Page 15

Priest eased into the line of cars waiting for valet, and Britain let out a light laugh. "Eleven at Madison Park," she noted as she glanced out the window, reading the sign that was illuminated with bright lights.

Priest smirked as he placed his hand on her thigh. "You were too much of a klutz to be here last time," he reminded her with a laugh. Britain could vividly recall avoiding going inside of Eleven at Madison Park the first time she and Priest made plans to meet. She just didn't think she would ever fit in. She had to admit when Priest texted her the locations details, she instantly wrote him off to be some silver spoon bourgeois guy, and she assumed they would have nothing in common. She was glad she had the courage to tell Priest that the restaurant was out of her league at that moment, and he compromised by taking her somewhere she was much more comfortable. There, she was able to explore the depths of his mind and learn that he wasmore than just a nigga with icy jewelry, exotic cars, and constant media attention.

"I like what you did there," she jokingly praised him, gesturing for a high five, which he granted.

After a short wait for valet, Britain and Priest exited the vehicle and entered the reputable restaurant. It was Priest's favorite place to dine on occasion, so of course he had ties with the owners. The host got them seated at a table near a grand open window immediately.

"This is nice," Britain smiled as her brown orbs glanced around the restaurant.

Priest smirked as he picked up the small drink menu. "It's not as intimidating as you thought, is it?"

Britain shook her head. "However, I definitely couldn't come in here with sneakers and chopsticks in my hair," Britain laughed.Over dinner, the two talked about anything that came to mind. Everything was so natural and organic between them. The two could really talk to each other all day.

At the moment, Priest was the focus of conversation as they discussed the upcoming date for the resumption of his trial. Over the course of the week, Britain was able to catch a few phone calls Priest had with his lawyer, Abraham. He had worked diligently to get a few charges dismissed, which was great news. Priest, however, wasn't too excited, nor did he seem relieved that he was no longer facing a possible life sentence. He took the news with a grain of salt and just kept it pushing.

Britain was trying her hardest to make him view his situation on the brighter side, but Priest was stubborn. "There's always a chance of parole," she added with a light smile, hoping Priest would adopt the same hope she had webbing within her eyes.

He instead kept his focus on his plate as he used his knife and fork to cut into his steak. Britain let out a sigh as she sat her utensils down. "Kanaz," she called him by his middle name.

Priest licked his lips before letting out a flustered sigh. "What's up?" he asked her as he leaned back in his seat.

"I'm really trying here," she sighed in defeat. "This is hard for me too."

Priest ran his hand down his face in frustration. He appreciated Britain's efforts, but he didn't want them. He didn't want to give Britain the impression he wanted her to hold him down. She had a life to live, and he would be less of a man to have her pause her pursuit of her dreams to wait for him to get out of his mess. "I don't want it to be hard for you. It's my mess. Let me stress about it," he advised her.

"You can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders alone," Britain told him just as he would tell her. "I'm your woman?—"

"I understand that,Gioia. I really do, but think about what Remy said: play your role, nothing more, nothing less.”

Britain let out a deep breath of frustration. "You nor my father can dictate what I do or how I feel. Yes, the circumstances are crazy, and it would've probably been in my best interest to not get involved with you and fall in love, but it happened. Everything just…happened," she vented aimlessly. "It would hurt me more to leave you than it would to stick around through all the highs and lows. It's going to be straining. There are gonna be times I'm going to want to give up and wish I never committed myself to this, but that's just what comes with the territory.”

Priest took in what she was saying. He knew he was being defiant toward her, which led her right into frustration. Although her tone was stern and assertive, it still contained a great amount of care within it.She actually cared. Britain grew a bit reserved as his orbs now bore into the depths of her soul. He seemed to be deep in thought. She wasn't sure what response hewas preparing to render her, and that caused her to shift in her seat a bit.

He reached across the table, taking her hand into his. "I like to show you, not tell you, but I have to tell you this." He lifted her hand up to his lip, kissing it lightly.

"What?"

He licked his lips as his eyes bore into hers. "I'm gonna give you your dream life. The house, the career, the happiness, the ring, the last name—I'm gonna give you everything," he said to her as he intertwined their hands.

Flustered and overwhelmed by his heavy talk, Britain let out a light laugh while waving him off. "P, that's just all talk. I know you aren't ready for that yet." She waved him off despite the swooned grin that plastered her face.As good as everything he was saying sounded, it was just too good to be true.

"But I am, though," he asserted with deep seriousness. "I'm not gonna have you doing wife things without you being my wife. That'll just be me taking advantage, and I promised I'd never do that to you.”

"Priest, it's fine—" she attempted to assure him, but he interjected.

"Britain, you got my word," he asserted once more, this time placing his right hand over his heart, sealing the promise to her.

A fluttering feeling invaded her stomach as the smile on her face widened. Shyly, she avoided Priest's gaze by dropping her head. He had filled her heart with the infectious feeling of love, and she no longer knew what to do with herself. "Lord," Britain breathed out heavily, causing some laughter to drift out of Priest.

"I know it's a lot to unload right now, but it's my truth. I know what I want," Priest stated firmly with a smirk.

"You really think I'm the one?" Britain lifted her head to eye him with a questioning look etched on her face.

Confidently, he nodded his head. "One hundred percent, no doubt."

"Like wife and kids?" she asked for more clarification.

"Definitely wife, but don't hold me on the kids ‘cause I'm not sure if I'm ready to share you quite yet," Priest admitted shamelessly.