Cast in the mm. They're all so cute.

David Banner is so fine. Omg.
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Victoria's POV

"You actually came," I spoke with a smile on my face.

"I don't break promises, baby," He replied as the two of us released from our hug.

"Watch that baby word, Kareem. Good morning Kai."

She was standing next to Kareem, holding his right hand with her left one. Her right hand was occupied with a bag of Shipley's donut holes.

Kai looked up at me before letting go of her dad's hand and giving me a tight hug. "Hey, Miss V! My dad said that he had a surprise for me, but I didn't know we were comin' to see you."

"Is Kai coming to children's church," Vanessa questioned as she passed by the pew that we were on.

She was one of the leaders that taught the kids between the ages of 2 to 11 years old. Other than children's church, there was also youth church for teens from 12 to 18.

Kareem looked down at Kai who seemed like she was in deep thought.

"They have orange juice," I said, knowing that was one of her favorite things to drink, especially Sunny D.

"Mhm, okay, I'll go." Kai gave Kareem a hug before walking to the children's room with Vanessa.

"You sleepy?" Kareem was wiping his eyes while yawning.

"A lil bit. We had to wake up earlier than usual cause my momma wanted me to bring Kai to get these protein shakes before her gymnastics competition later."

"What time does it start?"

"Why? You gonna chill with your family for the day?" I could hear the amusement in his voice, but I knew that he was dead serious.

Two weeks ago when Kareem unexpectedly showed up to my parents house, and then him and Kaseem had that talk with my dad, Kareem has been texting me every morning, and at random times during the day to check on me. The continuous amount of interaction shows me that their time in that office went well.  Also, while we were eating dinner my dad didn't interrogate Kareem as much as he did James when they first met, which is a great sign.

As for Kaseem, poor baby. My dad was all over his ass. But that was expected since Vanessa is the youngest, and he is the first boy that she is really interested in.

But don't think that I was off the hook at her age, because that is not the case.

Even though I have my doubts about involving myself in any kind of relationship, Kareem is doing something to me. Like I've said before, aside from his looks, his amount of concern for my well-being and happiness continues to attract me to him with each time that we see each other.

Looking up from my phone, I straight faced him. "Kareem, please chill. Not today.

Smirking, as usual, he gave my parents hugs as they came to sit down. Church was getting ready to start.

The choir had already consecrated, so all I had to do was go to where we meet on Sunday's, and wait for church to start.

"Hallelujah, Saints." The greeter walked out of the side door and we followed behind her.

The congregation spoke back with their various greetings as they stood for prayer.

"Ain't God good? "

"Yes he is!"

"Amen!"

The minister of music began to play the organ, playing the intro of one of my favorite praise and worship songs.

"Lord You are good and Your mercy endureth forever..."

*

"Did you enjoy church?"

"It was good, and it didn't last long like my momma's church," Kareem replied while laughing, making me laugh too.

Church started at 10 and we were out no later than 11:45.

Saturday morning at the shop, Kareem was trying to talk me into spending the day with him. I told him that I would, if he came to church with me.

"So you never told me what time the competition starts," I stated after Kareem got Kai out of children's church and walked back over to me.

"My age group starts at 2, Miss V. You coming with us," Kai asked, grabbing my hand and smiling up at me.

"Victoria DeShay! Don't forget to go get the Hawaiian rolls for dinner tonight."

I looked away from Kai and to my mom who was yelling from her car that was almost all the way across the parking lot.

"Yes ma'am!"

"DeShay huh?" Kareem was smirking now, since he now knew my middle name.

"Whatever. And yes, Kai. I'll be there."

*

"Good job, beautiful," I said to Kai when she ran over to me and Kareem, and then handed her the flowers that I'd bought.

She'd placed in this competition and would move on to the next round in the following 2 weeks.

"Thank you for coming Miss V,"she spoke excitedly while putting her sweats suit on that had the team logo on it.

"Why is she here Kareem?"

I rolled my eyes before picking up my purse and phone.

"I'm here because I was invited. And before you get hype, I'm not trying to play Mommy to Kai or replace you for that matter. I'm not with Kareem. This is a client, business owner relationship."

I had to set Layla straight before she even though about trying me.

I did not want to get involved with the baby momma drama. I had no time, nor did I have the patience.

Plus my attitude outside of my place of business and church could get extremely fucked up. And I did not want to show out in front of these people.

"Victoria-"

"I'll see y'all in two weeks. Have a great rest of the day, and congratulations again, Kai."

"You serious right now?" I heard Kareem following behind me, but I didn't even turn around.

"Oh so you gonna run after that broad with ya daughter standing right here?"

See what I mean?

Unnecessary drama.  

