A little later I stepped off the escalator, moving in the direction of Jade’s shop. A few steps later, I turned the corner toward her dimly lit space. Though she wasn’t open, she had the entrance gates raised since she still had workers in and out. Upon entry, my eyes found her staring blankly at a nigga and shaking her head. I could tell he wasn’t anyone who worked for her because he was wearing a button up and slacks.
“As I told you before, I wasn’t going to think about anything because I don’t make it a habit of revisiting a past that didn’t suit me.”
He just glared at her.
Whatever conversation being had didn’t stop me from approaching and kissing the side of her face. “Hey, baby.”
She was surprised by my presence but melted into my embrace and accepted the flowers I extended to her.
“Hey. These are gorgeous. Thank you, baby.” I immediately had all of her attention as I moved to the stool near the cash wrap.
“I’m glad you like them. You good here or you got something else to be handling?” I didn’t have to say anything to ol’ boy because he saw what was up, just like I felt it. From the way he was looking, I guessed this was her ex.
My attention found my phone for a few; Lois was texting me like I hadn’t just left the restaurant. I was grateful for that though, seizing my attention from the fact that I felt ol’ boy’s eyes. I was no bitch nigga at all, but I also knew how I could get.
“Really, Jade?” he asked, sounding like a real bitch.
“Yeah really, homeboy. Fall back for your sake.” I couldn’t even catch myself. I was already speaking before she could.
He sucked his teeth like a bitch, an action that had me about to move in his direction. “I don’t believe I was talking to you, my nigga.”
I laughed. “You didn’t have to. You were addressing mine, so I addressed you. Move around before you find something you weren’t looking for.”
“Um, Gavin. I think it’s time you leave. I’ve made it clear that I have no interest in revisiting anything we had.”
He didn’t respond, but I looked up just in time to see him damn near storming out of the store.
A few clicks of her heels later she was near me and I was slipping my phone into my pocket.
“These are really beautiful and you’re so sweet.” She smiled, setting the flowers on the counter. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome. How long before I got here had he been here?” I pulled her into me by the pockets of the lavender pantsuit she was wearing. Jade wore the fuck out of a pantsuit on any day of the week.
“A few minutes. He came in right after Ava left to take Chauncy outside and grab her lunch. Why?”
I shrugged, lowkey feeling odd about the tightness in my chest. “Just asking, is that something I need to be worried about?”
She locked her arms around my neck, a massive smile engraining itself into her warm cocoa features. “Baby, you never have to worry about a soul when it comes to me.”
My eyes found hers, boring into them. They resembled a mirror to my soul, loosening the tightness in my chest. “I’ma hold you to that.”
She leaned forward, pressing those buttery soft lips against mine. What started out as a soft peck became heated and heavy. I had to remind myself where we were before pulling back and silently promising when I got her to the crib what it would be. Maybe not right when we got there, but after I got Aja situated.
“I’m waiting on Ava to bring Chauncy back. Then we can go.”
I nodded and looked around the shop. “Cool. We got time. But in the meantime, tell me about your space.”
She smiled nervously, then turned around to look. With her hand extended, she kept her eyes forward. “It’s jus?—”
“Nah, it’s your happy place. Show me your place, love.”
“Okay.” She grabbed my hand, tugging for me to stand. I was on my feet in seconds, moving with her to the center of the store. “From right here we see everything.”
“Alright.”
“We’re at the cash wrap, right in front of where two massive paintings will sit, here and here. Both created especially for this space, Beyah Hines’ exclusives. All the light fixtures will be gold while the walls will be smoke-colored with accents or specks of splattered gold.”
My eyes lived on her, so much that my ears had tuned out what she was saying. I mean yeah, I was paying attention, butthis woman was everything. Her eyes glossed talking about this place and her smile quickened my breathing. I was addicted to her happiness, what was oozing from her pores was what I found comfort in.
