Page 21 of The One He Desires

“If this mofo is calling me, I swear I’m about to crashout.”

“Look, Mommy. Minnie.” Milan’s excited voice reminds me of why I was scrolling in the first place as she points to the TV.

We’re in my room, and Milan is watching the girl and boy mice on Disney Channel. I’m over it as this particular show has been a constant staple in Milan’s world since she was a baby. It’s so bad that I can almost recite one of the episodes verbatim. I pick up my phone, and a sloppy grin forms when I see the name on the screen. Without hesitation, I answer.

“Hey. You didn’t get enough of me earlier?”

Sincere’s low chuckle radiates throughout my body as goosebumps pop on my arms. Butterflies dance in my stomach as I wet my dry lips and await his reply.

“Never. I just thought that since you’re the reason for me still being at the office, you should keep me company.”

I giggle like a girl with a teenage love affair as I cover my mouth, and my chest expands with merriment. My body feels lighter than moments ago as I shift Milan so I can get more comfortable for this conversation.

“I’m sorry. I’ll gladly keep you company because that BLT had me in a chokehold the rest of the day.”

“What happened to ‘I know you ain’t come in here with a BLT’?” Sincere’s voice rises in a fake, feminine, offensive tone that sends me into a fit of giggles.

“Ssh, Mommy. Too roud.” Milan looks at me like she’s ready to fight me as I shake my head.

“Sorry, baby. How about you stay here and watch your show? I’ll go to the couch.”

“Yesh.” Milan co-signs.

Deep masculine chuckles pierce the line as I maneuver my way out of my bed so Milan can watch her program while I talk to Sincere.

Lord, please let him have a long schlong with enough girth to make me feel it the morning after. Please let him be more than a five-minute brother.

If you don’t shift your thoughts back to a place of conscious, you’re gonna know something, Journee Marie.

I laugh low because that chastisement sounded like Mom and was very necessary, since I was definitely about to petition the Most High to be something devilish. But I blame Sincere, and his voice got me out here trying to be like Charlotte when she had to come up with new words to keep Wilbur out of the smokehouse.

Radiant. Nah, that ain’t masculine enough.

My mind swirls with words as I try to find a descriptor for how Sincere’s voice makes me feel. I plop down on my couch a second later and curl my right leg under my butt as I get comfortable.

“From Sweet Face’s tone, I can only imagine what her face looked like. It’s also quiet, so I’m assuming you’ve made it to time out.”

“I mean. She looked at me like she wanted to beat me up for disturbing her peace. Mind you, her little butt invaded my bed. But does she care about the logistics?”

“Nope.” Sincere’s reply has me nodding in agreement as I shift the conversation.

“Exactly. So, this case must be major to have you at the office at seven?”

“It ain’t nothing major, but I was unfocused, which meant I still have some things to review to be ready for the morning.”

Intrigue fills me because I’ve been single since Milan, and before that, I was with BN. A man like Sincere is out of my wheelhouse. But obviously, something about me makes him want to be in my presence. So the last thing I’m going to do is waste my time talking myself out of this blessing that God saw fit to provide. It’s about time that I pick from the top of the tree because those crab apples at the bottom have caused enough stomachaches.

“I know you can’t give me any names, but who’s the worst defendant you’ve had?”

“For the sake of this story, I’m going to reference him as Coyote. That way, I can keep my integrity, and you can get your answer. How does that sound?”

I rub my hands together and nod with a cheesy grin before I realize that Sincere can’t see me.

“I like it. So, what did Coyote do to receive the worst award?”

“He led KPD to him by posting his plans on their social media forum. Somehow, he thought that the site was fake and that he could share in explicit detail what he was about to do.”

My mouth drops, and my eyes blink continuously because I know nobody is that clueless or foolish.