Page 141 of Steel

“It’s still a dream,” I answered.

“Dreams can become reality, love. I’d be happy to foot the bill for that.”

I shook my head. “No. I could never ask you for something like that.”

“You asked?”

“Kerrion.”

“Neha.”

“Kerrion!”

“Neha! What are we doing? Practicing for later tonight?” He grinned as he said that.

“I can’t . . . you can’t just?—”

“I can’t do what? You’re my woman, right?”

“Yes.”

“You still want to be my wife?”

I blushed. “Yes.”

“Then why wouldn’t I invest in your future? Deuce invested in Salima’s event lounge, and sis is booked and busy. Smoke bought Romi a bigger building after her shop was burned down and gave her the startup money for her skin care line. She’s bringing in six figures from that now, and her books are filled. Why wouldn’t I help you?

“I remember you talking in detail about what you wanted for that center. The mental health counseling. Sports training. Nutrition coaching. Outdoor adventure activities. All the different types of therapies . . . I know you dream about that shit. Let me make it happen for you. Shar’s father is a contractor.Senior has architect connections. You have unlimited resources at your fingertips. Use them.”

I plucked at my food, contemplating what he was saying. That wellness center had been a dream of mine for so long. I put it on the back burner because I had to take care of home first, but I’d never forgotten about it. There was a sketchbook in my home office filled with different designs and layouts I’d come up with over the years. I hadn’t pulled it out in so long, but I remembered every single sketch.

“You sure you wanna do this?” I asked.

“Please don’t piss me off.”

I giggled. “I’m sorry! I just . . . I have concerns.”

He sighed. “Let me address them. Number one, everything would be in your name, so no, I would never try to take it from you. Number two, no, you’d never have to pay me back. This is an investment. Number three, this would be yours, so no, I wouldn’t give any unsolicited input or try to control it. And number four, . . . you got this, baby. And I got you.”

Tears swelled in my eyes as I stared at him. Everything in me wanted to round this desk, drop to my knees, and suck his dick. Instead, I got up and went to sit on his lap, wrapping my arms around him.

“I love you,” I whispered.

“I love you more than you can imagine.” He cupped my face and kissed me passionately before pulling away. “Daddy’s gon’ get you right.”

I giggled. “Thank you, daddy. Speaking of daddy, how is my baby? I miss his little face.”

“He’s good. I’m headed over there when I leave here. I tried to call Ms. Anita this morning, but she didn’t answer. She probably has him hanging out with her and those old ass church ladies or outside in that garden. Fat Man is loving that damndirt. She sent me a picture the other day, and he dumped his little bucket all over his head.”

I smiled. “Now you have to get him a sandbox.”

“Right. I’m ready for the week to be over so I can get him back. I miss my guy.”

I gently stroked his beard. “I know. It doesn’t feel the same without him. Nayelli is missing him terribly.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll all be back together soon.”

It was crazy how attached I’d become to that little boy. I couldn’t help myself. He was just so cute and sweet, and it was so easy to love him. Not because he didn’t have a mother, but because he was so innocent and deserving of it.