Page 20 of The Soft Fall
“I slept like a baby. I haven’t slept that well in a long time.”
“Maybe because you didn’t have criminals calling you at all times of the night and creeping into your sleep,” she replied smartly.
I set my phone down. “Kenni, do you have a problem with what I do for a living?”
She paused and then started chewing slowly again. “Honestly?”
“We vowed nothing but for this weekend. Transparency and truth, remember?”
“I do worry about some of the people you defend. I’m scared that if you don’t win, they might retaliate. I’m scared that if you do win, they’ll be free to do the same heinous acts they were doing before. I’m scared that you’ll forever be looking over your shoulder.”
“Is that what you think that I do? Well, I don’t.”
“Your dad, right?”
“Not just him, but I’ve built a reputation of my own, baby. Your man ain’t no weak ass nigga. Bryson Fuller is a name that’s just as synonymous in the streets with power and aggression as it is in the courtrooms.”
“Okay, baby.”
I took her fork from her and cupped her chin, forcing her to turn and look at me. “I would never ask you to stop what you’re doing. I love what you do for a living because you’re good at it, and you’re passionate about it. I only ask that you make time for me in that.”
“You’re right, Bryse. I’m sorry. This is going to take some work.”
“We already knew that it would. But are you ready to put the work in? Because I know that I am.”
“I am, Bryse. You’re worth it. It’s been hard these last few months thinking that you’re cheating on me.”
“Shit, you’re telling me. All I’m saying is that this time, we need to be more focused on building our connection than before. The last time we were all fire and chemistry. Hot sex, passionate kisses, torrid fucking, that was us. We fell in lust and not in love. This time, I want to fall in love with everything about you, girl. You feel me?”
She nodded slowly.
After we finished eating,we headed down to the lake because Kennedi had been itching to go. People were boating and fishing like they had been the day before. We spoke to several guests, and most of them were staying in the B&B, but a few, like us, had rented cabins.
“We’re having a big bonfire tonight. You two should join us,” Kerris, a curvy, dark-skinned sister, professed.
“The more, the merrier. The B&B does a lot of exciting things all year round, but the fall is the best time to come and visit up here,” her husband, L.A., stated.
“I did flip through the pamphlets and saw that there are hiking trails and places that we could go apple picking around here. Have you done either of those things?” Kenni asked.
“We went apple picking and bike riding along the nature trail,” Kerris replied. “We couldn’t hike the trails because L.A.’sknees can’t take it. After a lifetime of playing ball, he has to take it easy on them now.”
“A’ight, woman. My knees work just fine when I need them to. And I can still shoot some hoops,” he declared, smirking at me.
I laughed and replied, “I haven’t been on the court in a minute, and I can’t wait to get back to it, but like you, I might have to start taking it easy.”
“Man, how old are you?” he asked.
“Thirty-six. And trust me when I say that I’m starting to feel those years.”
“You two are still young. We’re in our mid-fifties,” Kerris declared.
“She’s only thirty-one,” I replied, pointing at Kenni.
Kerris waved a hand and declared, “Honey, you haven’t even lived yet.”
Kenni’s eyes sparkled with laughter.
“Well, we’re gonna head out. We just wanted to come down and check out the lake. When will the bonfire be, and where is it held?” I asked.
