Page 39 of A Player’s Prayer (Mills Brothers #3)

Sliding into the booth across from Harley, I waved politely. I didn’t have any major expectations for this meetup request, but if she thought she was about to come at me for her friend, this wasn’t going to go well.

“I admit, originally, I wasn’t…” I responded honestly as I reached over and pinched AJ’s chubby little cheek. He was the most handsome little thing. “My husband told me he didn’t want me fighting anymore, so I hope you don’t make me a liar. It’s not a good origin for a new marriage.”

When Wild told his family he and I were married, they were so excited.

His mother was pissed at first, but when he explained to her why he made it happen in Portugal, she calmed down.

He explained his wants for everything to be halted until my father came home, and she understood.

Everyone has welcomed me with open arms. Well, almost everyone.

Because of the Ava situation, Harley and I hadn’t been in the same room in months.

I had no plans to correct it, but the least I could do was entertain a conversation since she reached out to—I hope—rectify everything.

“Dakota, I just want to let you know that I had no idea Ava was going to come at Wild the way she did.” As soon as she began to speak, tears sprang to her eyes.

“The day you guys came over for dinner, I knew then he loved you. It was all in the way he looked at you. The Wild that I know has never been so open and free with a woman before. They were all disposable until he met you… Ava included. Ava’s been my friend for years, but I haven’t been able to understand why she did what she did.

She herself has told me how unserious she and Wild’s… uh…”

I chuckled as she attempted to not be disrespectful. “She and Wild’s freak-offs. Yeah, he’s repeatedly told me she was just a fuck.”

“Exactly! It’s been difficult to manage her being wrong and her being my friend. But, you’re family now… I have to make this right.”

“May I?” I asked her if I could hold her son. He’d been reaching for me since the moment I sat down. Although I was listening to her every word, it was hard to keep ignoring the cutie.

Giving me the go-ahead, I grabbed him from his booster seat and began feeding him his small bowl of frozen yogurt. The sight brought smiles to both of our faces.

“He likes you…” Her body visibly relaxed as she watched me and her son bond. “At least now I know he’s not going to have the kids at his stores sifting through skeezers anymore.”

“Girl, I don’t even play with Adrian like that. That man knows I hit first and ask questions later,” I said while chuckling, causing her to laugh softly. Changing my tone, I looked up from AJ and eyed her until she met my gaze. “Did you know she was going to his house that night, Harley?”

“Absolutely not.” She frowned, shaking her head.

“I admit… I was ready to ride for my friend when she called me crying, naked, and with a busted lip. I thought it was a little extreme given their history. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how wrong she was, Dakota. She knew Adrian was with you; he’d told her, and I’d told her.

I guess she thought he was just being typical Wild, and since she had him first?—”

“Girl, she never had my man.” I dragged my eyes back to AJ as I bounced him in my lap. “There’s not a woman alive who’s ever had Adrian Mills the way I do. His track record proves that.”

“I agree.” She nodded as she ate her own frozen dessert. She wanted to meet at the new ice cream and treat parlor that had opened near Mills Manor, and now I was regretting coming. It smelled so moldy in here, and I made a mental note to tell the manager they needed to clean the walls and shit.

Taking a moment to myself in the comfortable silence, I thought about everything that had transpired before Adrian and I went to Portugal.

I could have handled things better with him when I shut him out.

Granted, I still would’ve beat everyone’s ass that’s gotten their asses beat for disrespecting me, but I could have communicated and listened to my man a little better.

I needed to make sure I worked on myself in that regard.

Adrian was indeed my man, but that wouldn’t stop women from trying him.

Knowing how to communicate with him was imperative to keeping the trust strong and the respect for one another solid.

“Even before you guys got married, I knew you were the one,” Harley said, breaking me out of my self-reflection.

“He’s still the same Wild but seeing him in love is so sweet.

” She smiled and laughed to herself. “Beyond mending the tension in the family, I like you, Dakota, and I’d like for us to at least be cordial if we can no longer become friends. So, are we cool?”

