Charles never looked up as he addressed his own ball. His visor shaded his eyes and he settled into his stance with the confidence of a man who’d spent decades on this course.
Jio exhaled through his nose. “I’m trying not to embarrass myself.”
“You already have.”
Charles swung.
The crack echoed across the course before the ball sailed effortlessly down the center of the fairway.
“Damn,” Jio muttered under his breath.
Jio stepped up to the tee and swung.
The ball skipped twenty feet before disappearing into a patch of grass.
Charles bursted into laughter so hard he leaned against his club. “Jesus Christ. Did you even try to practice before coming out here?”
“Well, I told you I don’t play golf,” he said unashamedly.
“I can see that.”
Jio shook his head as they climbed into the cart.
The next few holes came and went with surprisingly little conversation. Charles talked business more than golf and Jiowent with it. Thankfully, he wasn’t a dumb nigga so he was able to keep up with the changing topics. But by the sixth hole, he was over it.
“Mr. Marcelle.”
“Oh, is this your serious voice?” He’d been throwing shade all morning, but Jio never acknowledged it.
Charles sank the putt before finally turning toward him. “Whatever you came to ask me, the answer is no.”
Jio laughed before his expression settled again. His heartbeat picked up. This was the first time in years he'd genuinely been nervous.
He cleared his throat.
“I love your daughter.”
Charles sank the putt before finally turning toward him. “Whatever you came to ask me, the answer is no.”
“You don’t even know what I’m about to ask you.” He tried his best to keep his cool, but her family brought the worse out of him.
“I knew the moment you called asking to play golf.”
“You could've saved us both two hours,” he said through clenched teeth.
“And miss watching you butcher my golf course?” Charles grinned. “Not a chance.”
Jio paused, choosing his words carefully.
“I really love her.”
The older man studied him. “So what exactly are you trying to tell me?”
Jio inhaled deeply. “I want to marry Nina.”
For the first time all morning, Charles looked completely caught off guard.
His eyebrows shot toward his hairline before a chuckle escaped him. He was in disbelief and it showed. He laughed so hard he had to remove his visor.
