Page 17 of Mine

Houston J: Aight but I’ll be lurking. When you wanna try again I’ll be here. Or when your new nigga fuck up and you on some rebound shit. I’ll take what I can get ??

Miss Pres: ????

Closing the app, I considered blocking him again but didn’t bother. As long as we didn’t talk, I figured we’d be okay. Besides, the moment he got into a relationship, I was sure he’d forget all about me.

Light tapping on my door gained my attention. It was Auntie JJ asking if I had any jewelry for her. She loved my Van Cleef bracelet, so I let her wear the black one since I had on the white one. When we got to the dining room, she couldn’t wait to tell my mama’s sister how she was my favorite auntie as she showed off the bracelet I’d given her. I couldn’t deny the claim, but I didn’t want to hurt Aunt Stacy, my mom’s sister, even though we weren’t super close. Thankfully Aunt Lauren hadn’t come down yet. I just begged Auntie JJ to please sit down and shut up and she laughed as she said, “You know I’m right.”

A frown covered my face at the sight of my cousin sitting across from my sister. That was supposed to bemyseat.

“Presly.” At the sound of an unfamiliar voice saying my name, I looked to the left. That gruff, raspy voice belonged to Rasheed. “You’re sitting next to me.”

I looked from Mama to Paisley for clarification, and when they both avoided my eyes with goofy grins, I realized there was bullshit afoot. Huffing, I walked three seats down and looked at my name plate next to Rasheed.

“Why am I sitting here?” I asked Rasheed, feeling like he was just as involved as the other two.

“Because I wanted to sit next to you,” he answered, pulling the chair out for me.

“Why?”

Slowly, that cocky grin spread, and dammit if my heart didn’t skip a beat. “I want you close, sweetheart.”

Chuckling nervously, I sat down. “I’m not sure why. You don’t even know me.”

“I do know you.” Rasheed pushed my chair up, putting his mouth next to my ear to add, “I also know you’re mine,” just loud enough for me to hear. Between the declaration and the feel of his breath against my ear, I shivered.

Smoothing his tie, he sat down and gave me a brief glance before returning to his conversation with Tyler and an older couple that I assumed was one of their parents. I was so discombobulated by what had transpired that I couldn’t even speak. All I could do was stare at him until Uncle Bobby struck up a conversation about what has been going on in my life.

When the dishes were brought out and rotated, Rasheed didn’t allow me to touch a thing. He asked what I wanted, then put it on my plate before handing it to Uncle Bobby. Same with the wine and water. The entire dinner, the only time I had to lift a finger was to feed myself.

We moved into the second dining room for cocktails and dessert, and as we walked, his hand was on the small of my back. Chills covered my arms as I looked up at him.

He made me feel small.

Feminine.

Soft.

Cared for.

Christ.

Maybe it wasRasheedwho was dangerous. And maybe I likedthiskind of danger.

“Um, thanks again for this morning,” I said, not sure what else to say.

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

“Did you know who I was?”

“I did. Jason showed me some pictures of you last year. Back in December. He mentioned it was your birthday or something, but I was unable to meet you. Glad I was able to now.”

For some reason, knowing he knew who I was earlier flustered me. I knew Jason wanted to introduce me to someone, but I didn’t know he was out here showing strangers my pictures. I huffed as I scanned the room for Jason. When I found him and Paisley talking, I rushed over and punched him in his shoulder.

“Ow!” he yelped, grabbing where I hit him with a laugh. “What you hit me for?”

“Who told you to go around showing my pictures to strangers?”

Confusion covered his face, but it quickly faded and turned into a smile. “You talked to Rasheed? Itoldyou I had somebody for you last year.”

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