Page 13 of Cause When You Love Someone
“It stems from having nothing or feeling like I didn’t have enough.
My mom has always been an addict, and I have no idea who my father is.
Being the man of the house, I had to find ways to make money.
One summer, I joined the YMCA’s computer program.
I worked there a few months, making more than my mama’s hustles once a few of the students taught me about hacking.
From that day, no one could convince me to sell drugs, because I earned money by using my brain. ”
“Is that your passion? Working with computers?”
“I hate to admit it, but I don’t know. Fear of going back to the projects made me do so many things for money. I can’t really say what I like to do.”
“I may regret saying this, but I think you should take time to figure it out.”
I scoffed. “If that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black, Dancing Queen.”
“Yeah. I walked right into that one.” She snickered under her breath. “And how did you end up with the Sons of Eshu?”
“They stopped a group of niggas jumping me.” A one-note chuckle rocked my chest as the memory passed. “I’ve always been tall and solid, so when I was younger, niggas would try me. They wanted me to put in work for them, and after already catching a charge, fear made me stay out of trouble.”
“And they didn’t respect that?”
“Of course not. Some men’s pride is bigger than their integrity,” I declared. “Shiloh and his brother, Church, circled the fight with guns out, daring anyone to jump in. After I whupped ass, they welcomed me into their family, and once I purchased my first Impala, I joined their car club.”
“They sound solid. More solid than any man my mama has brought around.”
“You don’t have a good relationship with your old man?”
Clarke’s shoulders jerked in a careless shrug. “My dad was a jackass before he passed. Then again, his presence kept my mom’s tyrannical behavior in check. We used to be close. Once she started managing me, our relationship shifted.”
She peered up at me.
“You know Rose isn’t even her last name? She changed it when my popularity grew. I try not to let it bother me, but I’m human. That woman makes me want to empty my bank accounts and buy a home in Black Valley.”
“Make the move. It’ll give me someone to visit up north.”
After Ms. Louise gave instructions on how to prepare the filling for our dessert, the hyper beauty next to me became mute as she worked. She gave her attention to a handful of limes and didn’t look up until it was time to add cream cheese and condensed milk to her bowl.
“You flickin’ your wrist like you know what you’re doing,” I professed. “Let me taste it.”
A sultry expression slanted her eyes before she swiped her finger over the spoon, then brought it up to my lips. I didn’t hesitate to take her entire finger into my mouth and suck it clean.
“I guess that means it’s good?” she quizzed.
“You damn right.”
It was close to four by the time we stepped out of the building. A few people asked Clarke for pictures, so I stood back and watched her do her thing. Even with flour on her skirt and a wet spot on her sleeve, she looked happy wearing a genuine smile.
Once the crowd dispersed, Clarke wandered over to me. I glanced around, looking for Rock and her black truck, but the lot was almost empty. “I enjoyed you today,” I admitted as we moseyed through the parking lot.
“I’m happy to hear that, since I need a ride home.”
My feet became engraved to the pavement. “You think I’m your driver and your bodyguard?”
“I don’t think I’m ready to admit what I think about you. Not without getting myself in trouble.”
Her answer slid a smirk up one side of my face. “You think you’re slick.”
“Slick? No. A girl who enjoys the company of an interesting man? Yes.” She batted her long lashes. “Can we go out instead of going home?”
“You sure you ready for that?”
“I wouldn’t have asked you on a date if I wasn’t.”
“That’s what you call it? I promise, I’m letting you think you’re running shit. I like the way confidence looks on you.”
The moment we got in my truck, we powered our phones back on. I had a few messages from Essen and Shiloh. However, Clarke’s phone sounded like an alarm.
“Fuck! Fuck!” She smacked her forehead.
“What’s the problem?”
“I’m late as hell for an interview with Put On magazine. My mom sent me a screenshot of the email thread. They’ve been at her house since one!”
“Don’t lose your shit over something you can’t change. This is your program. Call her and tell her we’re coming now.”
“Nah. I’ll wait to face the devil. No sense in getting cursed out twice.”
