Once the game was over, I made my way home. When I saw Chase’s brand new pickup in the driveway, I damn near jumped for joy, hopping out of my car and rushing into the house as fast as my feet could carry me. As soon as my eyes landed on him standing at my kitchen counter, changing a lightbulb that I only had to ask him foronce, all the nerves that I had again hit me full force, and I stood there looking like Raven having a vision.
“Hey,” he said, eyes lit up as he stepped towards me.
“Heyyy,” I sang awkwardly.
“God Damn,” he gushed, million-dollar smile on his face as he just stared at me. That morning, instead of my usual press, Mona gave me a wash and go so I could wear my curls out for a week or so. He must have liked what he saw because he stared at me like I was walking down the aisle or something. I couldn’t think of a smart ass reply, so I kept my mouth shut, looking up at him as he pulled me closer and kissed me. I completely dissolved, letting him make up for every kiss that he missed while he was gone, then something behind him caught my eye.
“Chase, baby, what is this?” I asked, gesturing to a huge green plant in a pretty crystal vase.
“Grass,” he answered with a shrug and a smirk. I looked back from him to the vase and busted out laughing, because, yes, it was grass, but it was the prettiest grass I’d ever seen. This nigga had gone to a florist and had them make me a damn floral arrangement out of grass and other greenery. All I could do was pull him in for another mind numbing kiss
“You know you get on my nerves, right?”
“That’s why I’m here,” he teased, resting his forehead on mine and making my heart melt. The way he kept looking me over, I could tell he was confirming with his own eyes that I was okay after our last conversation, but he wouldn’t say it out loud because he knew I would get weirded out. At that moment, it clicked. I kept trying to figure out howwehappened,and it was all him. He didn’t bully me into a relationship, he just let me be me. He didn’t lash out when I was moody. He didn’t feel a way when I pushed back out of fear of being “too soft”. He just accepted me for who I was, and even when I tried to run from that, he wouldn’t let up. Somehow, he knew exactly what I needed and when to calm my crazy while still fueling my fire.
“I’msoglad you’re here.” I couldn’t control my smile. We didn’t even have sex that night, we ate together, had a bubble bath, and cuddled up under the covers while going over every detail we missed in the four days that we had been apart.
Mona
Are you asleep???
Me
I WAS!
Mona
Well get yo ass up! You need to see this!
I rubbed my eyes at the text trying to figure out what the hell Mona was talking about, and why she decided to have this conversation ten minutes before my damn alarm was set to go off. When I clicked the link, I damn near screamed, and my jaw was completely unhinged by the time I hit the end of the article.
BREAKING NEWS:
New York Basketball Star, Malcom Payne Facing Early Retirement After Being Found Naked and Badly Beaten Outside a New York Recording Studio.
Payne’s injuries were reportedly so severe that he was unrecognizable. The victim claims to have no knowledge of how he got injured, or who may have been involved, but due to shattered bones in both hands, he’s looking towards a lengthy recovery and may never step foot on the court again.
“Oh my God,” I mumbled. “Oh,shit.” I heard the shower running, so I knew Chase was back from his morning workout. I started to bust in there and ask him what the hell was going on, but then my phone started blowing up in the group chat.
June
Wait, what the hell??? Did y’all hear about Malcom??
Mona
Oh… My God…
Laila
Won’t he do it???
June
Yes, he will!
Mona
Are y’all really over there praise dancing over the fact that this man got stomped out like a roach in the corner with a pair of pointy toed boots? Y’all really happy that the man pissed AND shitted on himself, and lost a few teeth???
