Page 78 of What I Needed

“Okay. I’ll call you when I get settled in my room. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

We exchanged a kiss, and I left with her heavy on my mind. On the plane, Jaxon, Desmond, and Boris noticed how quiet I was, and of course, they couldn’t leave me be.

“Trouble in paradise?” Desmond asked.

“Nah. Things are good.”

“Why are you so quiet?” Jaxon asked.

“Just thinking.”

“About?” Boris pressed.

“Y’all are nosy as hell. I need y’all to find some business so you can stay out of mine.”

“I got plenty of business, but it’s probably nothing you want to hear since you’re now a one-woman man,” Jaxon teased.

“Yeah, man. We don’t want to tempt you,” Desmond agreed.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m good. Erissa was extra clingy before I left today. You would think this was our first time being apart. I’m just trying to figure out what could be wrong with her.”

“Is she pregnant?” Boris asked.

“Pregnant? Shit. I don’t know. I think if she were, she’d tell me.”

“Based on your response, I guess it’s possible,” Jaxon said.

I chuckled. “Hell yeah. I never used anything, and I don’t plan on it.”

“Damn. It’s like that?” Desmond questioned with raised brows.

“Aye, man. I’ll fuck you up over that one. Don’t play with me.”

“Nah. It ain’t like that. Even though she’s pretty as hell, I know you’re trying to build something with her, so I wouldn’t even go there in my head. I’m just saying, I know how serious you are about protecting yourself,” he defended.

“That’s how I knew there was something special about her. I’ve never been so careless in my life. If she’s pregnant, that might explain her behavior.”

“Are you gon’ ask her?” Boris asked.

“Not yet. I want to give her time to tell me. I’ll keep y’all posted, though. Jaxon, wassup with you and Shakira?”

“Not a damn thing. We exchanged numbers and text sporadically. She usually takes days to respond, so I assume she’s not really interested.”

“She wasn’t starstruck when she met you, and she doesn’t seem like the type of woman who chases niggas.”

“She definitely not chasing my ass, and I ain’t used to that shit. I keep saying I ain’t texting or calling her ass again, but a few days later, I’m looking for our text thread.”

Desmond, Boris, and I laughed. Shakira was very laid-back, nothing like the thirsty women we were used to.

“If she ever decides to give you the time of day, you better be careful, or you might be tied up like this one,” Boris said, pointing at me.

“Tied up ain’t a bad place to be when it’s with the right one,” I responded before putting my headphones on and pulling my hood over my head.

We arrived in Chicago a couple of hours later and went directly to the hotel. Once I checked into my room, I sent my mother a text to let her know I’d arrived and would call her later. She and Rylee were coming to the game tomorrow, and I was excited to see them.

Next, I FaceTimed Erissa, and she answered with a nervous smile.