3 months later

Nichelle POV

"Zach, I don't even know how to skate"
He shrugged "me neither. That's why we gone learn"

"I got somebody to help us"
Here came an expert. "Hey, are you guys ready to skate?"

"Yes sir"
About 15 minutes into it, Zachary started talking a lot of smack.

"Nichelle, you out here moving like you indecisive about falling" right as he said that he fell.

"That's what you get" I laughed.

"Alright now help me up" I shook my head "no"
I know he's gonna try to pull me down with him and that's not happening.

We were getting better and better by the minute but we definitely weren't good at keeping our balance.

Once I finally got the balance part right, I didn't  know how to stop.

"Zachary!" He was finally able to stand straight and remained balanced.
I was heading in his direction tho, so I was trying to warn him but also yelling for him to help me.

When he heard me call him, he looked up at me with a smile "aye I think I got it"
His smile soon faded and his eyes went wide open when he saw me coming full speed.

"Nichelle!" He warned.

"I can't stop!" He tried backing up a little but he was too late and I bumped into him.
Making us both fall.
I couldn't stop laughing. "Dammit" he groaned.

"I'm done with this" he said making me laugh even more.

"I think you done kneed me in the balls" I gasped
"I'm so sorry" I cackled trying to get up again. To no avail I fell on him again.

"Oh!"
***

"I was the best skater out there" I looked at him like he was crazy.

"Not with the way you was keeling over"

"Whatever, I didn't see you standing up right all the time either"

"Come on man, let's take a picture right quick"

"Hey excuse me sir, do you mind taking a picture of us" he gave his phone to the waiter.

"You always wanna take pictures" I said prepping myself. "I'm tryna save memories" he said putting his arms around me.

"Plus you look real good tonight in this short skirt" making me shake my head.

"I'm tryna see sumn" he joked.

"Boy bye"

"You lucky I'm being nice to you after you done kneed me in the balls" I laughed.

"That was an accident"

"Mhmm" he looked unfazed.

"Shut up Zach you love me" I put my hand on his face. "Take a picture of us like this" he laughed at me as I posed.

"How you know I do after you done tried to give me a manual vasectomy?" He teased. "You almost ended the Anderson family line"

"TWICE" he yelled making me laugh.
"Whatever, you know you love me" I pulled him close to me. He was so overdramatic.

"Don't you?" I wrapped my arms around his neck and his hands went around my waist.

"Well when you pull me close like that.." he joked

The waiter cleared his throat, interrupting us "oh, I'm sorry man" Zach said.
"here you go sir, have a great night" he said taking the phone.

We sat down and looked through the menu until we were fully able to come to a conclusion.

We ordered and then engaged in conversation.

"So, it's been three months. You gone tell me how I'm doing?"

What do I even say? I've never had to give an evaluation on a boyfriend before.

"Umm, I don't know like what do I say?"

"Anything, tell me what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong, what you like that I do"

"Okay, I like that you're very respectful. I love when you take time to plan dates, you're spontaneous, you pay attention to everything I say and my behavior. You're observant and I like that"

"So you like it when I take you out on dates? You like spending time with ya man huh?"

He said making me hide my smile and roll my eyes playfully. "You roll your eyes too much in this relationship.. Im putting a restriction on you"

"You do all this fronting cause you know you feeling me!" He said making me laugh.

"Whatever" I said dismissing his statement.

"Yeah now it's whatever. Anyway I do anything wrong?"

"Honestly, I dont know because you've been so busy tryna win me over" I stuck my tongue out at him playfully.

"You right and I'd like to say I've been successful"

I kept quiet "I plead the fifth"

He smiled "plead it all you want, I know you love it here. Got you blushing all the time" he was right too because he just made me blush.

"Anyway, what do you think as a girlfriend I should improve on"

"Being honest!" He joked making me laugh.

"Out here fronting all the time! Tell me you love me girl"

"No but honestly, I want you to be honest and vulnerable. I promise you can trust me. You don't have to hide how you feel with me ever. This is a new chapter and I want you to feel free to be" he looked me in the eyes and I could tell he was being completely honest with me.

It's not like I didn't want to. It's just when you let your guard all the way down that's when they do something to mess it all up.

"Okay, I'll work on that"

"Good, I don't need you hiding from me" he held my chin. He caressed my cheek making me lean my face into his palm.

"Zachary?" A girl popped up out of nowhere.

"It is you! Hi Zach! Long time no see" she was excited to see him but he didn't share the same sentiment.

She leaned in to hug him but he put his hand out to stop her.

"Hey Tracy"

She looked over at me. "Oh hey Nichelle" she didn't look too happy to see me.

Ahh it's one of those girls.

"Hey"

"Zachary why haven't you been answering any of my texts? It's been months"

"Julianna, I know you see me out here with my girl. Can you.. I don't know go somewhere else where you might be wanted?"

"Your girl?" Like she was in disbelief.

"You slow?" She looked at him shocked yet confused .

"As far as I'm concerned you don't do relationships, remember?"

"Is she you? No. That's why she my girl" he said looking me in the eye.

"What she got that I don't?" she rolled her eyes.

"Gone head somewhere Tracy ... " he grabbed my hands to kiss it.

"Whatever Zachary " she walked away.

And he knows how to fight these women?. I'm definitely in love with him.

****

"I want you to come with me to meet my father" a knot formed in my stomach.

"Zachary you already know how your mom is with me" I shook my head.

His mother wasn't a fan of me because she thought we weren't on their level of class and she was completely right but it didn't mean that we weren't both human.

