Page 82 of Kove and Xiah
Mom: His favorite? What about me?
Me: I’m your favorite.
Mom: You are but you still don’t know what I’m making. Maybe I’m trying something new.
Me: Six organic chicken breasts, orzo pasta, Parmesan cheese, six large lemons, and parsley.
Lemon orzo pasta with fire-grilled chicken breasts…
Mom: Don’t be surprised when I switch it up.
Me: I won’t because you won’t.
Mom: He’s still coming?
I smiled thinking about Kove meeting my parents. I was anxious but still excited. My mother thought he was handsome, so that was already a check in his corner. At the very least myfather could be swayed by Kove’s status as a Royal but accepting Kove as the man in my life was still questionable.
Me: Yes.
Mom: Can’t wait. I haven’t given your father any details, only that you had someone you wanted us to meet.
Me: Thank you, we’ll see how this goes.
Mom: It will be fine as long as this young man is genuine.
He is…
Me: I know. See you tonight. Love you.
Mom: Love you too.
I locked my phone and dropped it into my purse before collecting the rest of my things so I could leave the office. I spent the morning submitting offers for the two clients I recently obtained after going to a networking social hosted by BWB.
I was very impressed with the atmosphere and would be attending as many as I could. Koa tagged along and made some connections as well. Boss women handling their business was definitely a vibe I could get with. I planned on submitting my application to be an official member of Black Women Bosses. I admired all the things that Zoree Kincaid and Samiya Grant represented. the group of women they had as friends and peers were they type of connections I wanted in my life.
My life had done a complete one eighty and I truly had no complaints. Eight days after the Shining Stars event, Koa showed up at my apartment with two bottles of wine and paperwork that officially freed me from the worst decision I’d ever made. I had plans with Kove that night, but when I called to give him the news, he told me to celebrate with my girl and he would get his time in to celebrate over the weekend because he had some team commitments he couldn’t cancel, so he wouldn’t be able to see me until then. I appreciated that he wanted to let me have this moment with Koa.
I talked to Kove through texts and video calls between his practices and the viewings I had but that wasn’t good enough. He officially closed on his house three days ago but I didn’t even get to see him then because of other commitments. I sat next to his attorney, Raaj Armand, who was granted limited power of attorney for the sale of the house so that he could show up on Kove’s behalf. I missed his presence and planned on making up for lost time. Tonight we had dinner planned with my parents and afterwards we would be spending the night in Kove’s new house.
The furniture had been delivered, and against his wishes, Sovoya hired a team of people to ensure all the necessities required for bare minimum survival were delivered and set up in the house after she had a cleaning staff come in to do a thorough deep cleaning of the property. Between his schedule and mine I truly believed he was grateful, even if he refused to openly admit that to Sovoya.
Dinner with my parents would be to inform them of the divorce and my relationship. Kove wanted me to have that moment with them in private but I figured it was better to tackle both at once so I could get everything out there and clear the air.
It was killing me to keep this from them but I refused to have the discussions of a possibility of resolution with Kaden then have to navigate the disappointment if things didn’t work out as planned. Now that I had the documentation that couldn’t be challenged, granting me the freedom to move on with my life, I was ready to have the conversation with my parents.
Once I had everything I needed to leave, I left my office and almost collided with Kinsley who was leaving hers.
“You leaving?”
“Yes, unless you need something.”
“Nothing important, just wanted to say that I’m very proud of the work you’re putting in. Your sales are consistent, whichshows the effort you’re putting in. I don’t know what’s changed but I see a difference.”
“Thank you. I really want this. I know I wasn’t pulling my weight before but I promised you I would do the work.”
Kinsley smiled. “You did and you are. I won’t hold you, just wanted to say keep up the good work.”
She headed back to her office and I was on my way to The Marketplace to pick up ingredients for what I needed to make the desserts for tonight. I had two things planned. The oatmeal raisin cookies would be for dinner at my parents’ because they were my father’s favorite and the banana cream cupcakes were for Kove as a housewarming present even though he insisted that me being naked at his disposal to do whatever he pleased would be his present.
