Page 109 of Own It

“And I like you better than . . . um, LaMia.” She clenched her teeth and shrugged. “Sorry. I don’t know anyone else he dated. Rah is like a myth in that area. I don’t even hear shit about him in that regard.” She apologized at her terrible attempt at a segue.

Chuckling to ease her worries, I replied, “Yeah, he hasn’t been serious with anyone since her over five years ago.”

“You’re telling me that man has been without sex for five years?” Kasia sat back, brow heightened out of skepticism.

“No, now I didn’t say all that. Just he hasn’t had a girlfriend or anything serious that you would’ve met.”

“Until you.” She smiled.

“Until me.” I couldn’t hide the way I cheesed at just the thought of him . . . us. “I like that though . . . that he doesn’t spend his time frivolously. He’s careful with who he brings around and cultivates deep relationships with.”

Kasia was watching me, a little starry eyed. “Yeah, I like that too.” She polished off her drink. “Would you say we’re friends now, Daylin?”

“I would.” I nodded, heart beating fast at just the thought of what she was going to say.

“Okay. As your friend, I’m telling you to keep an eye on LaMia. I know it’s been five plus years and two kids with another man later, but she still loves Rakim.”

“I told you.” I shook my head. “What’s making you say that now though?” I was hoping it wasn’t anything recent.

“How she watches him with regret every time I see her. Jojo told me Rah used to be in the streets when they first met, alongside boxing, but she didn’t like that, so he quit. I mean, he quit also because he truly wanted to pursue boxing, but LaMia was part of it. So now that Rakim is back in it, I think she loves him but doesn’t want a man in that field. Add to that the two kids she has with Ayan and Ayan’s millions, and you get why she hasn’t left yet. But I wouldn’t assume anything. Watch her ass.”

“Thank you. I plan to, and if she does make a move, I truly hope she can fight.”

Kasia snickered before letting out a loud chortle. I joined her soon after.

“I really like you.” She reached to slap my hand, and I obliged her. “Back to the topic of what I like; I wanna meet a real man, girl.”

“So soon?”

I laughed when she curled her lip.

“Girl. This back-and-forth, will-he, won’t-he shit with Josias has never been a stable thing. I want a man. Someone who is intentional like you just described.” She ate some of the appetizer, eyes downcast as if she were in deep thought. “Always worrying about a man and what he is or isn’t doing is exhausting. I crave the relaxation of having a nigga you know isn’t doing anything. I want a boring ass nigga.”

We guffawed in unison, both nodding as our waitress peeked in to ask if we wanted refills.

“I get it. I started being celibate some years ago because I was running into duds, and I didn’t like how I felt after having given my body up for seemingly nothing since the sex wasn’t even good.”

“Ew. One thing about Jojo, he can put it down.”

We giggled.

“Well, I wasn’t so lucky. But I say that to say I know what you mean. There is such a difference in those men I was with versus now. I had a man right before Rah, but we never got there emotionally, so I couldn’t worry about him if I tried.”

Kasia laughed.

I eyed her, understanding where she was coming from. Rakim was exciting, protective, funny, fine, a beast in bed, romantic, smart, gentle yet demanding, but when it came to relationship struggles, he was surely boring, and I loved that. He wasn’t a man that would have you tossing and turning all night, wondering if he was getting pussy from elsewhere. Same time, I trusted him so much that he could probably get over on me if he was that type of man.

Kasia and I finished up our night by sharing a big ass cowboy steak and some asparagus and mashed sweet potatoes on the side.

By the time we both stepped outside of Russell’s, the car Rakim had sent me over in was pulling up.

The whole ride home, I just smiled, filled with liquor and super horny for my man. I hoped he had no plans tonight other than to handle me.

Before the truck even pulled into the driveway fully, Rakim was coming out of his house, Josias on his trail.

“Why you smiling?” Rakim inquired, opening the back door. “Aye, don’t be making my woman laugh or smile, my nigga.” He toyed with his driver. It was an older white man this time, not Mylo.

“I just saw you.” I hugged his neck as he picked me up, Josias groaning in the process.