Page 24

Keyani

I t had been a couple of days since I’d started at Cruz’s detailing shop, and I had to admit I was glad he’d offered me the position.

I was able to dress casually, and I basically got paid to sit on my ass and listen to music all day.

Coming from two jobs where I had to stay on my feet the whole shift and kiss ass, this was a piece of cake.

I couldn’t have been more grateful, especially with my bills paid, it gave me a lot of wiggle room for the twins’ upcoming birthday and school shopping.

I’d already calculated that I’d still have plenty of money to plan them a bomb ass party, and I couldn’t wait.

“Damn, you got it smellin’ good as hell in here.

” One of the techs named Mario came and sat on the edge of my desk with a cheesy grin.

For the most part, all of the guys were respectful, and I figured that had a lot to do with Cruz letting them know not to fuck with me, but Mario always found his way to my desk for some friendly banter.

Smiling, I pointed to the strawberry pound cake Bath and Body Works candle I had lit in the corner.

“Yep, they definitely know how to make a good-smelling candle.”

“Shiiit, thanks for bringing that muthafucka!” he chuckled. “I get tired of smelling grown ass men all day. The whole garage smellin’ like dessert right now, masking them musty niggas’ body odor.”

“See, I’m not even bouta go there with you.” I laughed but made sure not to engage in shit talking. Besides, if I was being honest, he wasn’t the freshest nigga on the clock himself, so he really had no room to talk. He was one of the main reasons I’d brought the candle in the first place.

“You ain’t gotta say it, we all know them niggas—” The bell over the door jingled, alerting us of someone coming in, but before I could get to my greeting, Cruz’s voice filled the empty lobby area.

“The fuck you doing up here? I know damn well you ain’t finished at,” he paused to check the time and returned his heated glare to Mario, “one in the afternoon.” Cruz made it to my desk in a couple quick strides and stood over Mario, who’d jumped to his feet already.

He hadn’t been in the office for any extended period of time since I’d started, only popping in here and there to make sure shit was running smoothly.

My heart pounded as his scent overpowered my candle.

He looked just as good as he smelled too, even dressed casually in a Henley, some dark jeans, and Dunks.

“N-naw boss, just taking a lil’ bathroom break.” The man backed away with his hands up like he thought Cruz was going to hit him, and honestly, I was a little worried about that myself from the way he was looking.

“I hope it’s to take a hoe bath, ’cause you mustier than a bitch!

Fuck you sittin’ in her face smelling like that for like shit sweet?

Move around before I fire your tart ass!

” Normally, I didn’t like seeing people get embarrassed, but a snicker erupted in my throat when he said something about a hoe bath.

He’d really done the most with that one, and as soon as Mario scurried to the back, I gave Cruz a pointed look.

“Now why you have to say all that? He’ll probably never speak to me again.”

“Good. His ass shouldn’t be talking to nobody smelling like that, let alone with his ass propped up on your desk.” I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as he glared down at the mail in his hands. “How shit been runnin’ so far? You good, aside from that nigga burning your nose hairs?”

I lost the fight and cracked up at his sly ass comments. What made it even funnier was that he was dead serious. “Stop it! My nose hairs are fine, and no, no calls today,” I let him know while trying to distract myself with different papers on my desk.

“You talkin’ ’bout you and your nose hairs fine got me looking at you funny, Key baby.

I know you smelled it if I did. Shit, his ass smelled that shit too.

” He eyed me over the desk like he really believed something was wrong with me, and I rolled my eyes.

We’d barely spoken since I started, and I still had a slight attitude about him putting me on dick punishment.

“Whatever, Cruz.”

He didn’t seem to notice my irritation as he resumed flipping through the mail.

Lifting up one in particular, he studied it for a second before separating it from the others.

“I’m bouta go in here for a minute,” he said, disappearing into the office without looking at me.

Childishly, I made a face at his closed door before getting back to work.

Fuck Cruz! I still had a lot of paperwork to do anyway, and I didn’t need him distracting me with his fineness.

He was barely in there for ten minutes when I heard him talking loudly.