My chest grew tight as I sped to Mrs. Rose’s house with Clarke beside me, gnawing on her bottom lip. I placed my hand over her knee when she started to fidget in her seat. She didn’t comment but looped her fingers between mine and squeezed tight.
Even though her mother’s neighborhood was affluent, I raced up her driveway and found the angry mama waiting on her porch in a robe and a scowl.
Clarke didn’t have a chance to cross the threshold before Mrs. Rose gripped her arm.
“Don’t walk in here like your ass isn’t hours late for a job! I’ve been calling you.” She spun around and pointed in my direction. “I’ve been calling you too!”
“I’m not sure why. I was off today.”
“Excuse me? Maybe I didn’t make it clear when I hired you, but you’re never off duty.” Her eyes jetted to a frowning Clarke. “Where the hell have you been?”
“Out. I went out, Mama, and for the first time in a while, I didn’t stress about my appearance. I learned something new. I smiled more than I have in a long time.”
The jealous woman sent her raging eyes from left to right.
“You’ve been with him all day, right? You’ve been moving around the city like you aren’t tied to another man.”
“Me and Chaz broke up! How many times do I have to tell you that? Do you even listen when I speak?”
“Not when you’re saying bullshit and acting like a ho! No one knows you and Chaz are over. And now, you’re smiling in your bodyguard’s face. It’s not a good look.”
From where I stood, I watched Clarke’s jaw muscle form into a rigid line.
“Since I clearly have more respect for you than you have for me, I’m done with this conversation.”
“Good! I need you to look good, not run your mouth,” Mrs. Rose declared while walking out of sight.
Despite her frustration seconds ago, Clarke’s buoyancy returned when her mom disappeared.
“Fuck what she’s talking about. I won’t allow her to ruin my good mood.” She bounced on her tippy toes. “I had fun today.”
“Yeah? How much?”
“Enough to want you to lick more than cream from my fingers.”
My willpower went out of the window when the sexual innuendo landed.
I teased her lips with mine, and without pause, Clarke placed her hand behind my head and pulled me into her.
The sticky gloss on her lips kept us glued together, and I furthered the link by roping one arm around her waist and lifting her from the floor.
Her breath smelled like the sweet dish we created, and her lips felt like the smooth cream we’d tasted earlier.
Soft moans ripped from her throat, triggering me to press her back into the front door.
So caught up in one another, we didn’t detect someone had entered the room until Sage cleared his throat.
“You two are getting really reckless.”
Clarke rolled her eyes while slipping out of my grasp. “Don’t start, Sage. What do you need?”
“I need you upstairs. The ladies are waiting to work on you.”
Clarke groaned, then removed the band holding her long tresses in place.
“All right. Give me a second,” she replied before facing me. “When can I invade your world again?”
“Oh. You’re asking for permission this time?” A low laugh tickled my throat. “We’ll figure it out.”
“We? I like the sound of that.”
Clarke skipped from the room, leaving me with my wayward thoughts.
I knew I was playing a dangerous game, but I couldn’t see myself staying away after I had crossed the line.
I couldn’t say if it was her willingness to be vulnerable in my presence or her being bold enough to show up somewhere on my behalf, but something about the reality star made me thirsty.
“We need to talk.” Mrs. Rose approached me before I could make it outside. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing with Clarke, but let the idea die. Chaz and Clarke have been together for years, and they’ve secured brand deals as a couple. They’re just going through a rough patch.”
“Is that what you call it?” I grimaced, recalling some of the situations Clarke exposed during her drunken rant. “You should want better for your daughter than to spend her life with a nigga with no plan B and no respect for her.”
“As handsome as you are, you can’t be that close-minded. Everyone has issues.”
“The only issue Clarke should have is deciding if she wants to vacation somewhere hot or cold. I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
Her darting tongue stained her lips with moisture. “Oh. You really are a protector. I can see why my daughter is slowly climbing in your lap. Do you have room for two?”
“Mrs. Rose, watch your mouth before I sue you and take more than just your daughter.”