Free When You Know It's Real: Siah and Nonie by KC Mills

up our night.”
    “I’m going to the bathroom,” I lied as my eyes moved across the restaurant.
    Siah’s crazy ass pushed his chair back and stood. “Aight, I’ll go with you then.”
    “You can't go in the bathroom with me, Siah.”
    “But I can walk you to the door and wait outside for you. Fuck, I’ll go in that bitch if I want to, now try me.”
    I knew I wasn't about to get anything past him. His crazy ass was telling the truth. He’d escort me into the bathroom and wipe my ass for me if it meant that I stayed away from Red, so I sat down and so did he.
    “I don't know why the hell your spoiled ass is over there pouting. Let that shit go, Nonie, and enjoy dinner. I didn't bring you all the way over here for you to be worried about another nigga, Pretty.”
    Siah had won. I would only piss him off and ruin the night if I didn't let hit go, so I did the best I could and focused on us. But believe me when I say I was mad as hell about it. Even though Kizzie was creeping with Jock, Red was wrong as hell, and that made me want to handle him.
    After we finished dinner, Siah drove us to Time Square to walk around. I loved the city, especially at night because it was so beautiful. The energy was addictive and being there with Siah made it all feel so perfect. As we moved around, he kept his arm draped around my shoulder, making sure to keep my body close to his. He smelled so damn good, and his body wrapped around mine made me feel safe. God, I loved this man, when I knew I shouldn't because the only person that Siah loved was himself. True enough, he cared about me and would do anything for me, but I was starting to question if he was even capable of love.
    “What’s on your mind, Pretty?” Siah's voice danced around me, pulling my attention back to him.
    When his lips touched my temple, I felt a wave of energy flow through my body.
    “Nothing.” I snuggled closer to him, sending my arm around his waist and gripping the side of his shirt.
    “Don't hide from me, Nonie. That’s not us, baby girl. Good or bad, tell me what's on your mind.” Siah stopped walking and stepped in front of me, placing his hands on the sides of my face before bringing his lips to mine and kissing me on the forehead first and then my lips.
    “I’m not hiding. I promise, it's nothing.”
    We’d had the same conversations enough times for me to know how it would end. Siah wanted to claim me, but I wanted to be the only one he claimed. He never could promise me that, so as always, we agreed to disagree. We were what we were. I cared about him, he cared about me. I was his and he was mine, but we were the only ones who knew that. Well, besides Jock and Kizzie.
    “Yosiah, I’m good, baby. Don't create a problem that doesn't exist.” I smiled as I stared into his eyes.
    His gaze stayed on me for a moment before his lips connected with mine again. He didn't believe me, but he let it go and draped his arm around my shoulder again.
    “You ready to head home?” he asked once we were moving again.
    “Home?” I questioned with a grin.
    “My house is your home, Nonie. You have a key, don't you?”
    “That doesn’t make it my home, Yosiah. It just means I have a key to your house.”
    With an arrogant laugh, Siah leaned into me. “Ain't no other bitch even been to my house, Nonie, and your ass has a key. My security code is the day we met, which means that you can get in and out my shit whenever you want, with or without me. It's your home, Nonie.”
    “Your other women know that?”
    “Don't do that shit, man. Fuck everybody but you. I ain't perfect, but ain't no other female gonna be what you are. So dead that shit you talking, Pretty.”
    I laughed. “Yeah, well I don't like to share, so when you grow up we’ll have that discussion.”
    “Whatever, man.” Siah mushed me and then jumped away so that I wouldn't hit him back. His goofy ass knew better.
    “And for the record, this a grow ass man right here. Fuck that ‘when I