Page 15 of The Love of Priest 2
She playfully swatted his arms from around her waist as she rolled her eyes at him. "Y'know, I kinda missed when you didn't know how to crack a joke." She shook her head in a reminiscent manner. "Now, all that comes out of your mouth is goofy shit.”
"You hating ‘cause I've found my sense of humor? That's crazy."
Britain scoffed. "Sense of humor? P, you wouldn't know what a sense of humor was even if I cracked you on the head with it."
Priest couldn't help but laugh at Britain's dramatics and comical ways. After a little while of Britain doing her usual dragged-out routine of getting ready, he finally got her out the door. Outside, he assisted her into plush leather seats of his BMW i8.
She was always resentful of the vehicle due to how fast he ripped through the streets with it, especially in New York's crazy traffic, but because they were in the Hamptons, the vehicle was perfect to put the top down and take in the inviting weather.
"Yo, this was much needed." Priest nodded, appreciative of the fact that Britain had been exuding nothing but great vibes since they got to the Hamptons.
Leaning back in her seat, Britain agreed with him.
"They might kill us for having our phones off, but we'll just take things one day at a time," she shrugged.
They ditched their devices since they didn't want any interruptions.
She was more worried about him than herself.
His phone usually went off like twenty times a day.
There was no telling how many phone calls had gone unanswered by now.
He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "I'm fucking tired. It's no one's fault but mine, so I don't feel like I should get crucified if I take a breather with my shorty."
A light smile spread across her face. She leaned over the console, pressing her lips against his cheek. "I love you," she declared.
Priest licked his lips before forming a smile of his own. "I love you too."
He continued to rip through the streets in his sports car.
Britain had to admit, feeling the wind rush past her was liberating.
The weather was inviting. Every chance he got, Priest would glance over at her and admire how beautiful her bronze skin looked as it basked in the sun.
She was gorgeous, and since finding herself again, she was beginning to look and feel as gorgeous as Priest thought she was.
Eventually, they arrived at a strip of luxury stores that made her mouth grow dry.
He knew how much she hated gifts, so he always skipped out on surprising her with anything she thought was too expensive.
Britain was like day and night when compared to any of the women he previously dealt with.
He remembered having to purchase the most expensive bag in the store to get a genuine expression of gratitude from women.
If he ever thought about gifting Britain a bag, he was sure she would scold him for it instead of just accepting it openly.
He enjoyed that about her, though. She wasn't easily impressed or moved.
She'd been well taken care of all her life.
Priest was probably the closest she'd ever been to full-on luxury, but with her two surgeon parents, she wasn’t too far behind.
Things like that didn't excite her, which only made him want to give it to her even more.
After finding parking, he put the top back on the vehicle before getting out to assist Britain out.
Once out the vehicle, the two remained hand in hand as she allowed him to lead the way since he was much more familiar with the area.
"You look gorgeous," Priest complimented her as he rested his hand on her rear.
"Really? You like what I put together?" Her smirk danced on her lips as she peered down at her outfit. She paired a black, strapless, deep plunge corset with a pair of leather pants that molded every curve and dip on her body.
"You’re making my fit look weak out here,Gioia," he playfully teased her before looking down at the casual Denim Tears sweatsuit he put on.
"Thank you, P. You look handsome too." She halted their walking momentarily to give him a kiss, then wipe her lip stain off his lips.
The beauty of the Hamptons complimented the gorgeous beach house Priest owned.
The Hamptons were far more scenic and inviting than the clogged burrows in the city.
It was truly a breath of fresh air to be able just walk out in the open freely.
She noticed how much lighter Priest seemed, opposed to how alert he would’ve been if they were out in Harlem.
The strip looked as if it were a movie scene that was filmed in LA.
The palm trees stood tall, and exotic cars lined the curb.
Stores ranging from Balenciaga to Chanel and Fendi lined up next to each other with beautiful pieces in vast display windows.
"I used to bring Jazzy here whenever the semester was over," Priest chuckled in a reminiscent manner.
"J'Ru would always chat my fucking ear off about spoiling her with these shopping trips, but she deserved it.
" He shrugged his shoulders just as he would whenever J'Ru would gripe about the usual end of the semester shopping sprees Jazzy anticipated.
"Awe, that's sweet," Britain cooed. "You make being the older sibling look so easy.
Brixton and Brea gave me fucking hell while growing up.
I was like their personal chauffeur, chef, and maid.
Our parents were never really around. Kinda like they raised me so I could raise Brea and Brix," she recalled and shrugged her shoulders.
"You never really told me about your childhood, Brit," Priest told her as he draped his arm around her shoulder.
Britain sighed. "It was nothing crazy. I think it was pretty normal for anyone who had both parents in the demanding medical field.
I can't ever say they didn't try, but it would have been nice to not constantly get cut off by a pager or have to hold something off because your parents are in surgery," Britain began opening up.
Jadey was really the only outsider who knew how she felt about her childhood.
To anyone on the outside looking in, Seven and Henderson seemed to have a perfect balance between being top-tier surgeons and having a full family, but only Brixton, Brea, and Britain knew how things really were.
"We really aren't that different from each other. Well… your people were out there saving lives. My people were probably living it up like me and Jazzy ain't even exist," Priest chuckled, making light of the situation. Britain nodded her head, agreeing with him.
"I know this may sound crazy, but I think not having our parents around as often as we should have made us really great people," she shrugged.
"You can say that," Priest nodded. "Being a father figure to Jazzy really made me who I am. She taught me how to be selfless even when I didn't want to."
"You afraid of leaving her?" Britain asked as she averted her soft brown eyes up to eye him.
Priest let out a deep sigh as he ran his hand down his face.
