Page 36 of Pretty

I reached out to move her hand from Pretty’s face, but Pretty gripped her finger and bent it backward. “You had your turn, and you fumbled the ball. I’m taking this ball all the way to the end zone. Come on, baby.”

Pretty removed her arm from being wrapped in mine and took my hand. We walked away, and neither of us looked back. I prayed that Noah would have a good life, and Kendra and old boy would get their asses together to give him the life he deserved.

“You good, baby?” Pretty asked, looking up at me.

“Hell yeah. I didn’t know you had petty in you, baby. Petty as hell.”

She giggled. “I wear petty boots every day. I never know when I have to step over bullshit.”

I lifted my eyebrow and laughed. “Look at your prissy, elegant ass trying to be gangsta.”

“I hate seeing people take others for granted, always thinking they’ll be waiting when they get their acts together. She didn’t appreciate you when she had the chance, and she definitely doesn’t deserve you now.”

“Where you wanna go, pretty lady? I’m willing to buy you the world.”

She laughed. “All I want is to be fed, Drew. I’m hungry and ready for a nap.”

She had no idea that she had just gripped my heart. A woman who stood up for her man and by her man was a turn-on for me.

“I think I can manage that. Big Drew’s gonna feed you and put you to bed.”

“You make sure you do that.”

FIVE DAYS LATER

“Hey, your brother left yet? How did house hunting go?”

“It was okay,” I replied with my arms crossed over my chest. I had just gotten out of the shower when I heard the doorbell ring.

“I haven’t heard from you since he’s been here. I’ve been texting and calling.”

“I know. I told you that I’d be MIA.”

“My bad. You did. I just thought you would reply or something. The last time that I saw you was the day that he arrived just before I left town for the game.”

“I’m sorry. I was busy.”

“What’s going on, Pretty? I feel like you’re giving me the cold shoulder.”

“What are we doing, Drew?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean are we just casual fuck buddies, neighbors, or what?”

“I told you that I wanted to build something more meaningful with you, and I thought we were. As far as labels, I’ll let you identify what you think that should be. I just want you—all of you: the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between, future wifey,” he teased, laughing.

“Are you sure? Because it doesn’t seem like you’re interested in anything more than a good time.”

“What are you talking about?”

I pulled my phone out of my bathrobe, pulled up my Sociogram account, and went to the pictures that caused me to question our status. My brother had asked what Drew was doing here when he arrived. When I said that we were good friends, he immediately warned me against getting involved with him.

“Maël couldn’t wait to tell me about your bad reputation in the league, about Kendra, and all the other stuff about the wild parties and various women in and out of your life. That didn’t bother me, because you had already told me about your wild lifestyle, and I had met Kendra. I didn’t judge you, because everyone has a past, and you weren’t married. I was quick to let him know that you’re a very different man, and you’ve matured a lot; but can you explain these pictures?”

He looked at the pictures that I showed him, and for some odd reason, a smirk lit up his facial features as he stared at them.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.