Page 47 of This: Blake & Emon

“Yeah, I’ll call a lawyer and go from there.” He turned to face her, pulling her leg to him, causing Blake to giggle.

She leaned into his back, placing soft kisses on his tattoos. “You know, Jacques reminds me of you, taking care of his sisters, willing to do whatever it takes. You could teach him about the business while he’s helping you. They need us, don’t they?”

“Yeah, they do. Ma took them in last night and she already tryna keep them,” he laughed thinking about his mama.

“Gods been good to us all and maybe for this reason. I’m with Vicey. We got the room, the means... plus, it’ll be good practice.”

His body stilled. “Practice?”

“Yeah, eventually babies turn into teenagers.”

Emon groaned at the thought, but he appreciated his woman knowing his heart and having a heart like his. It was an instant reminder of why she had the rock on her finger now. But adopting kids was a lot, and their conversation had only conflicted him a little more. Because was this God’s plan? Washe overstepping? And did any of it matter because he was not turning his back on them. Still, they had time to figure it out.

“What you got going on today?”

“I need to link with the girls to show them this glacier on my finger, so I may go workout with them and maybe smoothies after.” Blake hadn’t stopped looking at it and wiggling her finger. She was engaged, and it was still settling on her.

“Yeah, I know how y’all women love doing the most. I ain’t mad at it. There’s a safe in the closet under my watch case. Get what you need.”

“I don’t need anything,” Blake said, now sauntering into the bathroom to start her day.

“Don’t be difficult. Your money ain’t good here,” he joked, coming up behind her at the sink.

“Really? My money spends just the same as yours.”

Emon wasn’t going to go back and forth with her. He went to the closet, unlocked the safe, and grabbed some money before returning to the bathroom. He dropped the stack of money on the counter. Her eyes traveled down to it and she shook her head.

“Why you always gotta be difficult, huh?” he asked with a whisper in her ear.

“Because you spoil me too much already,” she said, but made no effort to return the money. They’d done this dance before, him offering to take care of his woman without hesitation and her attempting to maintain her independence.

“And? That’s my job, ain’t it?” his arms circled her waist, watching her in the mirror. “You got a ring to show off now. Can’t have my fiancée out here not doing it big.”

“Fiancée,” she tested the word, smiling. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

“Better get used to it quick. Next stop is wife.” He kissed her neck before stepping back. “I’m heading out to check on thekids. Tell the girls I said congratulations on the new brother-in-law.”

“You’re stupid.” She laughed but watched him get ready with pride. This man, who could go from talking about taking in four kids to making sure she had spending money, was really hers.

Paige:Fuck that gym and Maurice’s ass. I ain’t in the mood.

Taylor:Hell, same here. He starts that yelling and shit I’m liable to catch a charge. Mitchells?

Blake:What the hell happened to y’all for all the attitude? But Yesss to Mitchells!

Blake quickly showered and dressed for the day. She was in semi baggy camo pants, a black crop top, and Jordans she’d gotten for Christmas. Her hair was in a half up and half down style with a spiked bun. She looked cute as fuck. She applied a little lip gloss, grabbed her Glamaholic bag and Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses, and headed downstairs. Emon was in the kitchen on the phone in black basketball shorts, his signature white tee, and Kappa slides. Even when he wasn’t doing a lot, he did it for her. She smiled, and he smiled back before she blew him a kiss. Emon caught it and she headed out the door.

In her Bronco, she sang loudly to Jazmine Sullivan’s “Need U Bad,” thinking about how different her life was now from just months ago. Her ring caught the sunlight as she turned the wheel, making her smile for the hundredth time that morning.

Emon:Be careful, I love you!

Emon’s text lit up the screen in her car while she was at a red light, invoking another smile to grace her lips. She couldn’t remember if she had ever been this happy. Quickly, she texted him back.

Blake:I love you more!

The girls made it to Mitchell’s Deli at the same time. She smiled spotting them and couldn’t wait to tell them the news, but she wasn’t going to get to that first because her friends wore scowls on their faces. Blake rolled her eyes, knowing they were about to drag it.

“Girl, you really tried to play my new friend last night,” Taylor started before they even sat down. “In front of everybody too.”

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