“What do you want to know?” I asked.
She arched a brow. “Are you sure?”
I tapped the table. “If you’re asking if I want to be with your brother, I do.”
“I’m asking if you’re sure.”
I answered the question with one of my own. “Do you think I’d be here if I wasn’t?”
Dallas was Dex’s sister, but I considered her a good friend. We’d graduated in the same high school class, attended Hampton together freshman year. She’d helped me fix my life on more than one occasion over the years and had kept my confidence. In fact, Dallas was the only person who knew about Jack. She never judged me. She simply hopped on a flight and flew her ass down to Atlanta to make sure I was okay.
“I love you, Char,” she said. “You’re family. If you weren’t sure, I wouldn’t love you any less. But I will tell you what Dex deserves. My brother does a good job ensuring that all of us are taken care of. He’s clutch for real. I just need him to have someone that is willing to walk through fire for him too. That’s all.”
I met her gaze. “It’s still new.”
“You’re in the honeymoon phase of a new relationship, new expectations for each other. But these are notnewfeelings.”
In Miami, I’d told Dex I was sure. And I was.I am. I trusted him. I adored him.I love him. Still, there were real considerations that we hadn’t talked about. I hadn’t decided to move to Michigan. My entire family was in transition. Everything had changed after Julia died. Harper accepted a job in Minnesota. Justus and Isis were planning a family. I suspected Elise was pregnant but holding off on the announcement. My mother had mentioned downsizing her house or moving to Atlanta to be closer to us. And I couldn’t stay there indefinitely without a plan. I hadn’t quit my job. Hell, I hadn’t even talked to my boss about any of this. I’d been so distracted, so engrossed in Dex that I’d failed to be logical. If this was going to work, we needed to have that conversation.
Dallas reached over and placed her hand on mine. She gave me a gentle squeeze. “Maybe you two need to have a talk? Just sayin’.”
I nodded. She was right. “Definitely.” My phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, cringing at the number. My boss had been trying to reach me for several days.
Dallas stood. “I’ll let you handle that.”
I answered the phone. “Hi. I’m so sorry, Carl. It’s been crazy.”
Carl Matthews had taken me under his wing from the moment I entered his business and announced that I wanted to learn from him. He didn’t have kids, so he’d passed down all his knowledge to me. Recently, he’d encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and take a more active role in his business. He’d even suggested that I set up the non-profit to help other black women break into the field.
“I’m glad you picked up,” Carl said. “How are you? How is your mom?”
“She’s hanging in there.”
“Good. I know you’re on leave and I wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important.”
My stomach dropped and I sat up straight. “Is everything okay?”
“We’re fine, Char,” he assured me. “I’ve just made some decisions that I’d like to speak to you about. Can you come to Atlanta in the next few weeks so we can talk in person?”
“Sure?” I moistened my lips. “Can you give me a hint?”
“Absolutely. Angel and I have talked. I’m going to retire at the end of the year. And I’d like you to take over the business.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Char, you’re basically a much younger me with hair. I don’t trust anyone else with CM Electric.”
“I’m… Wow.” Off in the distance, I spotted Dex standing with Asa and Duke. They were laughing and it was a beautiful sight.Hewas beautiful. “Um… I don’t know what to say, Carl.”I don’t know what to do.
“I hope you’ll at least consider it, Charlye.”
“Of course, I will.” I swallowed past a lump that had formed in my throat. “I’ll make arrangements to fly back in the next few weeks.”
“Thanks. Talk to you soon.”
I ended the call just as Dex approached me. “Ready, Pretty?”
The long hours and sore fingers, the uncertainty I’d faced when I decided to become an electrician, the doubts from many of my male colleagues had been worth it to hear Carl say he trusted me with his business. And he’d given me so much of his time, so much guidance, that I couldn’t imagine telling himno. Which was a problem because… I peered up at Dex.
