Miego pulled over and put his car in park, which made her turn to face him.
“Look, I get it. That’s your sister and she cares, but damn, is this what it's going to be like every time she has something to say about us that you don't like. I’m not feeling that shit. You’re not going to have your ass on your shoulders because she don't like the choices you’re making about YOUR life.” Miego pointed at Yami and then waited. He raised his voice just enough to get his point across, but mostly because the situation was getting old.
“What am I supposed to do? She’s my sister, she’s all I have. My mother acts like I can't think for my damn self, so Yaz is really the only person who supports me.”
“Can you?” Miego asked.
“Can I what?”
“Can you think for yourself because it seems to me like your mother is not the only one who's making decisions for you, shorty.”
Yami got pissed at what he was insinuating, but she really couldn't say anything because he was partially right. She was hesitant because after dealing with Black, she didn't really trust her own judgment, so every time Yaz had something to say about her being with Miego, a small part of her believed that she might be right.
“Man, fuck it. How about this? I’ll take you wherever you want to go, and when you figure that shit out, you call me.” Miego pulled off again, annoyed by the whole situation.
“I don't want to go anywhere. I make my own decisions, and this is what I want.”
Her eyes were on Miego while she waited. It took him a minute, but he eventually looked her way.
“I know you think that Yaz is all you have, but you got me, and I promise that I got you, shorty, but only if you let me. That's my word. Just give it a chance. I ain't Black, Yami, so stop comparing me to that nigga or this shit won't work.”
Yami quickly picked up on the seriousness of his demand and nodded but didn't say anything.
“You in this shit with me, Yami?”
She looked at him with a grin. “Yes.”
“Good, ’cause you didn’t have a choice anyway. I claimed your ass the day you ran into me at that game.”
She laughed. “You can't just claim somebody, Miego.”
“Shit, yes you can. You’re here, aren't you?” His face transformed into a playful grin.
“I’m here because I want to be, not because you think you have some sort of control over that decision, so please don't get it confused.” Yami rolled her eyes.
“Nah, shorty, you’re here because you want a nigga to blow your back out, but I’ll make sure that’s not the only reason, though, just be patient. I can show you what I’m about better than I can tell you.”
“I can't even deal with you, I swear.”
Miego laughed because all he wanted to do was make her smile, so mission accomplished. There was much more to come if she could get her head right and just have faith in him.
*****
“Well, Mr. Grant, what do you think?” Miego’s eyes moved right to Yami, who looked back at him confused.
“Baby, she wants to know what we think.” Miego's eyes smiled as he waited for Yami to speak up.
She blushed as her eyes moved from him to the realtor.
“It's not my call.”
“Come on, shorty, I’m buying this shit for you. Tell the lady what you think.”
Yami gave him a hard stare before she turned to the realtor who was smiling like she had a winning lottery ticket.
“What I think is that you’re paying for it, so my vote doesn't really count.”
Miego chuckled. He took Yami's hand in his and pulled her to his side before he focused on the realtor. “I think she likes it. So what’s next?”
“Perfect. I’ll get the paperwork ready. I assume you’re still paying in cash.”
“Yeah, can you do that today?”
“Sure, it will take me a few hours to get everything finalized, but I can have the keys ready for you by this evening.”
“Okay, ’Preciate that. Just call me when you're ready, and I’ll have a cashier’s check for you.”
“Yes, Mr. Grant. I’ll be in touch.”
Once they were in the car again, Yami immediately started with the questions. “Is she really doing that?”
“Doing what?” Miego asked with a grin, knowing exactly what she was talking about. At Miego's request, the realtor had taken a picture of Yami’s license so that she could put the apartment in her name.
“You just bought an apartment and you made her put it in my name.”
“Why the hell you looked surprised? I told you before we got here that I was gon’ do that shit,” Miego said.
“I didn't think you meant it, though. You don't know me and—”