Page 20 of Mine

“I just… realized I did that because I didn’t really like them. With Rasheed, I like having him close already. Usually if a man talked to me as much as he did or always found his way next to me it would annoy me, but with him, I find myself searching for him as soon as I enter a room. I don’t know if I could handle him being almost two thousand miles away.”

Her mouth cracked before lifting into a smile that mirrored SpongeBob’s when he found out Squidward liked krabby patties.

“Ah this is so exciting.” Paisley pulled me into her arms and squealed. “You like him! You really, really like him!”

“Paisley, shut up,” I demanded through my laugh as I pulled her arms from around my neck. “Go take your drunk ass to sleep.”

“Oh, this is going to be amazing,” she said as she stood and staggered out of the game room. “You’re gonna move to LA and we’re going to have our babies together and be married to best friends. I can’twait!”

I covered my face and groaned as she left, and all eyes were suddenly on me. “She’s just drunk,” I said as I stood and briskly made my way out. “And joking.”

2:00 AM

I couldn’t sleep. After tossing and turning, I decided to go and get me something sweet to eat. Rasheed was on the same wave because I found him in the kitchen stealing cookies like some kind of sexy racoon. He jumped slightly then chuckled when he realized I was the one who caught him. I licked my lips at the sight of him shirtless with his pajama pants hanging loosely. His chest was covered in tattoos, and between that and his eight pack, I was convinced nothing could make this man sexier.

“You couldn’t sleep either?” he checked as I leaned against the island.

“Nope.”

“Want a cookie?”

I nodded as he pushed the container of cookies over to me. There was chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, and sugar to choose from. I grabbed a chocolate chip and peanut butter one before sitting on the bar stool and sliding the container back over to him.

“Why are you still up?” I asked as I poured us both a glass of the milk he’d set out.

“Thinking ’bout you.”

At first, I thought he was just playing or flirting until I saw the serious expression on his face.

“What about me?”

He shrugged. “I wanted to talk to you. Hold you. See that pretty ass face. Beautiful, actually.”

“I think our nap was too long,” I decided, trying to ignore the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach from his compliment.

“Nah, it was just what I needed. I just needed more. Sleeping like that with you earlier, so peacefully, made it hard for me to fall asleep by myself.”

“Same,” I unwillingly agreed. Silence found us for a while as we ate our cookies, then he struck up another conversation.

We talked a little more about our families and careers. He had several rental properties in Miami, Los Angeles and Malibu. He also had a yacht that he rented for half a million a week in the summer, and when he showed me pictures of it, I understood how he was able to charge that price. It was big, beautiful, and fully staffed when people rented it. I loved the flexibility of how he made his money because it allowed him to spend his days traveling and doing whatever else he wanted.

He admitted that he spent all of his twenties selling drugs, specifically while he was in college majoring in chemistry. His plan to be a chemical engineer changed when he made enough money to buy the yacht and rental properties. Now, he made millions while employing a small staff to ensure all of his properties were clean and well managed.

I loved that.

I commended him for doing what he needed to do to make his money yet stopping the illegal shit when he no longer needed to do it. A lot of people grew addicted to the rush and fast money, the power and notoriety, and ended up dead or in jail because of it. Now, at thirty-five, Rasheed was living a luxurious, legit life.

We continued to talk about nothing, all the things, and everything in between until the sun started to rise, and that was the first time I’d had a conversation with a man and actually enjoyed it. He wasn’t asking questions just to appear to be interested. Rasheed genuinely liked talking to people. It was refreshing, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

When the cleaning and catering staff came in, we said our goodbyes and went to our rooms. I climbed into bed, unsure how long I’d be able to sleep, with a smile on my face. That time, sleep found me quickly.

The Next Afternoon

This morning, the wedding party went to try on our gowns and suits for the wedding. We loaded up the Sprinter, and of course, I just so happened to be seated next to Rasheed.

When he held my hand, I let him.

All morning, we kept stealing glances at each other, and the tension that came from this new territory was loud between us.

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