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“Hmm… I would say the love language I need is physical touch, but I also want words of affirmation. I think that’s more about security than anything else, though. You know women crave validation, so hearing my man talk that sweet shit always does something to me. What about you?”
“I need quality time, but I want service. I grew up quick as hell and never really had a woman to take care of me, you know? It shows itself in what I expect from women, so I’m working on that.”
Denali’s head shook as she sat up in her seat and placed her forearms on the table.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I read somewhere we all have two love languages. One that we did or didn’t get from our childhood and one that made us feel loved and safe in our early adult relationships. So it makes sense for you to want those things. My parents were super affectionate, but I’ve dealt with a lot of lying ass niggas, so it makes sense that words mean a lot to me too.”
“Aye, y’all can talk when y’all get home,” Supreme said. “It’s time to take shots!”
“Sorry, y’all,” Nicole said, wrapping her arm around her husband. “I tried to keep him away.”
Denali laughed as Elite said, “It’s cool. You buying the shots, nigga?”
“Yeah, I got this round. I’ll tell ol’ girl to bring ’em and put ’em on my tab. You good, sis?” He checked, to which Denali nodded and smiled.
“I’m good, bro. But I might be done after this one just so I can make sure I’m straight to drive home.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Elite said. “Enjoy yourself. I can drive your car home, and Nicole can trail me and drive mine.”
“You sure?”
“Positive, sweetheart.”
“Thank you,” she almost sang. “I rarely get a night out throughout the week, so I’m definitely trying to have fun.”
“Let me go get these shots then.”
Nicole laughed as Supreme walked away. She sat back down at the table, and though Elite saw her grinning at him out of the corner of his eye, he couldn’t take his eyes off Denali.
“So, Denali,” Nicole said. “What do you like to do?”
“Hmm, depends on the season, honestly. Throughout the summer and spring, I love traveling and hosting parties and entertaining. That’s been a little difficult to do lately, but I get together with a few moms so our kids can spend the weekends together. I love barhopping and trying new restaurants and food. Oh, and swimming. When it gets cool out, I get lazy. All I be wanting to do is chill in the house by the fire watching movies and reading books. I do like going to cabins, though.”
“Elite loves hosting parties too. He makes bomb ass drinks. And we love to travel. We’ve been trying to get him to do it more.” Elite shook his head and searched the bar for his brother. “He loves bowling and pool too. And he’s a great artist. Oh, and his new place has an amazing pool.”
“I’ve already told her that, sis, but good looking out. Why don’t you tell her what you like to do and see what else y’all have in common?”
“I like him a lot already,” Denali assured. “And we enjoy each other. You don’t have to sell him to me, but I do want to know more about you.”
Nicole looked from Denali to Elite. “I like her.”
Elite smiled and looked back at the woman that was slowly filling those cracks along his broken heart with love.
“I like her too.”
eighteen
Denali
Leg shaking,Denali tried to calm her nerves before calling Cassie. Blaze promised the kids that he would take them to Nashville for the weekend, but he wasn’t answering his phone. While she could have called someone to watch them while she worked today, they only wanted their father. Amir had spent the day angry because he was sure Blaze had lied to them and Kinsley had locked herself in her room. Things had been going so well with Blaze and the kids that Denali had allowed herself to momentarily relax, but that ended the night she came home tipsy as hell after going to the bar with Elite and his people.
Though Denali hadn’t gone into detail about who she was with and what they were doing, she also didn’t deny the fact that she was with another man. Since then, Blaze had been back on his bullshit. Even though he was upset with her, Denali assumed he would still keep his promise to their kids. This morning, he was supposed to pick them up before she went to work at the boutique, but that hadn’t been the case. Not only was he MIA, but he’d blocked her number, so her calls and text messages weren’t going through.
Unable to take the quietness of her home, Denali decided she would take her kids out of town herself if she had to. Dialing Cassie’s number, Denali inhaled a deep breath.
“Hey, baby girl. You on your way?”
Squeezing the back of her neck, Denali shook her head as if Cassie could see her.
