Page 75 of Let Me

“It is now that I have to deal with it.Before when I chose to be single, I didn’t need to have these feelings or these conversations.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No.It’s fine.I was just stating that.I’m glad you changed my mind about a lot of things, Mrs.Westinghouse.”

A smile blooms on her face like a flower opening after the morning dew.I pull her to my side.She rests her face right up under my chin and slides her leg in between mine.

And we rest, intertwined in each other’s limbs.

Chapter 30

I’m convinced Judah is having some form of a release when he touches me because he cannot keep his hands off me.Every single time our eyes meet when we’re in the car, at home, the store – it doesn’t matter.He’s going to grab me and kiss me into oblivion.He had me held up by the collard greens and coriander at the grocery store yesterday and when we got back in the car, he reclined his seat and summoned me onto his lap.He loves me relentlessly and without reserve.I knew he had it in him to love, but I wasn’t prepared for the amount he had to give.I’m not complaining – I’m here for it.For all of it.It’s why I’m late meeting Riley right now.I know I’m going to hear it when I get there.I can hardly wait for the tongue-lashing.

When I pull up at the spot, she’s standing out front tapping her watch with her index finger.I park quickly, get out of the car, and say, “I’m sorry.I know.I was late.Judah was Judah-ing.”

“Ugh…you married people.See, I knew this was gon’ happen.”

“What?”I ask as we walk into the nail salon.

“You’ve been married for an entire month now.A month!This is the first outing we’ve had.”

“Well, I have a whole husband at home now, and I like spending time with him.He’s my…” I smile trying to think of what he is to me, but he’s so much, I can’t find the proper words.So, I say, “He’s everything I wanted in a man, so I’m going to be more than a woman for him.I have to be.I want him to be as happy as he’s made me.You’ll know the feeling when you get married.”

“Girl, I ain’t finna get married no time soon.”

“You should.I think marriage would look good on you.”

“Nah, you know what would look good on me?”

“What’s that?”

“Lemme see…something tall and when I say tall, I’m talking your man’s height, but you know me, girl.I need some dark chocolate in my life.And some muscles, tats—the whole bad boy appeal.Yeah, that’s what I’m looking for.Find me him and then we’ll talk marriage.”

“You and your requests.”

We sit in the pedicure chairs and as a courtesy, receive champagne.I take a sip and pull in a deep, satisfactory breath.

Riley says, “You may want to go easy on the alcohol.You probably done got pregnant by now after being locked up in the house with Judah.”

“Hush, girl.I’m not pregnant,” I tell her.

“Are you all settled in at his place?”

“I am.”

“When am I going to get an invite?I ain’t never been over there.”

“Judah doesn’t like a lot of company.”

“Ah—so he thinks he can lock my best friend down and I’m not going to be in the mix?”

A chuckle sprang from my throat.“Riley, will you stop trying to make Judah out to be the bad guy simply because he loves me.”

“I love you, too, but I’m not holding you hostage in my apartment.”

“Newsflash—you can’t hold someone hostage who wants to be held.”

She laughs and shakes her head simultaneously.

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