Page 38 of So I Know it's Real

Essen groaned. “Blaze, Church hasn’t taught you how to read lips?”

“Girl, fuck you.”

I studied the redhead. “How did he lose his hearing?”

“It’s not my story to tell. Just know it doesn’t stop shit he has going on.”

I respected her stance while also admiring how protective she was about her partner. The fire in her pretty eyes and the scar on her face proved Blaze had a story to tell, a story I hoped to hear one day.

“Did y’all see that?” Stony asked. “Durk handed the ugly one a brown bag. I thought returned Kya the brick.”

Stevie nodded. “She did. Shiloh convinced Durk to give them a few dollars too. I guess it’s a way to ensure there are no problems.”

Kya stepped forward with her head down. Had I known they were getting ready to meet, I would’ve gone with her. But, I could tell by Durk’s body language he would take a charge before letting anyone touch a hair on Kya’s head.

Thankfully, dinner arrived after the groups dispersed. The men came inside and settled around the house while the ladies fixed their plates. Duke and I didn’t exchange many words, though he found any reason to touch me when we passed each other.

It was close to 10:00 p.m. when everyone except for Durk went home. While he walked his family outside, I made sure the boys’ had bathed and were in bed. The duo was sound asleep when I entered their room, yet I lingered in their space, trying to avoid the inevitable. Durk and I needed to talk, but I didn’t know how to approach it. One second, he was spazzing because of my past, and the next, he was showering me with roses. He was confused, and I was annoyed.

I dragged my feet once I stepped down the hallway, but I perked up when I walked into my bedroom. “I appreciate what you did for Kya. I think holding her accountable will make her rethink her moves.”

“Let’s hope so.” He shrugged. “What about me and you?” he asked without mincing words.

“What about us? Our last interaction revealed a lot aboutus.”

He tugged on his New York fitted. “Don’t do that. Niggas pressed, and I had to do the same.”

“I’m not mad at you for that. I just don’t like feeling like I’m the problem. I was just as shocked as you. The gifts were beautiful, but an apology would’ve worked just fine.”

“Saying shit like that makes me want to give you things before you think of them.” His hands dropped to his sides. With one step, he was in my personal space, causing us to share the same breath. “I was wrong. I’m man enough to say that. I looped you into my past, and I forgot all I see is my future when I look at you. Whatchu want to do, Lucky?”

I tapped his nose then stepped back. “Get some rest. I have to be up early. Since your kind gesture pissed my boss off, I must be a model employee.”

“What? Is somebody up there giving you problems?”

“No, no,” I answered, sensing his hostility. “It’s not anything deep.”

“Yeah, okay. Can I sleep with you tonight? I’m not gon’ front. It’s been three weeks since you hopped on my—”

I placed my hand over his mouth. “There are kids in the house.”

The sensation of his wet tongue brushing against my palm compelled me to jump back.

“I’m not going to play like I don’t want to taste you, Lucky, but I’ll be a good boy tonight. Promise.”

I scoffed as I tossed pillows off my bed. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep. I don’t like that you made me feel untrustworthy.”

“I’m not an easy man to deal with. Sometimes, I lose my head, and I can’t be nice. I promise it is not you.”

I straightened my neck like a swan. “In that case, since you trust me, you’re going to let me teach you how to swim.”

His bright smile fell to the floor then quickly reassembled. “As long as you agree to attend my grandmother’s party. It’s three weeks away, so put it on your calendar.”

“Oh, I get to kick it with the family?”

“Hell, I’m trying to make a family with you, but we can start there.”

Durk

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