Page 38 of Risking it All

“Go ahead and take a shower and unwind while I set everything up,” I instructed.

“Aren’t we bossy today. Thankfully, that sounds perfect to me,” she said, smirking as she sauntered over to the closet.

“I thought it would.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me. I’m about to freshen up.”

“I’ll be here when you get out.”

Once Z was in the bathroom with the door closed, I went to work. Twenty or thirty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom dressed in a pink T-shirt dress. She had taken her hair down from the ponytail, and it draped over her shoulders in thick waves. Her white toenails stood out since she walked around barefoot. This woman was so cute. I wasn’t even sure if I had ever used that word in my life.

“I did not expect to come out here and find you cooking.”

“What did you expect?”

“Not this. I don’t think I would have ever imagined you cooking. You look more like an order takeout or have someone else cook kind of guy.”

“Two things can be true.”

“I knew it.”

“It’s good to be able to do things for yourself too.”

“What’s for dinner?” she asked.

“Are you hungry?”

“That’s a question you don’t even have to ask. I’m sure you hear my stomach growling from over there.”

“Could that be because you defied me by skipping lunch again?”

She smiled but looked down at her feet.

“Don’t look down. I asked you a question, mama. Why do you insist on starving yourself? I don’t like that.”

“Sometimes I like fasting. It helps with my weight loss journey.”

“Fasting is one thing. Starving yourself while you’re working in a hot ass dungeon is another.”

“I don’t see a difference.”

“Who told you that you needed to lose weight?”

“No one had to tell me. They make scales and mirrors. I can see that for myself.”

“I disagree. I love your body.”

Her lips formed a smile, but her eyes squinted as if she were measuring my words.

“It’s not up to me, though. If you’re not comfortable, you have every right to want to change.”

“I do, but I do know that I’m fine. Don’t get me wrong.”

“Good. I thought I was gon’ have to remind you.”

Her brows hiked, but she didn’t question my statement. I made a mental note to follow through with that statement the next chance I got. For now, I needed to feed her.

“What’s for dinner?” she asked, walking into the kitchenette to stand next to me.