“We’re cool, Harley.” I reached over the table and squeezed her hand as AJ babbled away, trying to take my Pandora bracelet off.

“Thank the Heavens! He called me earlier and told me that if I pissed off his wife, he was going to come back to my store with those kids and throw more than eggs! Please make sure you let him know this meeting went well,” she said, returning the hand squeeze while we both deep laughed at the mental visual of another egg fight.

“Girl! I still can’t believe Adrian did that, and those boys joined in like it was nothing!

” I wiped the small tears that were falling from the belly laugh before clearing my throat to add some base to my voice.

“With that said, Harley… I just want to be clear. Ava is your friend, and Adrian is my man. You may not play about your friend, but I for damn sure ain’t playing about my man.

All I ask is that you don’t bring your friend around.

While I’m sure we will get to where we need to be in our relationship as family now, I can assure you I will never be cool with Ava, and Adrian has already ceased all communication.

” Taking a breath, I smiled. “I’ve never had a family unit, and I’m looking forward to all of us being one.

I’m hoping that eventually you and Noemi can see me as a sister to y’all—even if it’s just by marriage. ”

Smiling back at me, I felt the warmth in Harley’s voice when she said, “Of course, Dakota. Yes to all of that. I’m looking forward to getting to know you more too. Anybody that can hold her own against multiple people, physically and mentally, is all right with me.”

As I played with her baby boy, I felt a peace I didn’t know was missing.

In my mind, Harley had been guilty by association.

I was not fucking with her and had no plans to.

But I was mature enough to know that holding a grudge against someone who technically did nothing to me was a waste of my energy.

The last thing I wanted to do was cause conflict within this family as a new member, even though I could rightfully do so, because no one could change the fact that Ava was wrong in her actions.

Adrian had already expressed he was rocking with me over his brother and his wife if this meeting didn’t go well, but what kind of wife would I be to keep that drama going?

Sliding from the booth, Harley beamed as she came over to my side and pulled me into a hug.

I don’t know if it’s because the man is mine, or if I’m really over it, but I just wanted us all to get along, so I hugged her back tightly.

I spoke with Mama Evie on numerous occasions, and I can tell she won’t expect anything less.

Grudge or not, I was going to have to live with Harley in my life now, as she would have to live with me in hers.

As Harley and I exchanged numbers and promised to genuinely get to know each other, we decided to call it a day. Little AJ was snuggled into my chest, snoring like a bear, and Adrian was blowing my phone up begging to rub on my booty.

“Please be careful getting home! And text me when you get there!” Harley waved and yelled across the lot as she and her son made their way to her brand-new Escalade truck. “That’s if that man lets you!”

Laughing, she was right because the man I married is liable to meet me in the driveway with his dick in his hand, ready to go. Pressing my remote to unlock the Jeep Wrangler, I was rushed from behind. Thrown into the driver’s door of my truck, my keys dropped to the ground.

“What the fuck—Sed?” My eyes went wide at the sight of Zaria’s boyfriend. “What the fuck is wrong with you? You need to back the hell up off of me!” Taking a beat, I looked him over. “What are you doing here?”

To say I was shocked to see him before me was an understatement.

He’s always been unattractive, but the sight of this Charleston White lookalike was making me sick to my stomach.

I hadn’t seen or heard from him since I left Florida.

Looking around the lot, I realized how empty it was outside of a few patrons who weren’t paying any attention to the distress I was in.

Seeing that the sun was starting to set, I started to feel frantic.

“What did you do to my girl?” Tears flooded his eyes as he shook with anger. It was then that I noticed the knife in his hand. “Last time we talked, she told me that she was coming here to see you, and I haven’t heard from her since! It’s been weeks!”

Shaking my head in confusion, I had no idea what he was talking about.

“You must be mistaken. I haven’t talked to Zaria since I found out she was fucking Bear, and all of you were plotting to kill me!

” My voice rose higher than I expected, but that still was a sour subject for me.

I reminded myself that this psycho had a knife, and even though I felt like I could take him, I wasn’t going to try.

“Ask your boy, Bear. He’s the one fucking her. ”