It was probably nothing.
I hoped it was nothing.
My eyes snapped back to Islah as she was walking back toward me.
“Why you over here looking all serious?” she asked.
I forced a smile and pulled her down on top of me.
“Just thinking,” I said low as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
“About what?”
I paused for a second and looked into her eyes.
“Our future, mamas.”
I could feel her melting in my arms.
“So you are telling me we gonna be making some changes soon?”
I chucked. “I told you after this re-up, I got you. I’m not switchin’ up.”
She kissed me, then pulled me up, and she spent the rest of the day in control.
We walked the boardwalk, ate some fried shrimp, and I asked her some subliminal questions about furniture, color schemes, and shit to have an idea of what to put in the house to start her off with.
As we walked, she pulled me into a few lil’ shops, trying on different shit. I copped it all before she had a chance to ask.
I tried to put my feelings to the side. I didn’t want her to question me again, but every corner we hit, every stop we made, that feeling wouldn’t leave me. It just kept growing stronger.
“Gio…Gio!”
I blinked, and Islah shook her head, laughing.
“You are not even listening.”
I sighed. “I am, baby.”
She stopped walking and turned to face me. “What is the last thing I said then?”
I paused.
“You said you got the flyest nigga in the city, and that he loves you like the queen that you are.”
She laughed, hittin’ me in the chest as I pulled her into me and rested my arm on her shoulder as we walked.
The sun was tearing us up, and Islah was ready to go. On the drive, I massaged her thigh slowly as she drifted off to sleep. My eyes kept looking in the rearview mirror, and I swear that I saw a car that hit every turn I did.
I dipped in and outta traffic, trying to put a few cars between us. When we got to the crib, and before I opened Islah’s door, I looked around, checking for the car or people. I guess I was takin’ too long because she knocked on the window. As soon as I opened the door, she had that look on her face, the look I knew all too well.
She was about to question me.
“Gio, what is going on?” I opened my mouth to speak, and she put her hand up, stopping me.
“Nope, save your bullshit,” she said, getting outta the car. “Last night, you tossed and turned, damn near made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster, and today! Your head is always on a swivel, but today it was worse, like you were a damn pit bull or some shit on guard. Before we walk in this house, you are gonna tell me what is going on!”
I let out a deep breath. “Come on, Islah, we can do this inside.”
