Page 19 of Saved By A Small Town Country Boy

Bobbi Hathaway

K halif texted me and asked if I could pick Khali up from school and watch her for a couple of hours.

Since I didn’t have any plans, I didn’t mind doing so.

Anything Khalif asks of me, I try to make sure I do it.

Khalif… I’ve had a crush on that man ever since I started working for him.

I’d find myself staring at him whenever he was around.

Khali was sweet and easy to deal with. The money was great.

The plus was that I got to see the sexiest man in town and be feet away from him.

I’ve sat and heard how several women talk about him.

They fantasized about what he looks like without a shirt, and I’ve been fortunate enough to see it firsthand numerous times.

Whenever Khalif worked outside, he didn’t too much like wearing a shirt.

The way God built this man, it’s insane.

His body was perfectly covered in tattoos.

One day, I hoped to have my name tattooed on him somewhere.

My favorite one is the horse piece on his back with Khali’s name.

It’s big and beautiful. I’ve dreamed of tracing it with my fingertips while lying in bed with him.

Can’t anyone tell me that one day that man wasn’t gon’ marry me.

I’d been saving myself for him, and now that I’m officially eighteen, I plan on making my move soon.

Looking up, I saw Khali running out to my car.

I leaned over and opened the passenger door for her.

Khalif would be mad if he knew that I had her riding up here.

For him, it’s always safety first, but I figured since we weren’t going far, she’d be alright.

How would he know unless someone told him? And I’m certain Khali wouldn’t.

Normally, I’d allow Khali to do whatever she wants because I felt like that’s the best way for me to get in her father’s good graces.

If Khali loves me, without a doubt, Khalif would too—with time.

Honestly, sometimes, I felt like she couldn’t stand my guts.

She treated me poorly and upset me sometimes, but I pushed through because I have a bigger goal in mind.

“Hey,” I spoke as she shut the door and put on her seat belt.

“Hey. Where’s Daddy?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged and pulled away from the curb. “Said something about having a work thing and that he’ll be home before dinner.”

“Aw.” She slumped back in her seat, and we rode silently to the house.

I couldn’t wait for Khali to get inside and start on her homework.

Whenever she was occupied, I’d sneak into Khalif’s bedroom and sniff his colognes and pretend as if he was standing right in front of me.

That man smells better than anyone I’ve ever smelled before.

I told my best friend Ashely that I’m gon’ get Khalif, and she laughed at me.

She told me that I’m delusional and in over my head.

She’s one to talk when she’s dealing with an immature ass lil boy who stays cheating on her.

At least when I finally get Khalif, I don’t have to worry about getting cheated on. He’s the perfect man.

I pulled into the driveway of the house and stopped at the front porch. Khali removed her seat belt and climbed out of the car. Khalif told me that the front door was unlocked. A lot of people around here always leaving their doors unlocked. My parents were guilty of it too.

Khali and I climbed the steps up to the front door and went straight into the house.

I waved at the camera in the corner of the living room, knowing that Khalif was watching.

He has cameras all over the house. I understand him wanting to be cautious when it comes to Khali, but dang, it made me feel like you didn’t have privacy whenever you were here.

“Do you have any homework?”

“Just a little math.”

“Get to it,” I told her and opened the refrigerator. I grabbed a bowl of fruit out of there and sat down at the kitchen table. Khali removed her folder from her bookbag and sat in the chair alongside me.

I popped a grape in my mouth and chewed. Her homework looked fairly easy, so I didn’t need to hover over her. I got up from the table and said, “I’m going to head to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” That’s furthest from the truth, but she didn’t need to know what I was really up to.

Looking over my shoulder, I tread down the hallway toward Khalif’s bedroom.

Pushing the door in, I stepped onto the beige carpet.

Simone’s slippers were still on the floor alongside the bed.

I thought her stuff still being in here was a bit weird, but once I move in with him, he’d get all of her stuff out of here.

Stopping in front of the dresser, I grabbed one of his bottles of Armani cologne and opened it. Sticking it to my nostrils, I took a huge whiff from it.

“I can’t wait ’til you’re mine, Khalif,” I whispered.

“What are you doing?” I jumped at the sound of Khali’s voice. Her lil ass was supposed to still be in the kitchen, doing her homework.

Placing his cologne back on the dresser, I replied, “Nothing. I know you didn’t finish your homework that fast.”

“Your phone was ringing. See.” She lifted my phone up in the air. Closing the gap between us, I removed it from her grasp and saw that I had a couple missed calls from Ma and one from Khalif. It’s as if he knew I was in his room or something.

“Go finish your homework,” I told her and dialed Khalif back.

Any other normal person would’ve called their mama since she’d already called twice, but the only thing on my mind right now was knowing if Khalif knew what I was up to.

I hadn’t seen any cameras in his room or the hallway, but I wouldn’t put it past him if he’d hidden some somewhere.

“Hey, is everything okay?” I asked soon as he picked up.

“Yeah, I was just letting you know that I’m on my way to the house. I wrapped up sooner than I thought.”

“Okay. Khali is working on her homework right now. She should be done soon.”

“A’ight. Be there soon,” he said, and the phone beeped in my ear.

I exited his bedroom and shut the door behind me.

Stopping in the bathroom, I checked my appearance.

The roots of my hair were puffing up from the heat and moisture.

It didn’t look too bad though. I had on some jeans earlier, but when Khalif called me, I went and changed my entire outfit.

This pink backless cocktail dress was a better fit for the occasion.

Whenever I came around him, I tried to look my best for my man.

Reaching into my crossbody, I pulled out my lip gloss and rolled it across my lips.

“You got this,” I coached myself in the mirror.

My heart banged against my chest. Knowing that I’m about to finally make my feelings known to Khalif scared the shit out of me.

