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Rubbing my ring finger, I avoided his eyes. I didn’t want to leave, but I also didn’t know what to say.
“Well… I should probably head out. His parents are going to be pulling up soon and I told them I’d meet them out front.”
“Yeah, sure, okay. It was good to see you, Tyreek.”
His expression softened as he looked me over from head to toe. “You too, Janae. You too.”
As I watched him walk away, I battled within myself. I wanted to ask him out.Was I ready?Fuck it. Even if I wasn’t, I was tired of putting off my desires, and at that moment, I desired nothing more than I desired Tyreek.
“Reek!” I called out, quickly closing the space between us when he turned around to look at me.
“Yeah?” he replied sweetly, taking my hand into his.
“Um… I was wondering if… Would you like to go out maybe? And catch up?”
His head jerked before he released a bark of laughter.
“Are you asking me out on a date, beautiful?”
“Only if you’re going to say yes.”
He didn’t reply right away, and my heart dropped. I’d read somewhere that four seconds of silence felt like rejection to the brain. Before I could feel my heart breaking, Tyreek licked his lips and used my hand to pull me closer.
“I’ll say yes if this means you’re ready to let me pursue you. Seriously, Nae.”
“I’m ready.”
“Then yes.”
A fluttery feeling swirled around in my belly.
“Yes?” I repeated, unable to hide my surprise.
Tyreek chuckled softly with a bob of his head. “Yes, but leave the planning to me, aight? If this is going to be our first real date, I want it to be all that you deserve.”
There he was, putting me first and catering to me when I was trying to do the same for him.
“Okay. I’m working Monday through Wednesday now, so other than that, my schedule’s pretty free.”
Tyreek grinned before biting down on his bottom lip. “When did this happen?”
“When I realized I was letting life pass me by holding on to the past. That week with you in Vegas motivated me in ways you’ll never know, but I’m hoping you’ll be able to experience the results.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but in ways, I felt broken after the miscarriage. Like I’d failed at something I was supposed to be able to do. Honey’s words about feeling worthy had settled within my spirit as truth. Once I forgave myself, I started to believe again that I was worthy of love, peace, and happiness.
“Oh, I will. No doubt about that. I’ll call you later this evening and we can finalize the details of our date.”
“Okay.”
He placed a kiss to the center of my forehead, getting a giggle out of me when it led to him kissing my ear and neck as he held me close. Unable to resist, I wrapped my arms around him and told him how much I missed him, not caring about the fact that I was still on the clock. We didn’t pull away until his phone was vibrating, and he told me it was David’s parents. I released him and watched him walk down the hall—tall, slow, strong. I loved his back. How wide and sculpted it was. I loved everything about that man. From the way he looked to the way he thought, acted, and carried himself. He was mine.
Mine.
I covered my mouth as if a secret had slipped out when realization finally settled within me.
This must have been the moment Honey was referring to because as I watched him walk away, there was no doubt in my mind that I didn’t want anything to happen to cause Tyreek to walk out of my life again.
CHAPTER22
