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She nodded slowly and gave War what he wanted. “Yes.”
“Good, because you didn’t have a damn choice.”
“And what’s your return on that investment?” Cali asked. She wasn’t a fool nor was she expecting War to be running a mental tab but he would have expectations. All men did. She wanted to know what his were. The debt might be too high or impossible to deliver on and she was currently emotionally exhausted.
“You.” His one word affirmation was unwavering.
“You have me. What else?”
“I have you, but not like I want you. Not like I plan on enjoying you.”
She frowned and he clarified. “You’re gonna let me love you properly and I’m going to oblige. You’re gonna give me the future I never knew I wanted. Your pretty ass in my life, by my side, in my bed, in my heart. Those are my only requirements. All I need to remain satisfied is honesty, attention, and good pussy. All of which you’ve more than provided.”
Her smile blossomed in the most raw and pure way. “And what if I can’t?”
“You’re gonna have to do the work because I’m already invested.”
“Cali, what do you do?” Cali lifted her head from the bowl of homemade apple pie, topped with homestyle ice cream and drizzled caramel and whipped cream she was overindulging in. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand while she swallowed so she could answer.
“I work at a bookstore.”
“You read a lot?” Grace asked, moving around the kitchen.
“Uh, not a lot but I’m reading more now since I started working there.”
Grace glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “I was only asking to make the connection. Working around books has to be boring.”
Cali grinned, shoving a spoonful of apple pie in her mouth. “That’s the same thing my sister said. It’s not though. More relaxing than boring.”
Grace nodded. “I’m sure it’s a hell of a lot better than being with aggravating ass kids all day.”
War chuckled. “How you want me to have kids but you don’t like being around them?”
“I never said I didn’t like being around them. I said they’re aggravating as shit. All kids are, including the future grandbabies you’re gonna give me. Lord knows you and your sister used to drive me damn crazy when you were little.”
Cali grinned and her eyes shot over to War who was in the chair adjacent to hers. He only had a bottle of water. She noticed his mother didn’t offer him apple pie when she coerced her into accepting a bowl full and remembered War mentioned he wasn’t a sweets person.
“Well I like it and my boss is cool. The store is quiet mostly during the week but can get pretty busy on the weekends so it’s balanced.”
“What’s that?” Kirsten asked, entering the kitchen.
“Cali works at a bookstore.”
“Which one?” Kirsten asked, leaning onto the island. She propped her chin on her folded hands while her elbows rested on the granite surface.
“Mahogany,” Cali stated before indulging with another spoonful.
“That’s the new one. It’s Black-owned, right?”
“Yeah, you been?”
“No, but I’ll come check you out since I know you work there.” She smiled at Cali then cut her eyes at War. He issued a warning look she ignored. “We might as well hang out since it looks like you’ll be around.”
Cali’s eyes bounced between Kirsten and War, sensing there was something between the two of them. The way his scowl deepened but Kirsten’s smile expanded was a clear sign.
“Sure, we can do that, if it’s okay with your brother.”
“He doesn’t mind at all. Isn’t that right, big brother? That’s our thing. He was chilling with my man earlier today, isn’t that right, Wardell?
