I looked at him, then back out at the road. “Yeah, I’m good.”
He watched me for a second longer than he needed to. “You sure?”
I nodded a little, lettin’ my fingers tighten around his. “I said I’m good. I’m just hopin’ for the best with you, that’s all.”
He didn’t say anything right away, but I felt the way his hand shifted in mine, like he took that in for real. Then he brought it up to his mouth again and kissed it slower this time, his eyes flickin’ back to the road.
Renza always knew how to slide back in like nothin’ ever happened, and he never pressed back too hard when I said shit that might’ve felt heavy.
Still… I squeezed his hand back and didn’t force him to respond.
When we finally pulled up to his cousin’s mansion, I sat up a little straighter, takin’ it in. Even though I had been here a few times before, it still hit the same every time.
The gate slid open once Renza put the code in, and we drove through slowly, the lights from the driveway guidin’ the way.
He parked next to a line of cars that I wasn’t even about to try and count, then cut the engine off.
Before I could even reach for the handle, he was already out the car, comin’ around to my side and openin’ the door.
“Come on, Big Mama,” he said, holdin’ his hand out.
I placed mine in his, lettin’ him help me out. The second I stood up, he pulled me in close and pressed his lips to mine like he had been waitin’ to do that again.
“Mmm,” he murmured against my mouth before trailin’ his lips down to my neck, kissin’ along it.
I let out a light breath, my hand comin’ up to his chest while I turned my head just a little, feelin’ the warmth of him and catchin’ that light scent of his cologne that always did somethin’ to me.
“I’m glad you came with me,” he said against my skin.
“You didn’t give me much of a choice,” I replied, smirkin’ and rollin’ my eyes while I brushed my hair from my shoulders.
He laughed softly, pullin’ back just enough to look at me. “I meant what I said. I ain’t takin’ you back home tonight.”
I raised a brow. “Oh, for real?”
“For real,” he said, noddin’ once. “You stayin’ with me. I don’t care what you talkin’ ’bout.”
I shook my head a little, but I couldn’t even hold back the smile that tried to come through.
He grabbed the back of my hand again and kissed it, then reached up and pinched my cheek before rubbin’ my chin.
“I really do adore you, baby,” he said, lookin’ at me in a way that made me pause for a second.
“And I love you,” I replied, really meanin’ it.
He smirked, then took my hand and led me toward the house.
Soon as we stepped inside, it was quiet, which made me feel how big the mansion really was.
Our footsteps echoed a little as we walked further in, Renza’s hand still holdin’ mine. After a few seconds, I started hearin’ voices from the back.
By the time we made it outside, the whole setup came into view, and I couldn’t even lie. It was nice.
The patio was lit up with warm lights strung across the top, givin’ it that soft glow that made everything look good without tryin’ too hard. The music played low in the background, some smooth shit that blended right into the night. The table everybody sat at was full of food and drinks like it was just another regular night for them. Which I guess it was, because this was just what they did.
A whole outside kitchen was set up to the side with chefs movin’ around like they had this down to a science. The grill was goin’, plates was comin’ together, and a bar was set up not too far from it where drinks was already bein’ made and brought over.
I caught sight of the food first.
