Page 22 of Love Me Now: Baltimore & Madelyn

He chuckled and pulled me close. Peering down at me, his eyes softened, and he pushed a few strands of my hair behind my ear. My skin tingled from his touch.

“I followed my heart, baby. I’ve followed it for sixteen years, and it’s never steered me wrong.”

“Baltimore… I… Why the hell would you wait for me? Why the hell would you give all that up?”

“It’s quite simple. Baseball didn’t need me. You did.”

This foreign ass feeling viciously seized my chest.

Shit.

This was what falling in love really felt like.

Afewdayslater,I found my mother sitting on the patio. She was alone and staring up at the early morning sky. I thought to go out and talk to her. She’d been here for weeks, and in that time, I hadn’t once seen her talk to my father. Come to think of it, I hadn’t talked to my father either. Which wasn’t unusual. My father was always busy.

I’d call him today, just to see if he answered. My mother’s mood wasn’t anything different than it had been my entire life, but I was certain something was up. Before I got my sisters in a tizzy, I’d keep a watch out on my mother and see if she opened up to me.

Right now, I wasn’t up for it. I had contractors coming to give me an estimate on the flooring. Renovations had begun on my house, so I was in a great mood this morning. Then, there was the fact that for the past couple of weeks, Baltimore and I spent our nights transitioning our late-night conversations from the patio to over the phone. Falling asleep to his voice had become an addiction. I was hooked on it so badly that I never missed a night talking to him.

Days later, it was Baltimore’s encouragement that gave me the resolve to stand before the judge holding Genesis with my head held high. It was Baltimore’s voice I heard telling me to breathe through whatever anxiety I felt. It was his presence that reminded me I wasn’t alone. Heir, Genesis, and I weren’t alone.

CHAPTER 8

BALTIMORE

Weeks later…

WhereasMaddieandIwere able to be free around my people, the situation with her people was a little more delicate. Duval fucked over his family. They were still his family, though. It was tacky as fuck to throw our budding relationship in their faces so soon after his death.

Therefore, Maddie and I agreed to slow walk our introduction. Neither of us were concerned about the backlash. Emotions were just too high right now. The only person I was sure didn’t give a fuck was Adir. His cold-hearted ass kept watching me like I’d steal all of Quilo’s graduation presents and take off running out of this bitch, which didn’t sound too bad. Dozens of high school graduates and their parents were in attendance celebrating the current graduating class. Several mamas had already stepped to me, and I peeped a few more who were itching to come speak to me. That shit was irking my damn nerve for the simple fact it made Maddie uncomfortable.

Although she mingled and laughed, every time her eyes fell on me, they were void of the light I’d had the pleasure of putting there over the last few months. If she thought these bitches could hold a candle to her, she was sorely mistaken.

I snagged her gaze and held her captive. With a simple gesture, I motioned her over. She gave Genesis to Heir, excused herself, then strutted my way. I didn’t miss how niggas followed the sway of her ass in the denim jeans she wore. Bypassing me, she eyed me and up down. The smirk on her face told me I had better follow her.

Most of Niceville Gardens Convention Center was blocked off to the public. It was the only way to ensure none of the teenagers or children roamed the building without adult supervision. There were too many nooks and crannies, and the last thing any of us needed was a missing kid.

One nook was where I cornered Maddie. I took her into my arms and hugged her tightly. Her hands smoothed down the back of my head and neck as I leaned in to kiss her. Like any time our lips locked, it was passionate and raw as hell. Aside from pecks every now and then, I remained professional when on duty. When I wasn’t on duty, I was on her line talking her to sleep. Her mama hadn’t left yet, so we were being easy around her ass too. Frustrating, it was. However, I’d waited for Maddie all this time. Easing our love into the open was just a matter of time.

“Spend ya birthday weekend with me,” I requested. “After ya party, I have somewhere special I wanna take you.”

“Okay,” she agreed without any hesitancy.

There was still so much to me that she had to learn. She knew that I liked to please her. Acts of service, affirmations, and touch were some of the things she knew about me. I needed her to see the provider and the hopeless romantic. Hell, maybe she did see me as a hopeless romantic. After all, I’d been pining for her for over a damn decade.

Someone cleared their throat, interrupting our session.

“This is kind of crazy.”

Glancing behind me, I scanned the upset expression on Denisha’s face. I wasn’t surprised that she’d shown up here. Her sister had a son who’d just graduated from Niceville Shores Preparatory High. Denisha wouldn’t have missed a chance to be in the same room with me again.

Her angry eyes were trained on Maddie, whose hands slowly fell from my face. Kissing my lady’s lips a few more times, I said, “Gimme a minute, aight.” Her eyes bounced between me and Denisha. “Aye…” I brushed my thumb across her swollen lips. I’d nearly eaten them off her face. “We locked in, right?”

“Right,” she stated.

“Aight, then. Gimme a minute.” I tilted her chin up, kissed her lips, then her cheek. This time, she walked away without even looking back. Only then did I look at Denisha’s frowned up face.

She chuckled. “You gotta be kiddin’ me.That’swhat you left me for? Choosing an old, washed-up widow over me is like choosing a street mutt over a thoroughbred.”