Page 18 of Church Girl
“I will.” She waves to me, not even bothering to look over her shoulder. That girl has slime on her mind.
Just as Aaliyah pushes the entrance door open, it swings back, and Chelle steps in, nearly bumping into my new nanny. “Oh, my bad. Hey, G.” Grinning, Chelle bends down and holds her hand up for a high five. After Gia slaps her palm, Chelle pulls her in for a quick hug. “And hello again. Aaliyah, isn’t it?”
Aaliyah nods. “Yes, and it’s nice to see you again.”
“Same—”
“Auntie Chelle, Aaliyah’s taking me to Sloomoo!” Gia interrupts, back to bouncing on her toes in her excitement and impatience. “We have to go.”
“Okay, okay, dang. I won’t hold you up.” Chelle laughs then says, “Aaliyah, I guess we’ll be seeing more of each other since you’re taking care of lil’ G. I’ma get your number from Von, and maybe we can get some drinks later.”
Even with the distance of the lobby between us, the wide smile that lights up Aaliyah’s face has me blinking.
Damn.
She’s so fucking beautiful. And she doesn’t even know it.
“I’d love that.” Gia tugs on Aaliyah’s hand again, and she chuckles. “We need to get out of here, but I’ll see you later.”
“Bet.”
Aaliyah turns back to the door, pushing it open for Gia. Because I’m a glutton for punishment with an eye problem, my gaze drops, skimming over that work-of-art ass that’s just sitting up there.
Fuck.
My fingers and palms itch with the urge to shape my hands to those firm, lush curves.
“Let me find out you into young, fresh-off-the-Greyhound chicks.”
I jerk my head toward a grinning Chelle. She cocks her head, staring after Aaliyah and Gia as they pass by the shop’s storefront window. Then she returns her gaze to me. “That ass is pretty, ain’t it?” She smirks.
“Leave her ass alone, Chelle,” I growl. “Literally.”
My best friend’s attracted to who she’s attracted to. Gender doesn’t factor into it. He, she, they... As long as they’re sexy to her, she’ll pursue them.
“Is that an order from my friend or...”
“It’s an order from your employer, who would be mad as hell if the nanny quits because my tattoo artist breaks her heart.”
That’s another thing about Chelle. Monogamy is just a word aftermoneyand beforemonopolyin the dictionary. As long as I’ve known her, she’s never been in a situationship that lasted longer than three months. She has her reasons, and some of them are valid, I’ll give her that. But mostly, she don’t trust not one muthafucka if it ain’t me or her brother.
She shrugs, but that little smile still rides her mouth. “If you wanna save Dolly for yourself, just say that.”
“Dolly?” I mug her. “Who the fuck is Dolly?”
“Her.” She tips her head toward the door. “With that accent, hair and smile, tell me you don’t think of Dolly Parton. I mean, she doesn’t have the tits but...” She shrugs.
“Nah. She definitely doesn’t bring Dolly Parton to mind.”
Now Lauren London with that tiny waist, fat ass, thick thighs, big brown eyes and dimples? Yeah, her I can see.
“Whatever.” Chelle waves off my words and goes back to grinning. “I notice you didn’t say anything about not wanting her.”
“He gave her the keys to the F-150, too, Chelle,” Malcolm chimes in.
I glare at him. “Aye, bruh. Don’t you have some business to take care of?”
“Nope.” He snickers.
