Page 42 of Anything Goes

“Yeah, I know you told him about our last conversation, which is interesting since I didn’t necessarily confirm that I was seeing anyone. But since you decided to give your two cents on the matter, I’ll go ahead and confirm now. Yes, I am seeing someone, so I would appreciate it if you would stop holding out hope for me and your son. I’m happy where I am, and that’s not going to change. Now, unless the remainder of this conversation involves Layne in some way, I’m done talking.”

“Well, okay then…”

I knew that hearing everything I had to say came as a surprise to her, but I was over all of the drama. I didn’t wish anything bad on Latrell, but I wanted him to leave me the hell alone.

Noticing that she didn’t have anything further to say, I hung up the line and tossed my phone on the bed.

“That looks like it went well,” Law said with a chuckle as he entered the room.

“As expected, she wanted to talk me into being the bigger person and accepting Latrell’s calls.”

“Of course,” he said, pressing a strawberry against my lips.

Slowly, I bit into it, enjoying the sweet flavoring that dripped onto my tongue. “But I’m not going for it. I’m tired of being the bigger person in all of this.”

“And you shouldn’t have to be. You've got way too many other things to be focusing on. You can't teach a man how to be a man. He should have already learned that shit by now.”

“Exactly,” I said, grateful that someone else could see where I was coming from.

“If you want some more of where this came from,” Law said, looking down at what was left of the strawberry, “you better bring your fine ass into the kitchen.”

“Okay, let me put on my clothes.”

“Nah, baby.” He eased his hand inside of the sheet and gripped a nice chunk of my ass cheek. “I want you just like you are. I mean, you can lose the sheet though.”

“You are such a mess.” I giggled.

“You’re laughing, but I’m dead ass serious.”

“I know you are.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked him in the eyes. “Promise me that you won’t ever change.”

“Oh, I can guarantee you that. I don’t know how to be anyone other than myself. What you see is definitely what you get.”

“You sure? I don’t want to get a few months down the line, and you start showing your true colors.”

“That’s all I’ve been showing you. I’m not fake, trust me.”

I eyed him in suspicion. “So, you’re not going to become some insecure and controlling asshole in the future?”

Jerking his head back, he looked me over. “That shit isn’t in my blood, Alauni. Now, will I feel some kind of way if I see a nigga trying to get too close to you? Hell yeah. Will I check his ass if he crosses the line? Most definitely. But I’m not going to be running around on some insecure shit. That’s not my thing,” he said. “I don’t have time for that. If I’m with you, I’m with you. I’m not going to be with anybody that I feel like isn’t one hundred percent in. If you say you’re for me, then you better show it. Otherwise, I’ll take my ass on. I’m not about acting a fool for no reason.”

“Okay, I hear you.”

“I hope so.”

“I do,” I said, hugging him a little tighter.

“Good. Now, drop that sheet, and let’s head to the kitchen.”

Pulling the cover a little further over my chest, I said, “It’s cold. I can’t be walking around here with nothing on.”

“Fine, I’ll let you keep the sheet.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Besides, if I walk around here naked, we might never get out of here this morning.”

“That’s true.”

Grabbing my hand, he led me out of the bedroom.