damn. My man, my man, my man. Shit.When he pulled away, I bit my bottom lip, tempted to get a quickie before I went to Ramsey’s place. “Okay. See you later.”

“Be careful,” he said as he rubbed my belly.

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