Page 121 of Real's Love

“This is as many questions as I want, shorty.”

I rolled my eyes but opened my mouth to answer. “When I was younger, I definitely had different plans. I wanted a career, but I wanted to be more flexible than a lot of the women I know and love. I respect their decisions and admire their dedication to work. I wanted something a little different after marriage, though,” I began, shifting my eyes toward him to gauge his reaction.

As usual, his face was expressionless. “Something different?” he pressed.

“I wanted to teach literature and creative writing, but once I married and had kids, I wanted to transfer to writing on my own schedule. I wanted to focus on taking care of my babies and my husband, and I wanted my husband to focus on taking care of us. I wanted an old-school protector and provider, I guess. I didn’t want to have to be always strong or super independent or make all the decisions. I definitely wanted a soft life. A soft love. I didn’t want the struggle, you know? I wanted my husband to pamper and spoil me, to care for me out loud. That kind of man would have every bit of my love and loyalty.”

All right. I had said enough. I peered up at him, waiting. He was quiet for so long that I felt my face heating. I turned away so he didn’t see my embarrassment.

“I know. It sounds old-fashioned or something, right? I swear I don’t want it one-sided, where he’s doing all the work, putting in all the effort. I wanted to be my husband’s peace, his home. I wanted?—"

I stopped as his arms slid around me. His lips grazed the shell of my ear as he spoke.

“You will be all that,milaya. It doesn’t sound old-fashioned. It sounds just right… for us. I’m gon’ take care of you, Theory. You ain’t never worrying about anything for too long again.”

I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy his embrace. Targen had missed my use of the past tense or disregarded it altogether. He didn’t know that a soft life for me was impossible now. He didn’t know I might not be able to have the babies I wanted so badly. He didn’t know that I might never trust someone enough to be that open, that vulnerable again. He didn’t know a lot of things about me.

But right now, right here in the warmth of this sun-drenched land with his arms cradling me, none of that seemed to matter.

"I knew yo'ass was a clown, but you really out here juggling, huh?" Real said, a stupid ass smirk on his face.

I looked down at the bowl of popcorn, two fruit punches on a six-pack ring, movie-theater boxes of candy, and popcorn seasoning. Hell, I was doing a good job balancing it all. Real was just a hatin' ass nigga.

"Shut yo' ass up and go try yo' tired ass seduction shit on Everly," I shot back.

His smile slipped a little.

"Nah. Love ain't getting seduced. Shorty's gonna respect that there's more than sex between us before I bless her again," he vowed.

"Fuck her timing, huh? She gotta accept that right now just cuz you have?" I pressed him.

Real stiffened and the air between us thickened with tension. For the most part, he and I got along. We were close friends and had been doing shit together for so long, one of us could anticipate what the other one was thinking or planning. But not this time—I couldn't figure out what Real was doing with Everly becausehedidn't know what he was doing with Everly, hell. I just knew she didn't deserve to be hurt in the process.

"Mind yo' business, Bozo," he said, frowning.

“Gacy, more like. I’m a killer clown after all.”

I smiled at him before jogging up the stairs, chuckling as I heard his door slam. Seconds later, I knocked on Theory's door. The last few nights, we'd watched movies together as we talked and worked our way through snacks. A nigga was greedy for these moments of getting to know her—I wanted to understand the woman I knew was mine from the inside out. I’d ended up making her really answer twenty-one questions while we picked fruit and fucked up my hands. And these nights with her were discipline, too. I had to sit beside her, notice how good she smelled and how her lounging clothes hugged her fucking curves, and keep my hands and lips to myself until I was more sure she welcomed my touch. Patience was a virtue, and I didn't have much of that.

Theory had texted me a few minutes ago to tell me she was ready and give me her requests. Doing the juggling act Real accused me of, I knocked on the door before opening it. She jumped from where she was sitting on her bed, dropping her phone and remote as she faced me. Something was off. The welcoming look she'd had the previous few nights was missing. Instead, her beautiful face was tight, a frown marring her perfect features. Instantly, I moved toward her. She stepped back and shook her head, surprising me.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

She looked around the room, like the walls could give her a damn answer. Her gaze rested on my face as she finally spoke.

"I'm really not feeling up to this tonight, Targen. I'm so sorry I bothered you. I think I'ma spend the night with Granny Nette. I decided I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Her words came out fast, like they were falling all over each other, and I could see the lie in her eyes. I could push her—Iwouldpush her, but I was going to give her a chance to come clean. I put the snacks on a little table, crossed my arms over my chest, leaned against the wall, and waited silently. She fidgeted as she avoided my eyes, wringing her hands and pulling on the spirals of her hair. I saw her straighten her shoulders a minute before she met my eyes.

"You can leave now," she said coolly.

Maybe it was the fact that I had handled her so gently up until now. Maybe she was already used to me following her lead. But just like I was learning her, my shorty had to learn me. Her eyes widened as I walked closer to her. She put her hands up and whispered my name, but that didn't stop me from picking her up and carrying her to the dresser, where I sat her ass down. She leaned back against the mirror. I gently grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her face toward me. My lips grazed her ear as I spoke.

"Nah. I'm not going anywhere. You called for me. You don't lie to me, Theory. That's not how we gon' work. You not hiding shit. I'ma know all your secrets,milaya. Now, I asked you what's wrong and you about to tell me."

"Targen... please... you're scaring me," she whimpered.

Before now, I would have backed off immediately. I could feel her heart pounding, see how shallow her breaths were. She really was scared. But I could also see her hardened nipples and the excitement in her eyes, feel her thighs spreading to make room for me.

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