Page 96 of Own It

Rakim’s eyes landed on me, and I watched the way he tried and failed to fight the smile on his face.

“Damn, what I do to get this surprise?” Rakim closed the gap between us, cupping my face in his big hands to kiss me.

I could feel that we were being watched, but I kept my eyes on my man.

“You brought me food, so I brought you some. I knew you said you’d be here today, but I didn’t get the time. I’m not as clever as you.”

“Thank you, baby.” He stared down into my eyes, obviously in deep thought. It must’ve been positive ones because I could see a hint of a smile on his face.

“Welcome.” I allowed him to take my hand and the food in his free hand before leading me off.

I continued to inspect the nice gym as we made our way to the offices. Rakim let me in his, and where I scoured the room with my eyes as he sat behind his desk with his food.

“Nosy ass.” He chuckled.

“You know me.” I spotted the photos of his fights, wishing I could’ve seen him live in action.

Some of his opponents in the pictures looked pretty fucked up, making me decide against informing him of what Ayan was up to just before he arrived. With Rakim’s track record, I didn’t want my man going back to prison and for life this time over Ayan’s antics. So far, he was harmless, and it wasn’t worth me living without Rakim or jeopardizing his life that he’d worked so hard to rebuild.

“This shit is good as fuck.” Rakim frowned as he chomped down on the food as I turned away from his wall of boxing photos to eye him.

“See, and when I mentioned the place, you said, ‘It’s just rice and chicken.’” I mocked him as he smashed the Rascals.

“To keep it a buck, the salad is the star.”

“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes as he laughed, waving for me to come closer. Sliding into his lap, I couldn’t help but to kiss his lips, raking my nails through his perfectly moisturized beard. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“I thought Josias was with Kasia. Why is he here with Tarin?” I frowned. I was hoping there was a good explanation, though I doubted it. Kasia seemed like a better option than Tarin could ever be, but niggas were dumb.

Shrugging, Rakim said, “This ain’t nothing new, Baby. Jojo been bouncing between Tarin and Kasia for years.” He kept his eyes on his food, eating with one hand while the other stayed wrapped around my body.

“Don’t you like Kasia better?”

Finally, he gave me his eyes. “If I had to choose, yeah, but I ain’t got no say so in what a thirty-year-old man does, Day. And if Kasia cool with it, fuck am I supposed to do?”

“True.” I pouted slightly, shaking my head ‘no’ when he lifted his fork to offer me some food.

“Ain’t yo’ business either, so you bet’ not run to Kasia telling her anything. You met Kasia, but you don’t know her, and I can’t have y’all beefing because you tried to be captain save a hoe, aight?”

“I already thought the same thing. I don’t wanna be beefing with your brother either.”

“Yeah, but I’ll slap the shit out of him. I can’t hit Kasia for copping an attitude with you.”

We laughed in concert.

“I wanna see some more photos of you from your boxing days. You have some?” I queried, rising since he needed to trash his meal.

“Why you wanna see that?” He pulled out an album from one of his desk drawers.

“I just like knowing things about you.” I took it, flipping open the jacket.

“Sure you wouldn’t rather be dating a boxer?” He gave me a playfully dubious look.

“No. I wanna be with any and every version of Rakim. Long as his heart is the same.” I turned a page, simpering at the picture of him that I knew was a promo.

“Always,” he answered, peering over my shoulder after kissing my neck.