Page 79 of Cause When You Love Someone
“I promise, I’ll be fine. As long as you’re out here waiting for me, I’m good.”
A muscle beat in my jaw as I thought of the worst. “If anyone even looks at you wrong?—”
“We’ll handle it.” Blaze stepped up and tapped her purse.
As pretty as she was, I knew Church’s wife was serious. I had been a witness to what she would do to a person who got on her bad side.
“We won’t be long,” Clarke declared in a tone that still didn’t bring me comfort.
To avoid the paparazzi, we crossed the street and posted up under an oak tree. From where we stood, we had a clear view of the entrance to the church.
The sound of a lighter triggered my vision to scatter. I grimaced when I saw Durk leaning against the tree with a bunt between his lips.
“Don’t spark that shit. We’re right across the street from a church.”
“Right. We’re across the street. We’re not inside. You probably need to hit this to calm your nerves.”
I shook my head. “I won’t be able to chill until Clarke comes out that church.”
“I still can’t believe you let her come to this nigga’s funeral,” Durk replied as he added fire to the tobacco leaf.
“Let?” Loso scoffed. “Clarke is a grown ass woman. I don’t know why you talk shit like you’re a big dawg. We all see the way you turn into a little puppy when Clover is around.”
“That’s different.”
I chuckled. “No, it’s not. Besides, I don’t lose anything by supporting Clarke. We have a baby coming. She’s working on her studio. She needs closure, and I’m not threatened by the dead.”
“I can’t believe that foo’ killed himself. He’s definitely going to hell now.”
Shiloh gave Durk a side-eye. “Don’t speak ill of the dead, nigga.”
“Nigga, please. Why are you acting like we weren’t looking for that bum a week before he shot himself?” The sharp-mouthed menace released a callous laugh. “To kill yourself over some pussy is crazy. That nigga lost his mind when he found out you and Clarke were having a baby.”
As harsh as it sounded, Durk was speaking facts. I had been on the hunt for Chaz’s big ass days before he died, so pretending to be hurt by his death would’ve been fake as hell.
Loso used a red bandana to rid his bald head of perspiration. “I’m happy you brought up the baby. When y’all getting married? You swore up and down you wouldn’t have a baby mama.”
I snatched the blunt from Durk when he started laughing. One deep inhale crammed my lungs with smoke that I let pour out through my nostrils.
“I don’t know if we’re ready for that. We’re having a baby in less than six months. I’m still on the hook for parenting classes. Plus, I’m going back to school. The day I ask her to marry me, I want it to be out of love, not obligation,” I confessed. “On another note, I appreciate y’all coming with us. I know the crowd is a lot to deal with.”
“You ain’t lying, but we’re family.” Shiloh squeezed my shoulder. “Just like you wouldn’t let Clarke enter the lion’s den alone, we feel the same way about you. We’d paint this city red if something happened to you.”
Clarke and the ladies exited the church about thirty minutes after they walked inside. Plans for a family lunch came into the conversation, but I insisted on taking Clarke home. Right then, I didn’t want to share her with anyone.
As soon as we got home, Clarke went to shower, and I checked on Isabella. I wasn’t surprised to find her sprawled out across a beanbag, reading a book.
“You good?” I asked.
She barely glanced my way when she waved me off. “I’m good. Get out!”
A low laugh rocked my chest as I closed her door. I knew from experience not to talk to a reader when they were in Lala Land.
Since Clarke was still in the bathroom, I used the time to change my clothes and set up a pillow palette. Thanks to my prissy lady, candles were already arranged in my room, so I didn’t have to do much to set the scene.
“Baby.”
The softness in Clarke’s tone birthed butterflies in my belly. I spun around, and the smile on her face added character to her eyes. Drips of water tumbled from her damp hair, and the expensive pieces and makeup she wore earlier were gone. Fresh-faced, my sweet baby looked renewed. Her shoulders were no longer bunched up to her ears, and her fingers were loose instead of balled into fists.
