good night too. The baby reached his hand up to his face, and Orlando kissed it. Purposely staying there a bit longer, he waited for Dani to make her way back to her phone and read whatever was sent to her. Despite his not wanting to sound controlling, Orlando reasoned that his not being thrilled that her asshole ex was still texting her was normal, right? Still bent over the crib, he asked, “Is that him again?”
She didn’t answer immediately. “Yeah.” Orlando looked up at her, unable to hide his annoyance about this. “It’s mostly group texts, Orlando. But I never respond to any of them.”
“Mostly?” He’d since picked up on and appreciated the fact that, if he asked her straight out about anything, she was honest, no matter how fucking annoying her answers might be. “The guy begged you back and got down on his knees in public, first chance he got, Dani. So, when it’s not a group text, what’s he texting you?” He motioned to her phone. “Is this a group text or something else?”
She stared at him for a moment as he walked toward her, searching those beautiful but apprehensive eyes. “He’s asking for us to get together. But it’s not the first time,” she added quickly. “And I never respond.”
“Why don’t you just block his ass?” Orlando asked, feeling beyond incensed about this shit now.
“I know it’s hard for you to understand.” She touched his face the moment he was close enough. “It’s been over two months since the incident at my sister’s, and he hasn’t showed up again or tried to find me. I just feel like if I give him the satisfaction of knowing he can at least still message me, regardless of whether he hears back from me or not, he won’t be confrontational. He can be obsessive, baby. I don’t want to cut him off and have him showing up at the shop or God forbid here.”
“Oh, I’d love for that fucker to show up at the shop or here.”
“But that’s why I won’t cut him off. I don’t want things getting ugly, and his texts are harmless. I just ignore them.”
“Like you did tonight when you got caught up in the video he sent?”
Orlando didn’t want to sound like a dick, but it burned him to think she might still be curious about this asshole’s texts. Only reason he’d even read Felicia’s text today was because he’d seen Dani’s name in it.
“I had just hit play when you walked in.”
“Does he know you’re mine now?” He sucked in a breath, regretting his word choice, but she had to know this was how he felt. She was his now.
Thankfully, she smiled, kissing his lips softly. “No, because I don’t share anything personal about my life with him.” Tilting her head, she pulled off his beanie and ran her fingers through his hair. “I’m telling you, Orlando, I don’t even respond to his texts, much less share what’s going on in my life. It’s none of his business. Whether I’m single or not, I want nothing to do with him now, and I’ve made that perfectly clear numerous times now.”
“Numerous times?” Orlando pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, despite the irritation of hearing she’d had to tell this guy more than once now to back the fuck off.
“He’s persistent.” She wrapped her arms around his neck with a playful smirk. “I’ll give him that. But it’s not gonna do him any good. My life is just too perfect now. I won’t allow him to ruin it. I promise you.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that,” he said, kissing her deeply then lifting her up in his arms. “I love you.” Her wide eyes immediately welled up as she stared at him in bewilderment, and he set her down on his bed. “I do. I’m sorry if it’s too soon. I’m sorry if it scares you. Scares the shit outta me. But it’s what I’ve been feeling for—”
Her hand to his mouth made him stop talking. “I love you, too.” Her brows pinched as she stared at him. “So much.”
The moment she moved her hand away from his mouth he kissed her, lying over her gently. One glance at Oreo, Orlando could see he was already fading as his fluttering little eye lids nearly went out. Bringing his hand down the front of Dani’s pants and panties, he slipped his hand in, groaning when he felt the warm moisture. He easily