"More than you would ever know," he admitted shamelessly.
"It's really always been me and her. I don't even like thinking about leaving her out here on her own, but she's so fucking cold that I know she'll probably play me out for being so worried," he chuckled, amused by how strong Jazzy truly was.
He and J'Ru had a habit of treating her like she was a fragile baby, but Jazzy really could take on the world without breaking a sweat.
She was driven, independent, and tough as hell; however, to Priest, she was still his little sister.
Britain couldn't help but laugh while agreeing with him.
"Have you tried talking to her about it?
" she asked once she settled from her laughter.
Priest shook his head. "Whenever I try to, she’s dismissive about it.
I think she can handle anything; I just don't want her to feel as though everything is so sudden," he shrugged.
"She likes you. I can tell by the way she's so inviting of you.
I know I'm asking for too much as is, but look out for her for me.” Britain knew how hard it was for him to leave Jazzy behind.
She was truly the closest to Priest's heart.
She knew if Priest didn't have to do his time, he would never leave his sister’s side.
"You've got my word, P." She placed her hand over her heart, solidifying the promise, just like he would.
Priest craned down from his tall height and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, aight?" he professed with deep gratitude. "I'm gonna keep all my promises to you."
Britain grinned up at him while nodding her head.
Feeling this amount of love and care from someone was just so refreshing.
She couldn't help but to just bask in it.
She didn't want to think about how short-lived things actually could be.
What she and Priest had was what she wanted for life.
She was just going to have to push through the rough patches to attain that. "I love you too, Kanaz.”
He eventually led her into Balenciaga, which he noticed Britain had been eying since they parked the car. He was preparing himself to urge her to get whatever she wanted. She was stubborn, and it was hard to convince her to do anything, but he was going to try.
With some pressure from Priest, Britain managed to pick up a few bags and pieces out of the store.
After the cashier boxed and bagged everything up, Priest paid the hefty bill without any complaints or hesitation.
With each store, it became less of a hassle to get Britain to pick something up.
He didn’t set a limit for her, so by the time they finished shopping, he was hauling around a multitude of bags for her.
Tired from the much-needed retail therapy, they decided on a nearby restaurant to catch lunch.
Britain chose outdoor seating for them so they could just enjoy the weather. "Today was nice," Britain said to him.
Priest nodded, agreeing with her. "It was. I feel like we both deserved it."
"You more than me." She reached over the table to grab ahold of his hand. "You're getting grays, P," she taunted him.
"Britain, stop playing with me," he warned her as he unlocked his phone and opened his camera to check his reflection to ensure that he hadn't grown any gray hairs.
Lifting her hand, she caressed his precisely lined beard. "I'm kidding, P," she assured him in laughter. "So, when do you plan on turning on your phone and getting out of here?"
Priest released a heavy sigh as he leaned back in his seat. "Tomorrow, actually.”
Britain poked out her bottom lip. "Bummer."
"I know,Gioia, but when we get back, things are going to be different."
Britain furrowed her brows as she eyed him. "Different how?"
"I have to help Leila with her campaign," he informed her.
"So, you're a politician now?" Britain asked as she tilted her head to the side.
Priest chuckled. "I would raise hell if that ever was the case." He definitely wasn't the typical face of a politician, but everyone who knew him personally knew he would do much more than anyone who had ever graced the office.
"That you would," she agreed. "But how exactly will you be helping her?"
Priest shrugged with a light smirk etching his face. "Just assisting. Y'know, behind the scenes."
“That means you’re cutting a check to get her what she wants,” Britain concluded, managing to put two and two together.
"If she gets what she wants, I get what I want. It’s a power move,” he explained to her. "But I will be busy this upcoming week. I just want to do my due diligence for the city. I might cause a little chaos, depending on how I feel," he chuckled with a smug expression on his face.
"I guess I'll be hanging out with Cyro this week.” Whenever things got hectic, he stuck her with Cyro just for her safety and his sanity. Britain knew the drill, and she didn't mind it. Cyro wasn't all that bad, quite honestly.
"Actually, I think you should stay out here.
Kaymen could have his girl come join you, and I can convince Jazzy to come as well," Priest suggested, trying his best not to sound like he was pressuring her, but Britain could see right through him.
"Maybe you could even convince your sister to come back from Baltimore," he shrugged.
Britain eyed him from top to bottom with a stale look on her face. "Kanaz, what do you have going on?" she asked in a serious tone as the server brought back their entrees.
Priest waited for the server to leave again before responding to Britain.
He averted his attention to the diamond flushed bezel of his Audemars Piguet watch before shrugging once more.
"Brit, I can't let you in on that," he told her in hopes that she would just drop the conversation. "Just trust me."
She let out a heavy breath, indicating that she had grown flustered.
She trusted Priest, but because of what happened the last time he practically begged her to trust him, she now had a bit a doubt.
Last time, her father ended up injured, and she said some harsh things.
What should she expect this time? "Just be safe," she sighed.
Priest lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it lightly. "I'm always good. You got my word," he asserted with a suave wink before placing his free hand over his heart.
Although she wanted to be stern with him and shoot him a cold glare, she couldn't help but smile.
Priest was smooth. He knew what to say and how to say it.
"Priest, I'm serious," she groaned lightly.
"Stay out the media and be safe. The last thing we need is another headline. They would have a field day with that."
"The media, I can't guarantee,Gioia," he stated honestly with a shake of his head. "But just promise me you'll take me up on this little vacation with Jazzy and Jadey."
Britain side-eyed him as he smiled convincingly. "I hate that you plan things out so far ahead," she muttered with a roll of her eyes.
He stroked his beard as his arrogant smirk took over his face. "I'm always two steps ahead,Gioia. Remember that."