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“She’s raising my nieces and nephews. One of my nephews is four years old and he’s disabled. My youngest niece just turned two. It’s difficult for Mom to run errands with them by herself, especially when she will have to wait in a long line to pay a bill.”
“Put your gym clothes on. Xavier can handle it. They’ll take my money for the bill and if there’s a problem I’ll shut the whole company down.” He began typing on his phone. “Okay. I gave Xavier the orders. That’s done. I’m running up to put my clothes on.”
I stood there, frozen in place. “Did you not hear the part about how I solely am responsible for my family? I’m serious. I don’t want you interfering or thinking you can . . .”
“What? Just say it.” He stalked my way and positioned himself right in front of me.
“I’m not a charity case.”
“No. You’re not.”
I bit my bottom lip.
“You were smiling and laughing until you answered the phone.” He placed his hands on my waist and drew me into him. “As soon as your mother started talking, your face held this sad look, and all over pocket change.”
“It’s not pocket change to me.”
“It will be after a few months.” He landed a kiss on my forehead. “How many kids is she taking care of?”
I gazed up at him, full of embarrassment. “Seven.”
“How many bedrooms do they live in?”
“A two-bedroom apartment. It’s in Zenfield projects.”
“We’ll have to move them out of there, then.” He patted my shoulder and walked off.
“What?”
He headed to my closet door. “You heard me. And don’t start with that ‘I’m so independent’ mess. It should be illegal for that many people to live in so small a space. And I don’t ever want you going into South End by yourself.”
He opened my closet.
“Wait.” I hurried his way. “We’re not moving anybody anywhere until I know for sure I’m going to be with you.”
He stopped walking, rested his hand on the doorway, and tapped the polished wood with his finger. “You still have doubts?”
“Of course.” I held my hands up to my sides. “We’ve barely been together for a week. I’m still not adjusted to this lifestyle. Now we have to wait two weeks for our first date, so it will take a while.”
“Two weeks?” He turned around and scrunched his face up in confusion. “What do you mean by two weeks?”
“Dawn changed the schedule so the others can get their date nights back, so our first date isn’t until the end of two weeks.”
“Changed the schedule? The hell she did!” Chase roared and pushed the back wall of my closet. A dark stairwell emerged. He flipped a light switch and rushed upstairs. “I’ll be right back. Get dressed. I’ll meet you in front of the house to go to the gym.”
“But. . .”
