Page 121 of One Good Reason

Getting her to agree to pass that responsibility off to her team proved to be a hard task but after explaining how all of her focus needed to be on the school if she planned on being opened at the beginning of the year, she finally relented.

I, myself, along with my team had been busy. Shit with Preme, Drix, and Adele was still running smooth, and I had gotten reports from Drix that Josiah was still doing his thing. I had Poppa to thank for that.

I had finally gotten around to sitting down to have that conversation with Kovi about bringing Jrue home to Atlanta.After we devised a plan to make it happen, he assured me that before the season could get underway, he would have him in the infamous black and red jersey.

My day started at four o’clock this morning and as soon as Baker pulled the truck into the Talitha’s driveway, it was officially done.

“Aight Dutch. I’ll be here first thing in the morning,” Baker said as he held the door open for me.

“That’ll work. If anything changes, I’ll hit you up.”

“Be careful, Dutch.”

“Always.” I nodded.

Sticking my key in the door, I pushed it open and was immediately greeted with the smell of food and Faith Evanscrooning through theAlexa Show.Dropping my bag at the door, I slid my coat off and hung it up. Unsnapping the buttons on my shirt, I rolled my sleeves up to my elbows and loosened my tie.

“What you in here cooking?” I asked, sliding up behind her. She had shed her work clothes and had on a pair of black Adidasshorts and the matching sports bra. Her hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail that hung down past her shoulder blades. When my hands wrapped around her waist, Talitha reared her head back and pursed her lips. “Smells good,” I said in between kisses.

“I’m cooking Gema’s favorite; red beans and rice. I’ve got some porkchops in the oven baking.”

“They’re bringing her back?”

“In the morning, so I’mma be late going into the youth center.”

“Take all the time you need love.”

“How was your day? And thank you for the food. Rossi helped himself to half of it.” She giggled. Grabbing her glass off the counter, she spun around in my arms and pushed me back so we wouldn’t be so close upon the stove.

Trailing my hands down her hips, I cupped her ass and pulled her into me. “Work was good. Chari was able to move a few things around for me to clear up my afternoon on tomorrow. I thought we would have to go get Gema.”

“Nope,” she popped. “My Mama is going to bring her. I was going to take her and Mrs. Jessie out for lunch… since you’ll be free, you’re welcome to join.” Nestling my head in her neck, I bit down on it. “Wouldn’t miss it.

“I invited Rossi and Marsha to the game on Sunday,” she breathed and cuffed the back of my head, holding me in place.

“You ready for that?”

Her shoulders shrugged against my chest.

“You must be. You invited them knowing I fully intended to introduce you as my lady to my people.”

“According to you, they already know who I am to you.”

“They do. But this will be the first time you’ve met.”

“They were going to find out eventually,” she countered.

Talitha wanted discretion. I never cared if they knew or didn’t know. I understood her reasoning, so I never pushed her. If us popping out as a couple in front of her friends was okay with her, then I had no reservations. She was mine, I put my stamp on her back in New York, and I ain’t give a fuck about anyone knowing.

“How are you feeling about everything else?”

“Everything like what?”

“Gema coming home. Mrs. Jessie coming back on full time. You know all of those things. For the past few weeks, it’s been just us. Now we’re going to have to figure out some sort of routine. No more jumping me when I hit the door or dirty sex on the couch.”

“Maybe not sex around the house in shared living spaces but in the room, there are no rules.”

“Says who?”

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