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“Just say it, Wayne! Stop pretending that I didn’t cause this.”
“And what will blaming you accomplish?” he asks. He blows out a breath and says, “Babe, listen, I could have kept my mouth shut to the reporter about you. I could have kept things the way they were, but I want what you want. I want to show you off as mine. I had the best night out last night than I have ever had. It was perfect.”
“Yeah, until that woman followed you into the bathroom, and everything went to shit. She knew we were there together, and she still snuck into the bathroom like a desperate maniac. Let’s face it, I should have listened to you. People knowing about us will be a problem, and you knew it the whole time. That’s why you practically begged me not to go public.”
Wayne takes his eyes off the road long enough to pin me with his gaze. “Aretheythe problem or—?”
It’s only five words, but it sounds like a thousand. Catching his insinuation, I digress. “You’re right. I’m overthinking again, aren’t I?”
“I think so. Women can try to seduce me. Reporters can try to ruin your day. But how we respond to these situations is what matters. We’re the only two that can cause problems in our relationship. We have the power to let other people’s actions control us or not.”
I let out a long sigh, grab onto one of my long locks and begin twirling it in my fingers. “My lesson is learned. After last night and this morning, I will be ready for whatever.”
“No one and nothing will ever come between us, Leslie. I'll move mountains to get to you, and I'm ready to rip any fool in two if they try to hurt you. Just the thought of someone attempting to come between us is enough to light a fire in my belly." Wayne grins devilishly at me, and I can feel the warmth rise in my chest. "That woman at the club thought she could come between us, but all she did was make sure we had some passionate love-making when we got home," he adds with a chuckle. The smile slowly fades from his face as he looks into my eyes. "You must know that I wanted to when I broadcasted our relationship. The only thing holding me back was stories my team had shared about their relationships that hadn't worked out. And then, Eddie and Alexandria’s dilemma hangs in the air like a dark cloud whenever I think about the media and relationships." His voice is gentle but firm. "But after last night, I want you to know one thing: I love feeling on your bootie in public. There's no better feeling than that."
We both burst into laughter, and I hit his arm. “Is that it? You like feeling on my butt in public? That’s a bit mannish, don’t you think?”
"Exactly. And I want to be more mannish with you." He chuckles, and I love the rumbling sound.
I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “Okay, you got me. I hear everything you are saying and understand wholeheartedly. Thank you for knowing how to bring me out of my head and make me stop overthinking.”
Wayne's face becomes serious, and he speaks again. “I’m serious about feeling on your bootie in public. Now that I’ve experienced it, you should know that I want you to grind yoursexy ass on me in a room full of people like you did last night every chance we get. I want to look down into your eyes as I hold you on dance floors on different continents. I want to kiss you at will, not caring who sees it. I want to be with you, and only you, anywhere and everywhere. ”
Wayne's words have me mesmerized by the simplicity of us being together as if we're the only two people in the world. But my thoughts immediately go back to the reality of the situation facing us - the media circus and intrusive women. Would doing all those things without drama really be possible?
“I want the same thing. You know I do….”
“Why does it sound like you’re about to say but?”
“Because maybe you were right. Maybe going public was a mistake.”
“At this point, it doesn’t matter. People know what they know. Now, it’s about what we know about one another. We’re in this together, so we have to make sure we have each other’s back. Like the saying goes, I’m ten toes down with you, Les.”
“I’m ten toes down too.”
We share another laugh, but it’s not humorous laughter. It’s the kind of laugh two people share when they’re communicating something words can’t express. We get each other. He brings my hand to his cheek. Then, I lean back and sit silently with my hand in his for the rest of the ride home.
Chapter Twenty
LESLIE
Matching Clothes, Matching Hearts
A good nap and a shower can change everything.
I feel better after sleeping and washing off the day, so I try not to think about what happened outside the breakfast café. Try is the operative word. Because what kind of soulless person would surround someone's car just to ask unsolicited questions?
Apparently, a whole lot of them.
This happens to celebrities all the time. Do celebrities not deserve privacy? What about respect? Wait a minute. Am I a celebrity?
Oh, shit. I'm a celebrity.
No, maybe I’m a celebrity by proxy since I’m Wayne Richards’ fiancée. Either way, I don't want to be one if this is what it feels like.Hopefully, Wayne's mother's party will get my mind off the day's craziness. A different kind of vibe is much needed.
I put all my energy into making myself look better than I feel, dressing in a cobalt blue turtle-neck sweater dress with black leggings and boots. I pull my hair into a neat wrap atop my head with a few twists hanging from the sides. Whoever says putting on nice clothes and fixing your hair doesn't improve your mood is a liar. I can’t help but smile at how I’ve transformed into a new person, feeling good and looking good.
"How are you feeling, babe?" Wayne asks as he walks out of the bathroom wearing a matching cobalt blue sweater, jeans, and boots. He's responded to my mood today, checking on me and ensuring I'm okay.