*

"What's wrong with you?" My dad came out of the kitchen and sat next to me on the couch.

I was sitting in the living room of my parents' house watching the Bernie Mac Show on Netflix.

It was Sunday, so we were having our family dinner that we have every two weeks. The only person that we were waiting on was Vanessa.

How you late to your own house?

But she's always late so this is not surprising.

"Nothing, dad."

"Why you always lyin," he sang, looking at me like the dude did in the video.

"Please stop," I begged while laughing at him.

My dad always knew how to make me smile, no matter how bad I was feeling.

"It's that boy ain't it?"

"I'm kinda falling for him, honestly. But I don't want to get hurt-"

He sighed and relaxed into the couch. "Un uh. You can't do that DeShay. You cannot compare him to Jeroe."

"His name is James-"

"Do I care? Absolutely not. But like I was saying, you cannot compare the present to your past. Just because the last one didn't appreciate you and see how much of a wonderful woman you are, does not mean that Kareem is gonna treat you the same."

"I'm scared." I leaned onto my dad, and laid my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around my shoulder and pulled me closer.

This reminded me of when I was younger and we would have our deep conversations when I was in my feelings.

"I can understand that. But guess what."

"What?"

"The first day that I met Kareem and Kaseem, they made a good impression. They're genuine, and that's something that I respect. You know that if I didn't see some kinda good in them, dinner that night would have been hell. "

I nodded my head, agreeing with him. The first time that he met James, my dad gave him hell. And he never liked him throughout our relationship.

So for him to give good feedback on Kareem, that really made me a little happy.

"Give the man a chance. And if he fucks up, I'll two piece Tuesday his ass."

"Thank you, dad," I spoke, laughing.

"You're welcome. I love you, DeShay."

"I love you too."

"Let's go eat."

He ran to the kitchen and almost immediately, I heard my mom yelling at him to get out of her pots.

I love my family.

*

"Hello?"

It was 2:37 in the morning and I was getting phone calls.

Whoever this is better have a damn good reason for calling me. I was sleeping good.

"Come open the door," Kareem spoke before hanging up the phone.

I laid back down, wondering how the hell he found out where I live and also why the hell he feels like it's okay to wake me up out of my sleep.

After a few minutes, I got up and sluggishly walked down the hall of my loft and to the front door, shivering and pulling out a wedgie in the process.

I was dressed in one of my brother's old tee shirts and some pajama shorts. It was freezing, just like I liked it, making me wanna say fuck the door and go crawl back in my bed.

"Why and how are you here," I asked as soon as I opened the door.

"Hello to you too." Kareem kissed me on the cheek before going and making himself comfortable on the large black sectional couch.

"Why did you leave," he asked after he was comfortable.

"You didn't answer my question, Kareem." I mugged him as I closed and locked the front door.

"I'm here because I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to see you. As for knowing where you live, I can find out anything that I want if I need to."

Kareem watched me intently as I walked past him before grabbing my waist and pulling me down in his lap.

"Answer my question," he demanded, putting his face in my neck and kissing it.

All while making me weak in his embrace.

"I left because I don't have time to deal with the baby momma drama. Let me get up, Kareem."

"Nah, you good."

His hold on my body seem to get tighter, but it was comforting. I relaxed back onto him and enjoyed the moment while it lasted, taking in his intoxicating scent in the process.

It was quiet for a few minutes and I could feel Kareem staring a hole into the side of my face.

"Stop staring. You're making me uncomfortable."

"That isn't my intention, beautiful," he replied, caressing the side of my face with his hand.

"I know I'm moving fast, but I can't help it. There's something about you. I don't know if it's your ambition, the way you treat my daughter even just as her beautician, your smile, your skin, your attitude... I don't know, Victoria. I don't know who hurt you, but I wanna heal you and love you like nobody ever has."

"You could never love all of me, and I'm sure of that."

His eyebrows furrowed at the sound of my voice as I tried to hide the fact that I was choking on my tears.

"Kareem, I'm terrified of love, okay? I don't want to put you through hell because of my past experiences and all my problems-"

My words were cut off with a kiss from Kareem. 

Tongue and all. My goodness.

Somehow I ended up facing Kareem and straddling his lap as our passionate kiss progressed. 

Releasing from the kiss, Kareem placed a few more lingering pecks my lips. I wrapped my arms around him and put my face in his neck like he'd done me.

His presence made me feel comfortable and secure.

"Look, I ain't perfect. I have flaws. I'm not looking for a perfect woman. I'm looking for somebody who I know that will accept me and will grow with me. I'm not trying to force you into being my lady, but we both know that the connection is there. I just want you to give me a chance to heal your wounds and show you how valuable you really are, Victoria."

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I didn't edit this chapter.

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