Page 15 of Honey's Special Roux

“I have a praying grandmother. No matter what happens, I’m protected by God. Plus, I know you wouldn’t let me get hurt.”

Her words sent something through my chest. I wasn’t sure what the feeling I felt was, but I didn’t want it to go away. With a short glance her way, I took in her appearance and let my eyes linger on hers. Her eyes revealed a comfort I’d never experienced before. It may have been selfish of me, but I couldn’t let her give the look to anyone else. I wanted her to myself. I wanted to hold her close to my chest and do my best to make her words law in my heart. I would never let her get hurt. If she got hurt, I’d give the Lord my life in exchange for hers. I blinked in surprise at the thought. Had this young ass girl really made that big of an impression on my soul?

“You want to see what happens?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“You better buckle the fuck up and enjoy the ride.”

I hope her grandmother adds me to the daily prayer.

“Where are we going?”I finally asked as we pulled into a neighborhood I’d never seen before.

I’d been so caught up in our conversation, I hadn’t stopped to look where he’d taken me until we’d come to a stop in front of a one-story house with caution tape blocking it off from public access. The doors and windows were boarded up as well.

“This is where I grew up,” Marquise explained.

The house was almost scary looking. What was I supposed to say?

“It looks like there’s a story in there somewhere.”

“I found my mama dead in the kitchen with a crack pipe burning a hole in her hand.”

My heart ached for him. Only seventeen years old and had already seen so much and been through so much pain and suffering. “Marquise, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“I want you to know we are from two different lives, Honey. All I know how to do is hustle and fight for my life. I don’t know how to be soft. I don’t know how to love and trust in a healthy way. Being with me means there will be days I shut down or black out.”

His words were even. We were so young, yet he’d been through so much. We weren’t from the same lifestyles, but I felt like our differences would strengthen us.

“It doesn’t matter what life you lived before me. Together, we’ll be just fine. Okay?”

“Okay.” He leaned forward and kissed me.

Butterflies swirled in my tummy. Marquise was special. He was mine.

“You know you have to explicitly ask me to be your girlfriend, right? I don’t go just on vibes and feelings. I’m a very verbal and literal person.”

He chuckled. “Cool. Will you be my girl?”

“Hmm, I don’t know.” I teased him.

“I’ll leave yo’ ass right here for the vultures.”

I gasped. “Marquise!” I swatted his arm.

“What?”

“Don’t play with me.”

“Nah, baby. You don’t play with me. You gon’ be my lady or not?” he asked again.

“Yes.”

He smirked. “That’s what the fuck I thought. Gimme a kiss.”

I shook my head as I cupped his face in my hands. I leaned over the console and kissed him softly. He smiled against my lips, and my heart nearly burst out of my chest. This was all so much for us to be sixteen and seventeen years old.

“You want to see another part of my life before we head back to your side of town?” he asked.

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