“Yeah, but high school was only seven years ago for me. That was seventeen years ago for you.”
I side-eyed her. “So you saying I’m gon’ have to suffer through these age-gap jokes? Let me rethink this relationship decision.”
She giggled and playfully hit me on the arm. “So, let me be clear, Graham. I won’t be seeing anyone else. What about you?”
“Just, you and big mama. Like I told you last week, this my shit. Ain’t no fucking way my parents would be here if I didn’t want you to be mine. No fucking way.”
I tapped her nose with my pointer finger. This felt better than I thought it would. I could only hope that this was the real deal.
“I thought your mama was about to give me the business.”
I frowned slightly. “Why?”
“About the bullshit on TV.”
“You do realize I’m almost thirty-five, right? I mean, I was spoiled rotten, but Sidney Taylor ain’t crazy enough to give a woman the business behind me unless the woman was crazy as fuck and on bullshit. She knows how serious I am about being with you simply because she’s here.”
“Oh. The way she was staring at me, at first, had me nervous as fuck. She told me not to ever let nobody make me uncomfortable in my house. After she said that, I knew we were good.”
I chuckled. “She can look intimidating, that’s for sure. The only place you truly have to be worried about her at is the courtroom. She don’t bullshit around. That’s homefield advantage for her. That’s why her and Noah get along so well. He has a law degree and damn near idolized her back in the day.”
Her eyebrows lifted. “I would have never guessed. The only personal shit I know about Noah is where he was discovered, his past relationship with your aunt, his ex-wife, his kids, and who his mama is. That’s it.”
“Yeah. You had to be around that shit. I remembered when I first met him. He came to our house with Aunt Sonya before they were even a couple. Her and Uncle Shawn were beefing something serious back then. Those niggas always had drama. My whole family was dysfunctional back then, including me and my parents. Thank God for evolution, ’cause shit.”
She giggled and leaned into me. I closed my eyes for a moment and nodded. This felt right.
“So you’re saying that you’re in a relationship with him?” a reporter asked Arlie.
We were out having lunch in the city, being social and being together in public. While I wasn’t totally comfortable with that, I went along with what she wanted to do. She’d said that if we made it look scandal-free, they would eventually leave us the fuck alone.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. There was nothing scandalous to report. We’re happy. Thank you.”
Once he signaled for the cameraman to stop recording, he said, “The pickings at the top must be slim if you’re dating a flight attendant.”
I gave him a one-sided smile.Jealous muthafucka. If he only knew. I had more money than Arlie probably did.
“What?” Arlie asked.
“Don’t worry about it, baby. Man, get the fuck on,” I said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see that going that way.”
“It’s cool. I expect it. Let them talk about shit they don’t know. Unfortunately, someone is going to do more digging and find out who I’m connected to. I don’t make it a habit of attending industry shit with my aunt and cousins, nor do I typically publicize who my parents are. I like flying under the radar.”
“Again, I’m sorry. I’m putting you in the spotlight.”
“You worth it.”
We continued eating, and once we were done, Arlie signed a couple of autographs. I told her I would take her to the BotanicalGardens later, so we could enjoy each other in peace while still being out. She seemed to be cool with that. What I didn’t tell her was that there would be a table set, close to the bayou, with a candlelit dinner waiting for us. Robert Glasper would also be there, serenading us on his keyboard.
I wanted to cater to her before her flight to Baltimore tomorrow. She wanted me to go to Baltimore with her, but I felt like I didn’t need to be involved in her business affairs. Just because I knew Noah and my mama worked for him, didn’t mean I should take advantage of that. I needed her to know that I was beyond secure in who I was. I didn’t have to be everywhere she went when it pertained to her business.
Just as we were about to leave, my phone vibrated in my pocket. When I saw Cooper’s text, I chuckled and slowly shook my head. “My cousin is about to lose his mind because he saw us together on TV.”
She giggled. “Who are his parents?”
“You haven’t met her. My mama has two other sisters. Serita is his mom. Sharee is his older sister.”
