Page 44 of Certified To Handle You 2

I kept thinkin’ about my mama callin’ me, Renza sittin’ outside her house, and the fact that I had just left Couture’s bed to come deal with some shit I never asked for. Every time I tried to settle my thoughts, another one came right behind it, and by the time I turned on my mama street, I was already irritated before I even saw his ass.

Then there he was…

Renza was leaned against a black rental parked by the street like it wasn’t the middle of the damn night. His arms was folded across his chest, and from the way he was posted up, youwould’ve thought this nigga was outside his own house instead of somebody else’s.

He ain’t look nervous, uncomfortable, or worried about the fact that my mama was probably watchin’ his ass through one of them windows. He was just standin’ there waitin’ on me.

I pulled in the driveway and sat here for a second with both hands on the wheel, lookin’ through my windshield at his crazy ass.

Renza ain’t move when I pulled up either. He just turned his head toward my car and watched me, which let me know he knew exactly what he was doin’. He had been waitin’ for my mama to call me, and now that I was finally here, he looked completely satisfied with himself.

“Unfuckin’believable,” I muttered before grabbin’ my phone and purse from the passenger seat, and gettin’ out the car.

The second my door closed, Renza pushed away from the rental a lil’, but he still ain’t come toward me. I adjusted my purse on my shoulder and started walkin’ his way with every intention of tellin’ him exactly how disrespectful this shit was, but the closer I got to him, the harder my heart started beatin’.

I could smell his cologne before I even reached him, and that alone irritated me ‘cause why the fuck did he have to smell that good while gettin’ on my nerves?

Even under the streetlights, I could see his haircut was fresh, his beard was lined up and his skin looked good. The black shirt he had on fit across his chest and arms in a way that told me this nigga clearly hadn’t missed no time in the gym while we was goin’ through our bullshit either. I hated that I noticed all that shit.

More than anything, I hated how good Renza looked to me when I had literally just climbed out of Couture’s bed. I could still feel Couture’s hands on me, and here I was walkin’ towardanother nigga while my body was switchin’ up on me before Renza had even touched me.

I fixed my face and kept walkin’ ‘cause I wasn’t givin’ his ass the satisfaction.

“Renza, what the fuck is you doin’ out here?” I asked as soon as I got close enough, but I barely got the whole question out before he pushed off the car and came straight toward me.

Renza wrapped both arms around me and pulled me into his chest so fast that I stumbled into him. I immediately put my hands against him and tried to push back, but his arms only tightened around me.

“Renza,” I fussed, turnin’ my face away from his chest. “Get off me.”

“Man, come here,” he murmured as he pulled me even closer.

I let out a frustrated sigh ‘cause this was not how this shit was supposed to go. I had spent the whole drive home workin’ myself up to cuss this nigga the fuck out, and now I was standin’ outside wrapped in his arms while his cologne filled my nose and his body felt way too familiar against mine.

“Renza, I’m serious,” I told him, but even I could hear that some of the fight had already left my voice.

“I am too,” Renza replied before loosenin’ his hold enough to grab my arms.

Instead of lettin’ me go, he brought ‘em around his waist and pulled me right back against him. “Hold me, ‘Nelle. Damn.”

I should’ve snatched my arms right back, but I didn’t.

My hands rested against his back, and I closed my eyes for a second ‘cause I was tired of this nigga havin’ this kinda effect on me.

I could be mad as hell at Renza, swear I was done with him and mean every word when I said it, but gettin’ this close to him always brought back everything I was tryna forget.

“I miss the fuck outta you,” he told me real low, rubbin’ one hand up my back.

“I miss us bein’ laid up together. I miss laughin’ with yo’ ass and talkin’ shit with you. I miss wakin’ up next to you. I miss just bein’ where the fuck we ‘spose to be.”

I swallowed hard and kept my face against his chest ‘cause lookin’ at him was gon’ make this shit worse.

“I miss my woman,” Renza added, and his voice sounded different when he said that shit.

“I miss you, ‘Nelle.”

Before I could respond, his lips pressed against the side of my neck.

My eyes closed again, and I hated the way my body softened against him without my permission.