“Neppy! It’s so good to see you!”
“You too, pumpkin. What you doin’ on this side of town?” Neptune asked as he released me.
Yesterday was my first day working on Iman’s files. It left me so mentally exhausted that I had my first migraine since everything went down. Today, I decided to work on other clients’ accounts just to avoid feeling sick twice in two days. To celebrate a successful day of work, I came to my favorite wing place, which just so happened to be in the hood.
“I wanted these honey hot wings with garlic parmesan seasoning with a passion,” I confessed, making him laugh.
“You put the garlic parmesan on top instead of lemon pepper?” he confirmed.
“Exactly. It’ssogood.”
“I might have to try that. If that shit nasty I’ma clown you.”
“Are you eating here? If so, you can try some of mine.”
“Actually, I’m picking up an order to take to my folks’ house. We’re doing family day a little early in the week since Merci will be out of town this weekend.”
“Oh.” Sadness immediately filled me at the thought of their family day. I’d had so much fun spending time with them, and me, Ariel, and Merci still talked to each other. Now that Marz and I were over, a part of me regretted connecting with his people. “Well… tell everybody I said hi.”
“If you come, you can tell them yourself.”
My head shook as my mouth twisted to the side. “I can’t impose like that, Neptune. Marz and I… I’m back home.”
His smile was soft as he tilted his head and briefly looked over mine, as if he was trying to think of what he wanted to say. “I saw what the two of you shared, and I know how my brother feels about you. You might be trying to convince yourself that it’s over because he no longer has to guard you, but you know that’s not the case, Heir. What y’all had was real. Don’t downplay it like that.”
“Even if it was real, it’s over,” I said with a shrug. “I can’t do that to him. He asked for space so… I’m going to honor that.”
My number was called, so I went to grab my order. Since his wasn’t ready, I told him he could sit with me while he waited. He tried my wings and loved them like I figured he would. By the time I was four wings in, Neptune had called his mother and told her he was eating with me. Somehow that led to her telling me to come over, and even with me telling them I wasn’t sure that was a good idea, she and Merc insisted.
In the midst of me pleading my case, Marz called me.
“See. Now you’re about to get me in trouble,” I griped, ignoring Neptune as he laughed. “Hello?” I answered, far more excited to hear Marz’s voice than I should have been.
“You got plans for tonight?”
“Um, no.”
“Then come over.”
“Marz, I’m not sure?—”
“Look, if you don’t come over, I’ma have to hear their mouths all night.”
“I don’t know why I expected you to say you wanted to see me.”
His chuckle was sexy before he confessed, “I do. I assumed you’d come sooner for them than for me.”
“Not sure why you’d think that. If you’re really okay with me coming, I’ll come.”
“Good. See you soon.”
After ending the call, I ignored Neptune looking at the side of my face with a wide grin.
“Please shut up, Neppy,” I said with a groan.
“I ain’t even said nothing yet…”
Surprisingly,I ended up having an amazing time with Marz’s family. I line danced and gossiped with his mom and sisters, played spades and smoked with him, his brother, and his father, and ate more than enough wings and fish to be satisfied for the rest of the night. Marz and I kept it light all evening. Never alone. Never talking about anything deep. We were partners for spades, but that was about as deep as things had gotten between us. It wasn’t until I got sleepy and was ready to go home that he asked to talk to me.