Page 27 of Real's Love

“Oscar, shut up before I push yo’ shit back. Only thing I got for you is breakfast,” he said, stepping up on the deck and setting the bag in front of Oscar.

“Move yo’ disrespectful ass out the way and let me look at this masterpiece.”

Oscar peeked around Real, looking over the top of his glasses at me. He winked, and I couldn’t help smiling at his antics.

“Good morning! I’m Ev. It’s nice to meet you,” I greeted.

“And she from the Souf? That voice like butter. Ain’t nothing like a thick, country gal. Bet yo’ ass be fullandwarm this winter. Good God Almighty!” Oscar exclaimed, grabbing his chest.

Real reached behind him and Oscar dropped his paper and held up both hands. I knew Real always carried, although I didn’t know why a man who primarily dealt in commercial and high end residential real estate had to.

“Okay, Okay! Yo’ big ass always tryna pull out that gun. Gon’ bring a piece of God’s majesty over here then get mad when a man marvels,” he mumbled.

“Marvel quietly,” Real ordered. “You take your blood pressure medicine?”

“Mona told you to ask? Tell my baby I'm okay. She too pretty to be over there worried.”

Real scoffed. “Mona don't want yo’ old ass. She's scared you gon’ give her worms, have her stomach hurting and shit.”

“I’m gon’ deffly have her stomach hurtin’ but it ain’t gon’ be from no?—”

“Ay, Oscar, for real. I will decorate that patio door with yo’ brain.”

That threat didn’t stop Oscar’s grin or my giggle. He and Real talked shit for a couple more minutes before we left. I eyed Real as we left the neighborhood.

“You know, you really were right,” I admitted.

He side-eyed me. “About what?”

I could hear the suspicion in his tone, but that didn’t stop my little spiel.

“My reaction to meeting your family. It shouldn’t have mattered because we not on the type of shit where I gotta be worried about impressing them or if they like me. Once this runs its course, I’ll probably never see them again. I’ll be honest. Your spending the night and taking me to breakfast probably got me temporarily off track. This is why we have to keep certain lines firmly drawn. I shouldn’t be running errands with you. I think you should take me home.”

Opening my bag, I pulled out my favorite Chanel gloss—the Melted Honey made my lips pop. I was proud of myself and my argument. I won.His ass can’t even respond, I thought smugly, holding back a smile as I swiped the applicator over my lips. Now, shit could get back to normal.

Shorty really thoughtshe had said something. All she had done was manage to piss me the fuck off. Talking ‘bout, “Once this runs its course,” when I was thinking about where this could go. I wasn’t jumping on the shit too, too fast. Yeah, I had been feeling her differently for a while, but this sudden urgency might have just been seeing Marlon appreciating her beauty. Or it may have been the pussy talking. No woman had ever had me whipped, but Ev came damn close with that tight, juicy center. A couple of times last night, I started to spread her thighs, work my way inside, and just sleep there. I was sick with it. Whatever it was, I wasn’t thinking about her little speech. I had something else to do, and she was riding. I wanted her with me, so that’s where she was about to be.

I had blown off the fact that I took her to my mama’s place, but it was deeper than I let on. I was shifting gears, changing this relationship into something much different. Part of a close-knit family, I wanted to know what my people thought. My phone was going off like crazy and I looked at it once to see the women in my family apparently typing fast as a mothafucka.

Mama:

She's gorgeous and so sweet, Montréal. I'm here when you want to tell me whatever.

Auntie:

Real, do NOT fuck this up. I guess I'll help yo’ ass keep her. Bring her over.

Kinny:

Sooo you jus wasn't gone say nothing? You like her, like her, huh?

Chennai:

Find out who blends her makeup, Brubber. Lord, she flawless! Ya babies gon' be so cute. TeTe Nai can't wait.

I shook my head and put that shit away. My family was so extra. But I couldn't lie—having the two women who raised me approve of her made me feel even better about taking this thing with her next level. She was so guarded that she wasn't going to agree if I just put it out there. I had to launch a sneak attack on her ass. First casualty was going to be that damn rule book.

Ev managed to stay quiet for ten minutes, before she cleared her throat. I didn’t respond, just waiting for her to say something. She was all proper and together, but she had a slick ass mouth sometimes.

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