A part of me wanted to be nosy but didn’t want to take the risk of getting caught.

I couldn’t help feeling like he was in there talking to another woman, and I wondered if he’d been fucking her since my access was denied.

I tried hard to focus on my work, and when Cruz finally came storming out, I didn’t even look up.

He barely tossed out a be right back on his way out the door. Asshole!

Cruz never came back like he said he was going to, but I’d already gotten used to that over the last few days.

After locking up, I headed to the store for a few last-minute food items for dinner.

I’d finally gotten my link benefits, but I hadn’t had time to fully go shopping yet.

I planned to go on the weekend though, when I was off.

It was a surprisingly quick trip, which I was grateful for because I still needed to get the kids from Ms. Anna. I loved my kids, but I really couldn’t wait until school started back up. Having to figure out what to do with them was getting exhausting, but Ms. Anna was a godsend.

She came to the door all smiles, even though I knew she was tired as hell, and the twins were right on her heels. “How were they today?” I asked, accepting the bag she held out to me.

“They were perfect angels, but I do think their old good-for-nothing daddy was trying to call them,” she grumbled lowly so the kids couldn’t hear and I rolled my eyes. I had no clue why Javon had decided to bother my kids out the blue, but I hoped it wasn’t for any bullshit.

“Hmmm, I don’t know what he’s thinking when he ain’t talked to them in all this time, but he better tread lightly.” I rolled my eyes and ushered the kids out the door, but Ms. Anne stopped me with a warm hand.

“You know you’re doing a good job, right?

” She smiled, looking up at me sweetly. “You’re raising smart, well-behaved children, and considering how much crap has been thrown your way, you still hold your head up and do what needs to be done.

I just thought you should know that. I see you, honey.

” She had my eyes misting from that random encouragement, and I almost didn’t know what to say.

“T-thank you, Ms. Anne,” I choked out, making her rub my hand softly.

“You’re more than welcome, honey. You know, sometimes it helps us mothers just to hear that, and I thought you ought to know.

” She gave a nod and finally shuffled back inside.

I waited until she was safely behind her door before walking away as I blinked back tears.

She’d certainly been right; hearing that had me feeling good.

Sure, I knew I was doing everything I could as a mother, but there were always doubts about if it was enough.

I felt more guilty about the things I wasn’t able to do rather than being proud of what I was doing, more than I cared to admit.

It also didn’t help that I’d picked Javon to be their daddy.

I often wondered if they would grow up with issues because of the bad choices I’d made, but I also prayed every night that they wouldn’t.

Ms. Anne probably didn’t know it, but she’d made my whole week, and I was going to make sure I picked up a little something for her the next time I was out. I was sure she appreciated the money I’d pay for babysitting, but she’d love a cute gift.

When I finally got the kids settled down inside, I went to clean up and change so I could start dinner.

It was still pretty hot, so once I got out of the shower, I threw on a pair of biker shorts and a cropped t-shirt, then made my way down to the kitchen, making sure to stop and check on the kids in the living room.

Thankfully, they were still watching TV quietly and not arguing or flipping around the house.

I cut on some music in the kitchen as I started prepping the food, and when “Butterflies” by Queen came on, Cruz instantly came to mind.

Despite his distance the last couple of days, he’d been showing me a different side of himself.

He was still crazy for some of the shit he said, but damn if he hadn’t shown up for me and the twins more than Javon ever had in just the span of two days.

I felt like everything he said he meant, which was more than I could say for any man I’d come in contact with in the last seven years.

And the way he’d done my body, I was still having flashbacks.

I knew that he’d put our shit on the back burner until I got shit together, but I planned to have a serious talk with him about how I really felt, even though he’d already read me like a book.

Not getting my feelings involved had been a defense mechanism that I’d picked up over the years, but maybe it was really time to let that go.

I was singing along to some Kiana Lede when the doorbell went off. Knowing that the twins wouldn’t hesitate to answer it despite me warning them not to, I tried to rush and move the chicken off the fire. When I passed the living room and saw they weren’t on the couch anymore, I rolled my eyes.