Ray looked up at Miego and then across the room at her mother. Yami nodded to let her know that it was okay, and Ray displayed a soft smile and nodded at Miego’s mother. She took Ray from her son and then led her to the kitchen. They could hear her offering Ray some cookies that she had made just for her.
Miego joined Yami and stood behind her with his arms around her before he focused on his sister. “We shouldn't be gone long. Just call if you need anything.”
“Man, gone. We got this. You act like we don't know how to watch a kid.” Yanna rolled her eyes at her brother and then smiled at Yami. “She's good, you just take care of him.” Yanna nodded at her brother.
“Umm, okay.” Yami glanced at Miego and then back at Yanna, who laughed.
“Mind your business, Yanna. Ma, we’re gone.” He looked down at Yami. “You wanna go tell her bye?”
She nodded and he led her to go see Ray. After a few hugs and kisses, the two left and were back in the car heading downtown. They talked a little about his family and them keeping Ray on the drive, but mostly it was just idle chit chat about nothing important. After they reached the restaurant, which was an upscale rooftop place that Yami had never been to, and the two settled in for dinner.
“It's nice here,” Yami said, looking around. She felt a little out of place because most of the guys were dressed in what could be considered formal wear.
“You like it?” Miego asked, looking around as he lifted his beer and then turned it up.
“I do, but we don't fit.” She looked at him with a grin.
He chuckled. “Why, because we’re not dressed like it's prom night? Man, fuck that. I probably got more money than half the people up here, so we fit. That shit ain't me, and I don't think it's you either. But my money spends just like theirs, so don't sweat that shit.” He winked at Yami and she laughed.
“You just don't care, do you?” She offered up a grin that had him wanting to touch her, but she was across from him.
“Why should I? I’m just me. I don't need anybody to validate that for me, well anybody but you. If you’re cool with who I am, then fuck everybody else.”
“It's that simple, huh?”
“Shouldn't it be?”
She shrugged. “I guess so. Why me, though?”
“Why not you? You’re smart, you’re good to your daughter, and you’re sexy as fuck. What else is there?”
She laughed. “There’s a lot more.”
“Nah, not really. I know you're trying to figure shit out, but I also know you’re feeling me. I can see it when you look at me and when you’re around me, just like right now, you really wanna come sit on my lap.” An arrogant grin spread across his face while he waited for her to respond, which she did by laughing.
“The fuck you laughing for? You want me, Yami, and I want you. Only difference is, I’m not afraid to say that shit, but don't think just because you don't say it that I don't know.”
“I don't know anything about you, Miego.”
“You know enough, but regardless of what you don't know, what you can't deny is that you know you want more.”
“Maybe, but I still need to know you.”
“You know me, Yami. You know who I am, you know what I do. I’m just another street nigga who did whatever necessary to survive. Maybe it wasn't the best, and maybe I’ll never get away from that shit. I want to, but only time will tell. I take care of the people I love, and my heart is genuine. I’ll be good to you if you’re loyal to me. What else is there?”
“I don't know, it’s just not that simple.”
“It can be. Stop thinking about all the shit that can go wrong, and just focus on what can go right. I get that things are a little complicated for you, but let me worry about that. Ray is Black’s daughter, I get that, but you’re mine. If he’s confused about that, I damn sure don't have a problem clearing that up for him. Okay?”
Yami didn't know why, but she believed him. She trusted him when he said he had her, so she nodded and agreed. “Okay.”
*****
“Thank you for tonight.” Yami stood in Miego’s doorway where she found him sitting at the foot of his bed scrolling through his phone.
“Why are you standing there like you scared to come in here?”
“I’m not, it's your room. I’m just trying to respect your space,” Yami said with a grin before she stepped in and sat down beside him. She glanced at his phone, trying to see what he was doing, but he locked it and set it down beside him on the bed.
“You don't have to thank me for that. That wasn't shit.”
“It was to me.”