Page 23 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy
Ma stood behind the counter with an apron ’round her. She has a smudge of flour on the corner of her chin. The corners of her mouth curled upward when she noticed me approaching.
“What are you doing here?”
“Your baby has been asking for apple pie. I had to come and get her some.”
“Oh. You’re lucky. I just pulled one out of the oven. You can take that one to her.”
“She doesn’t need a whole pie, Ma,” I told her and took a seat on one of the barstools.
“My baby can have whatever she wants.” She disappeared into the kitchen and seconds later came back with a pink box. She was really ’bout to give Khali this entire pie. “Make sure my baby gets it too.”
“I will.” She slid the box onto the counter and then leaned into it with her hands.
“What’s this I hear that you broke some guy’s jaw?”
“He deserved it.” I should’ve known that the incident was gon’ end up all over town. I fucked that nigga up so bad last night after I got in that room and saw how Remedi looked. The way she lay on that floor, helpless as hell. It angered me even more. He’s lucky that he was able to walk out of there after that bullshit he pulled. Honestly, he should’ve been in a body bag like my first mind told me.
“I’m sure he did.”
My phone chimed. I removed it from my pocket to see who it was.
Creed:We got a problem.
Turning my attention back to Ma, I lifted to my feet, gripped her by the back of the head, and pecked her softly on the center of her forehead. “I gotta run. I’ll make sure she gets this.”
Chapter 10
Bobbi Hathaway
Khalif texted me and asked if I could pick Khali up from school and watch her for a couple of hours. Since I didn’t have any plans, I didn’t mind doing so. Anything Khalif asks of me, I try to make sure I do it. Khalif… I’ve had a crush on that man ever since I started working for him. I’d find myself staring at him whenever he was around. Khali was sweet and easy to deal with. The money was great. The plus was that I got to see the sexiest man in town and be feet away from him. I’ve sat and heard how several women talk about him. They fantasized about what he looks like without a shirt, and I’ve been fortunate enough to see it firsthand numerous times. Whenever Khalif worked outside, he didn’t too much like wearing a shirt.
The way God built this man, it’s insane. His body was perfectly covered in tattoos. One day, I hoped to have my name tattooed on him somewhere. My favorite one is the horse piece on his back with Khali’s name. It’s big and beautiful. I’ve dreamed of tracing it with my fingertips while lying in bed with him. Can’t anyone tell me that one day that man wasn’t gon’ marry me. I’d been saving myself for him, and now that I’m officially eighteen, I plan on making my move soon.
Looking up, I saw Khali running out to my car. I leaned over and opened the passenger door for her. Khalif would be mad if he knew that I had her riding up here. For him, it’s always safety first, but I figured since we weren’t going far, she’d be alright. How would he know unless someone told him? And I’m certain Khali wouldn’t.
Normally, I’d allow Khali to do whatever she wants because I felt like that’s the best way for me to get in her father’s good graces. If Khali loves me, without a doubt, Khalif would too—with time. Honestly, sometimes, I felt like she couldn’t stand my guts. She treated me poorly and upset me sometimes, but I pushed through because I have a bigger goal in mind.
“Hey,” I spoke as she shut the door and put on her seat belt.
“Hey. Where’s Daddy?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged and pulled away from the curb. “Said something about having a work thing and that he’ll be home before dinner.”
“Aw.” She slumped back in her seat, and we rode silently to the house. I couldn’t wait for Khali to get inside and start on her homework. Whenever she was occupied, I’d sneak into Khalif’s bedroom and sniff his colognes and pretend as if he was standing right in front of me. That man smells better than anyone I’ve ever smelled before.
I told my best friend Ashely that I’m gon’ get Khalif, and she laughed at me. She told me that I’m delusional and in over my head. She’s one to talk when she’s dealing with an immature ass lil boy who stays cheating on her. At least when I finally get Khalif, I don’t have to worry about getting cheated on. He’s the perfect man.
I pulled into the driveway of the house and stopped at the front porch. Khali removed her seat belt and climbed out of the car. Khalif told me that the front door was unlocked. A lotof people around here always leaving their doors unlocked. My parents were guilty of it too.
Khali and I climbed the steps up to the front door and went straight into the house. I waved at the camera in the corner of the living room, knowing that Khalif was watching. He has cameras all over the house. I understand him wanting to be cautious when it comes to Khali, but dang, it made me feel like you didn’t have privacy whenever you were here.
“Do you have any homework?”
“Just a little math.”
“Get to it,” I told her and opened the refrigerator. I grabbed a bowl of fruit out of there and sat down at the kitchen table. Khali removed her folder from her bookbag and sat in the chair alongside me.
I popped a grape in my mouth and chewed. Her homework looked fairly easy, so I didn’t need to hover over her. I got up from the table and said, “I’m going to head to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” That’s furthest from the truth, but she didn’t need to know what I was really up to.
