Page 162 of Certified To Handle You 2

I already knew what happened when I went at Sha’Nelle with nothin’ but love, money and force. She would give in for a while, let herself feel everything she was tryna run from and then wake up scared that I was takin’ over her whole life. This time,I wanted to come to her with somethin’ she could actually see herself inside.

I spent weeks lookin’ at houses all over Trill-Land. Some of ‘em sat too close to the other houses, and others was so far away from everything that I knew Sha’Nelle would feel trapped after a few weeks. A couple had enough space but looked too cold inside, like somebody built ‘em to show off instead of live in. I walked through houses with marble in every room, pools that wrapped around the whole property and enough bedrooms for a damn football team, but none of ‘em felt like her.

Sha’Nelle needed somewhere that was beautiful without feelin’ fake. She liked luxury, but she still liked that raw shit. I knew she would want windows that brought in real light, a kitchen big enough for her to cook without bumpin’ into nobody and somewhere outside she could sit when she got tired of hearin’ my mouth.

I wanted her to have a closet bigger than most apartments and a bathroom that felt like some shit out of a resort, but I also wanted her to walk through the front door and know the house belonged to both of us.

If I was really buildin’ a life with Sha’Nelle, I needed to start thinkin’ like a man who planned on stayin’ in one place instead of somebody who could pick up and move whenever the mood hit him.

I found a few properties close enough for her to get around and shop, but far enough out for us to have peace. One had enough land for me to build another gun shop, another house and whatever else I decided to put there later.

Even though me and Sha’Nelle ain’t spoke in almost three months, I still planned everything with her in mind. I knew that probably sounded crazy as fuck to anybody who wasn’t me, but Sha’Nelle had never felt like some woman I could simply getover. Every day without her made me more sure that whatever I built next needed to have space for her.

I wanted the house, the land and the plan ready enough for her to see what I meant, but open enough for her to choose the rest with me.

That was why I was standin’ outside another big ass house waitin’ on Kay’Lo to pull up.

The property sat behind black iron gates on a private road lined with trees. The house was built out of dark stone, glass and warm wood with two wide wings stretched across the land. There was enough space between it and the next property that nobody could hear shit even if we was outside arguin’ at the top of our lungs.

I had already walked around the outside once while I waited. The backyard had a pool, an outdoor kitchen and a covered sittin’ area with a fireplace built into the wall. Past that was more land than I could see myself usin’ right away, but I liked knowin’ we would have options.

Kay’Lo’s truck finally turned in the driveway and came toward me. He parked next to my car, got out and looked up at the house before glancin’ toward me.

“This the one?” Kay’Lo asked while walkin’ closer.

“I don’t know yet,” I answered as I looked back at the property. “That’s why I told you to come see it.”

Kay’Lo nodded and stuffed his hands in his pocket, but he ain’t say nothin’ else.

I had already got the code from the realtor, so I headed toward the front door with him behind me. The lock clicked after I put in the numbers, and I pushed the heavy door open.

The inside opened into a large entryway with high ceilin’s and windows that ran almost from the floor to the top of the second level. Sunlight came through the glass and hit the pale stone floors while a wide staircase curved along one wall.

I stepped further inside and looked around. “This entry hard. I would change that light, though. That shit look like somebody dropped a bunch of glass from the ceilin’ and called it art.”

Kay’Lo looked up at the fixture and gave a small nod. “Yeah.”

I glanced at him for a second before movin’ toward the main sittin’ area. The room had a fireplace in the center, built-in shelves along one side and slidin’ doors that opened toward the backyard. I could picture Sha’Nelle decoratin’ the whole thing ‘cause she wasn’t gon’ let me choose furniture without complainin’ that everything I liked was too dark.

“This could be the family room,” I said while walkin’ through it. “The other one near the front could stay more formal, but this where we would actually sit. I want a big ass sectional right there and a bar along that wall.”

Kay’Lo nodded again. “That’ll work.”

I cut my eyes toward him ‘cause his tone ain’t sound right, but I kept movin’.

The kitchen was the first room that really caught me. It had two islands, dark cabinets, gold fixtures and enough counter space for Sha’Nelle to cook without me standin’ in her way. A separate prep kitchen sat behind it with another stove, sink and storage.

I leaned against one of the islands and looked around. “She would like this shit right here.”

Kay’Lo stopped near the doorway and watched me.

“I could see her in here talkin’ shit ‘cause I’m touchin’ somethin’ she cookin’ before it’s done,” I continued. “I would change these cabinets, though. She might want somethin’ lighter.”

Kay’Lo rubbed his hand across his jaw but still ain’t add much. “Probably.”

I stood up straight and looked at him longer this time. “Nigga, why you actin’ weird?”

“I ain’t actin’ weird,” Kay’Lo replied while lookin’ toward the backyard.