Page 29 of Still Yours

“What do you mean, you don’t think you can? You sound like a bitch!” She gave him a puzzled look, and Lunden knew she was serious. He had seen his cousin in action over the ones she loved, and clearly, she was not playing about her new friend. He did love Pretti, but he was scared to make a commitment now that he had taken her virginity. He knew that he should’ve stopped himself the night before, but he couldn’t undo what he had done.

“I love the fuck out that girl, but I don’t know if I can take being with her. She’s beautiful and independent. I be ready to body niggas over her. I’m not tryna do no time over no bitch.”

“Dexz did. You think he only locked up because of drugs? He knocked a nigga out for her, so I’ma assume you pussy.” Storm continued to chastise him so he would think straight.

“Man, I hear you. She just different.”

“She’s not one of them project hoes, so don’t ruin her. I want her to leave your ass alone, but I’ve seen your potential. You can’t just fuck and leave this one under my watch. Now, do you want to be with her or not? Because I’m getting impatient, and I'm about to shoot you.” She picked up her gun and cocked it back.

“Damn, big cousin, okay. Yeah, I do want to be with her. What should I do to make shit right?”

“You better buy her some roses or some shit. She likes pink roses, and you need to go all out for her. Buy out the whole fucking Gucci store if you have to.” Storm stood up with her gun in her hand and pointed it at Lunden’s temple. He moved back quickly. “Because if you don’t, I’ma murder your dumb ass.” She pulled the trigger, causing him to think he lost his life, but the gun was empty. She only brought it to scare him. She knew he was strapped too, but she also knew he would never pull out on her, as she did to him more than once.

She blurted out a sinister laugh. “You my cousin, but Pretti is my bestie now and like a sister to me. I’ll body your ass, lil boy. Get ya’ shit togetha’.”

“Get your stupid ass out my spot before we have a problem, for real,” Lunden gritted through clenched teeth. He was mad his cousin checked him, but she was right, so he did what he had to do.

Chapter 13

MAKEUP GIFTS: LATER THAT EVENING

Pretti lay in bed, watching TV. She had finally calmed down and was feeling better. The bleeding had stopped, and she was no longer sore after taking some Tylenol. She waited for the sun to come up so she could get back to work. She fell asleep at nine in the evening. However, she was awakened to the sound of Lunden creeping into her room an hour later. She had given him a key because he always came over while she was sleeping.

“Baby love, wake up. I’m back,” he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck. She woke up and sat up in bed.

“Damn, nigga. What time is it?” She looked around her dark room.

“It’s just ten o’clock. Get up, I want to show you something.” He walked over to the lamp and turned it on. She put on her slippers and walked into the living room.

When she walked in, she smirked at the shopping bags on the couch. Bags from every brand she liked filled her sectional. He’d also got her three dozen white and pink roses and a beautiful diamond necklace.

“Wow, thank you. You really didn’t have to,” she said as she pulled out a pair of sparkly Louboutin heels from a Saks Fifth Avenue bag.

“Yeah, I did. I’m your man now, so I have to act like it. I’m sorry I walked out on you this morning, but a nigga just got scared. I made all these commitments to you, and I thought I couldn’t deliver. But I’ve been thinking, and this is what I want. I want to be committed to you. I know I was in a relationship for five years, but never like this. I take you on dates, cash you out, and now I’ve taken your virginity. So, I know I have to step it all the way up.”

“Lunden, you are my first everything, and sometimes you make me feel like I’ve made a mistake with you. You know, I’m learning about being a girlfriend and being in a relationship. When I think I’m being a good girlfriend, you always seem to knock me down. Then you try to make things up with me because you know you were wrong.

You have to promise me you won’t walk out on me again and will stop talking to me like I’m one of your little hoes you play with in the streets. We’re supposed to be building together, and I be feeling like I’m in this relationship alone. I can do bad by myself. I’m with you because I want to, not because I have to. I don’t need you… I just want you.”

Lunden felt like an idiot as she spoke to him. He knew she was right, and if he didn’t get his act together, she was independent enough now to leave him where he stood. He also knew Storm had enough power to make Pretti call it quits with him as well. He never thought twice about marrying a girl or even just having one woman, and he knew they were going down the marriage road. Even when he was with his ex, he always had something on the side. Now he had let all his side bitches go for the sake of Pretti.

“You’re not in this alone; you do have me. And I’m going to prove it to you from here on out. Do you accept my apology and gifts?” He gazed into her eyes.

Pretti stood in front of him, thinking about the what-ifs, but she decided to move forward with him.

“Yes, I accept your apology, but don’t let me down.”

“I promise I won’t.”

From that day, Lunden kept his head on straight. He had his moments of jealousy when he saw Pretti with her clients at work, but he never stepped out on her or tried to control her. He let her live and do her job while he did his in the streets. However, three years into their relationship, Pretti and Lunden got the call.

Dexten was coming home...

Chapter 14

FREE DEXZ

“You are a free man, Mr. Kingsley. Now you can take your flight to New York and never look back if you don’t want to,” Milo said as he handed him a one-way plane ticket.