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“I agreed to another baby but not right now.”
“I hear you, Lo. Just don’t make me wait too long.”
“You keep looking this good, and it won’t be long. You clean up nice, Mr. Meraux.”
“Shit, I’m just trying to keep up with you. I didn’t just have a baby.”
“Okay, now you’re laying it on a little too thick.”
“You’re sexy as fuck Lo. I know it, and half the nigga’s in here do too. I almost shot one of them for staring too goddamn long.”
Hailo flipped her eyes, ignoring my flirtatious ways. I wasn’t going to shoot anybody, at least not for staring. All eyes were on her tonight, but I wasn’t some insecure nigga. I knew the weight Hailo carried even if she didn’t. Nigga’s were going to look. It was impossible not to, but they weren’t dumb enough to try what was mine.
“I love you.”
“I can’t hear. It’s so loud in here. Speak up,” I replied, and Hailo tried to suck her laugh back in and failed. We’d come a long way from our reservations about each other. I told Hailo she’d fall in love eventually. She denied it, so I never missed a chance to remind her I was right.
“I love you, Gianni.”
“Love you more, Pretty Lady.”
“Hailo.” Trent’s voice interrupted me hugging Hailo tightly while whispering a bunch of freaky shit in her ear.
She turned around, no longer smiling but wearing a scowl that caused Trent’s mind to go blank. Finally tired of the awkward stare down, she bulged her eyes.
“Can I have a word with you? Alone,” Trent asked, looking up at me.
“Does TJ know about me?” Hailo asked.
“Not yet, but.”
“Then what? We don’t have anything to talk about. You should run along before you give your wife a stroke.” Hailo left, and I could tell by her stride that she was hurting. That hurt me, and Hurt Gianni wasn’t fun for anybody.
“I can only separate business and personal for so long. Leave my fuckin’ wife alone.” I turned to check on Hailo when Trent gripped my arm.
“She is my daughter!
“Every time you let her down, I gotta pick that shit up. I’m not complaining because I’ll do that shit a million times if I have to.” I paused, closing the gap between us with my hands in my pockets and eyes locked on Trent. This wasn’t a game and I needed him to understand that. “But it ain’t gone be a million more times I let you keep hurting mine, dad.”
Walking out of the ballroom, I searched for Hailo when I finally caught her standing on the terrace outside. My hand touched the small of her back, and she jumped, peering over her shoulder.
“This view reminds me of the night we met,” she recalled, observing the skyline. Though this wasn’t the same terrace we stood on that night, it was reminiscent of the moment. “Still can’t believe I did that,” she giggled, shaking her head.
“It turned out to be the best decision of your life.”
“That remains to be seen, Mr. Meraux,” she replied, but I could tell from the lust in her tone that Hailo was talking shit- something she did often.
“Pain makes people do crazy shit, Mrs. Meraux,” I replied, moving from behind her to rest against the brick enclosure. “What is your pain saying right now?”
“Thank you,” Turning toward me, she picked up on the confusion, “Being in love with you makes it hurt less. Trent isn’t shit and hasn’t been for a long time. I’m used to it.”
“Doesn’t make the shit right or hurt any less.”
Hailo turned, staring out into the city before focusing back on me. “Maybe I had to go through all the bullshit to get here with you. At least I know Renni will never have to feel what I did. I guess it was worth it,” she playfully rolled her eyes to make this moment less awkward. Being vulnerable was a struggle for Hailo, but she was working on it.
“I’ll bet my life on that.”
The expression on Hailo’s face as she grabbed my hand and led me back inside had me ready to end the night early. I was ready to return to the hotel and enjoy my night, but we stayed longer. Most of the evening was spent talking business while zoning out and winking at Hailo across the room with Skylar.
