Page 83 of Adonis Gates

“You pick.” I settled in his arms and laid my head on his shoulder.

My cramps were getting the best of me, so I closed my eyes and internally coached myself through the pain. I really wasn’t hungry, but I did need food before I took my medicine, and I didn’t want to hear his mouth about me not eating.

“We can do Bussin’ BBQ.” I felt his head shift, so I opened my eyes to find him looking down at me. “You love their peach cobbler.”

I nodded and smiled. “I could go for that. Maybe some brisket, green beans, and macaroni.”

“Shit sound fye,” he agreed before clicking around on his screen to place the order. “Aight, you wanna take a bath?”

I shook my head. “Just a shower. I don’t feel like doing both tonight.”

Anytime he ran me a bath, I’d relax for a bit then take a shower after. I enjoyed the baths and really appreciated his thoughtfulness, but I wanted to take a hot shower and just lie down for the rest of the day today.

He told me to go ahead while he made some calls. I wanted to ask if he was going to have something done to Derrick, but Idecided against it. I’d ask him over and over to leave me alone, but he didn’t want to listen, so at this point, whatever happened to him just happened.

I text my sister back since she’d text me, then I called Rhea. I talked to her while I showered because I knew when I got out, Adonis would be in my room and need all of my attention.

I filled her in on what happened at my job, and she was, of course, advocating for Adonis whooping Derrick’s ass. She hadn’t liked him from the beginning, and for good reason because she knew all that I’d gone through with him.

I talked to her until I got out of the shower, then hung up so I could wash my face and finish up my bedtime routine, despite it only being about six in the evening. After brushing, flossing, and moisturizing my body, I slipped on a pajama short set then went to find Adonis since he wasn’t in my room.

I was just about to call his name but was rendered speechless when I entered the living room. He’d set up a tent in front of the sectional that had an air mattress blown up on the inside. He covered it with sheets and a comforter and had some large, soft pillows, there for us too.

“What’s all this?” I asked, walking further into the living room.

“I wanted to take you out tonight, but you wasn’t feeling good so I brought the date to us,” he waved me over. “I was on that bullshit app you be watching videos on, and I looked at the shit you liked. This was one of ‘em.”

“It’s Cliqued.” I smiled. “I didn’t even know you had a page.”

“I didn’t,” he chuckled. “I just got the shit because you do.”

“So, basically to stalk me.” I smiled as I took his hand so he could help me on the bed. He’d already set the food up and had my strawberry lemonade from Total Marketplace waiting for me too.

“Basically.” He smiled and pulled me in for a kiss. “You want to pick the movie?”

I nodded and accepted the remote. “Halloween H2O?”

His smile stretched wide as he opened his Styrofoam container. “You don’t even like scary movies.”

“I know, but you’re here, so I feel safe.”

“Good.”

“Where’s Apollo?”

“At your parents,” he answered, taking me by surprise. They hadn’t told me he was coming over.

“I didn’t know he was going over there.”

“Shit, me either, but since he still suspended, ya mother asked me could he come over to do some work around the house.”

“That has my dad’s name written all over it.”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “He was the one that hit me up and asked.”

“I knew it.” I shook my head. “He doesn’t believe in letting folks be when they’re suspended from school.”

After blessing the food, I turned the lights off and started the movie. We only got a good fifteen minutes in before I remembered there was something I was supposed to be asking him, so I paused it and faced him.