I’m not sure how he’s gon’ feel about it, but it’s now or never.

If I didn’t make it known how I felt, he’d never know, and I wouldn’t know if he felt the same way or not.

I mean, why wouldn’t he though? I’m fine as hell, smart, and was sure I’d be able to please him however he wanted as long as he taught me everything I needed to know.

I exited the bathroom and went back into the kitchen, where Khali was sitting at the table. “I’m done!” She lifted her homework into the air.

“Okay. I’ll check it.” Removing it from her grip, I skimmed over her homework to make sure it was done correctly.

“I’m going to my room,” she said and bolted from the chair before I was even able to respond. She jetted out of here. I’m not sure why she was rushing to her bedroom, but maybe it’s a good thing. She’d be out the way when Khalif comes in.

I placed her homework back in her folder and then put it back into her bookbag. Trudging to the sofa, I took a seat on it and turned on the television. I should’ve gone in there and made him dinner. He’s been out working all day. I’m sure he doesn’t want to get home and have to cook dinner too.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m gon’ do.”

Getting up, I went back into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

I saw some chicken thighs in there and found some potatoes and string beans.

I’m no chef, but I can make this work. I washed the potatoes and chopped them up.

According to TikTok, I can make a one-pan meal with this and place everything inside the oven and let it cook.

All I have to do is make sure that everything is seasoned well.

Once I seasoned everything, I placed it into a glass pan and covered it with foil.

I turned on the oven and put the pan inside.

Going back to the couch, I sat down and scrolled Prime ’til I found a show to keep me occupied ’til Khalif came through the door.

I was on the second episode of Harlem when he finally walked through the door.

Dinner was smelling good, and I was sure it was almost done.

I’d gotten up and checked it a while ago, and it looked amazing.

I’m not sure what it tastes like, but I hope it’s delicious enough to make him wanna wife me.

Jumping up from the couch, I turned and faced him. He stood in the kitchen by the stove with a box in his hand. Judging by the color of it, I can tell that he’d been to his mama’s restaurant before coming in. “Hey,” I softly spoke.

“Where’s Khali?” he asked and placed the box on the counter.

“In her room. She’s been in there all evening.” I stepped into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Taking out the cheese, I went over to the oven and opened it.

“Brought her some pie.”

He exited the kitchen, and I took the pan out and drizzled cheese all over the potatoes. I placed the pan back into the oven so the cheese would melt. Khalif came back into the kitchen, and he was no longer wearing his cowboy hat.

“She was sleep. I’ll just have to give her the pie in the morning. Thank you for watching her.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a wad of cash. Peeling a couple hundreds off, he placed it on the counter.

“It was really no problem. I made y’all dinner too.”

Turning the oven off, I removed the pan from it and placed it on top of the stove.

“You really didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to. I like doing stuff for y’all.

” I closed the gap between us. My heart rang in my ears.

This was the moment I’ve been waiting for.

Khalif lifted the foil on the pan and took a whiff of the food.

“I figured that you’d be tired when you came in and wanted to look out for you.

” My fingertips glided over his hand, and his head whipped in my direction.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m going to be honest with you, Khalif. I’m in love with you.” He took a few steps back from me.

“You’re a child, Bobbi.”

“I’m eighteen.”

“That’s still a fucking child to me. Don’t ever try to pull no bullshit like that on me again. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s best that you come ’round here no more. I’ll find someone else to keep Khali for me.”

“Are you serious?” Moisture filled the brims of my eyes. This wasn’t how I was expecting this to go.

He gripped me by the forearm and dragged me toward the front door. “Very much serious. Don’t even play with me like that.”

Snatching away from him, I faced him with tears cascading down my cheeks. “I’m not playing. I’m really in love with you. I thought you would’ve understood.”

“You need to be worried ’bout someone yo’ own age. It ain’t shit you can do for me.” He opened the door and said, “Goodnight, Bobbi.”

I stood there, peering at him with shimmering eyes.

He was really putting me out of his house because I expressed my love for him.

This was straight bullshit. I’d never be able to step foot in this house again.

I’d have to find myself another part-time job.

My life was ruined because I thought that he’d understand.

I was far from a child. He just needed to see that.

I reached for him, and he stepped back. “I’m not playing with you, Bobbi. Get out.”

My heart felt as if it had been ripped out of my chest. Lowering my head, I exited the house. When I turned to say something, he slammed the door in my face. Fuck.

Taking the steps down, I went to my car and climbed inside.

The floodgates opened soon as I shut the door.

Wiping my eyes with my fingertips, I backed away from the house and headed home.

Since I stayed down the street, it didn’t take me long to get there.

Ma and Daddy were already there because both of their cars were in the driveway.

That reminded me that Ma had called twice, and I never called her back to see what she wanted.

Maybe that should’ve been my main focus.

Wiping my face with the hem of my dress, I got out the car and headed up to the front door. It pulled open soon as I reached the porch, and Ma stood there with her hand resting on her hip. “And just where have you been?”

“I was down there at Khalif’s house. He needed me to watch Khali.”

“How come you didn’t answer the phone when I called?”

I knew I couldn’t tell her that I was too busy trying to seduce a grown ass man, so I was quick on my feet and said, “I was helping Khali with her homework, and then I did some tidying up around the house. I didn’t know you had called.”

“Uh-huh. I wanted to see if you were in town. I was gon’ ask you to stop by the store and bring some milk.”

“Sorry.”

She stepped out of the way and allowed me into the house.

I wasted no time going to my bedroom. After what happened with Khalif, I didn’t want to be bothered.

Soon as I entered my room, I shut the door behind me and tossed myself onto the bed.

Khalif may look at me now as if I’m a child, but he damn sure isn’t before it’s over with. I’m gon’ get my man.