"My mother is like that but my dad ain't. He been eager to meet you so I told him I'd bring you over"

My legs started bouncing out of a little anxiety. As soon as he noticed, he rested his hand on my leg. "It'll be fine"

"C'mere" I leaned over and he pulled me into a short kiss.

He pulled away "you'll be fine"

"Don't you dare open that door" he warned. He rushed over to open the door for me. "Such a gentleman" I say exiting the car.

"I get it from my daddy" he grabbed my hand and walked me up to this mansion he had for a house.

He opened the door and let me in.

His house really was mind blowing.

I've never been in a house bigger than what I've been in. Trust that I would get lost in his mansion.

Admiring the lobby area, his mother came down the stairs.
Oh no.. here we go.

"Son, you've been gone all day. Your father could use some help at the office but here you go running off" he groaned.

"Mama, I already told you I took the weekend off"
She looked at me in disgust, I simply stale faced her because she wasn't any prettier.

"I don't see what for"

"I already told you ma, me and Nichelle made 3 months today and I wanted to make sure we had a great celebration weekend"
I smiled at my man, because he was truly great.

"Zachary I already told you about these lil whores you keep bringing-" I cut her off "excuse me?!" Oh she had me ready to fight now.

"Maira, stop stirring up trouble with our guests!" His father's voice boomed.

"Mama you gone have respect for the woman I love." He said sternly. Why did that make me have butterflies? Whew.

She huffed before walking away.

"Hello young lady, I'm sorry about her. She can be a snob every now and again" I fake smiled but I was really annoyed.

"Nichelle right?"

"Yes sir"

"Come with me"

"Don't be scared Zach, I won't take her for long" he said making Zach look at me. He gave me a reassuring smile.

His father started walking but I nervously turned to him and grabbed his hand so he wouldn't leave me.

"Baby" I pouted. I was nervous. His eyes shot wide open. "Baby? I'm baby now?!"
He chuckled "I need to get you in scary situations more often" I smacked her arms playfully.

"You'll be fine" he cupped my face and kissed me.

"Go" I sped walked behind his father but I still turned and ran back to him making him laugh. "Baby you'll be fine"
I nodded "okay but kiss me one more time. I need a shot of confidence" he did as I told him to.

"Now go" he laughed.

I followed his dad in to his office. His office had a patio and that's where he was.

"So my son has spoken very highly of you and I just wanted to see it for myself" he smiled as he poured himself a drink.

"So tell me about yourself, what do you dedicate yourself to?"

"Well, I'm currently working with my mom. She's a wedding dress designer, she was working with kouture but she decided to start her own brand, so I help her out where I can" he nodded.

"Nice. Well as you know we do jewelry so maybe we can collaborate one day" that peaked my interests.

"I know she would love that" I agreed. Starting a business ain't always easy in its baby years. While we've been off to a great start, help is always accepted.

"We'll go over that some other time. So let's talk business"
He got serious and my heart began hammering against my rib cage.

"My son loves you and I really want to know what you feel for my son" his face turned into a serious father. One that don't play about his.

"A lot of people when they know what you have or how much you have, they want to be with you for the benefits and I don't want my son around anyone who only wants him for what he has"

"I think one thing that your son has trouble grasping is that I can buy things on my own. I'm not poor, I can handle myself. I'm not blinded by the love of money either." I shook my head.

"I never even liked Zach in that way" I laughed at the memory. "Despite knowing what he has or who he was. No offense but your son was a whore. Money can't heal a heartbreak and I wasn't even willing to date him for it much less for what I had known him to do with other girls."

He smiled at me "I like you already. You still haven't told me what you feel for my son"

"Don't tell him I told you this. But Zachary, I love him. He treats me so good that sometimes I'm scared to be so vulnerable with him. I know that once I open up to him all the way there's no turning back. I'm falling more in love with him the more we hang out"

"And almost every thing he says makes me blush, it's so annoying! Because I'm trying to not be so girly around him and it's like he makes me melt" I said stressed.

"I love him though more than he knows. He's changing my whole perception on love and relationships everyday. I just can't show him too much of my girly side cause it'll take points off my street cred" I say and he watches me with a big grin.

"You're scared of being in love with my son but the truth is you love it, embrace it. Don't you think you deserve be in love and this happy?" he said and I didn't even think about it that way. I was rejecting the opportunity to be happily in love with my man.

"I advise that you tell him everything you feel. Be transparent because he needs to know" he smiled back.

"I'd love to invite to our family dinner sometime. I like you and I would definitely love to see you around more often." I blushed. Damn it. What is it with these Anderson men?!

He chuckled at my reaction. "You're good for him. He's more focused and now it's like he has a plan. You know? Like he has goals and the motivation to drive it all out"
Oh wow. I did that?

"So, hopefully I see you at our family dinners more often"

"What about your wife? You know she doesn't really.. like me"

"Don't worry about her, she's just over protective she'll get over it"

I nodded "alright, but I'm warning you Mr. Anderson I don't know how long I can wait before I snap" he chuckled "I'll make a note of that. Short tempered"

"I'm not short tempered" or am I? He proceeded to laugh and simply said "okay" he got up and started walking out.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I followed behind him.

"Come on let me bring you back"

I walked back with him and unfortunately his mother was in the hallway.

I was trying to ignore her and walk past her when she grabbed my elbow.

"You are no good for my son. You are beneath his level and I don't approve of you." She aggressively said.

"First of all Maira, if you don't get your hand off of me you're about to be beneath my foot" I warned as I pulled my elbow out of her grip.

"Look Miss Maira, I love your son. Like or not I'm going to be with your son."

"I know women like you, you guys like to play like you don't want his money but then sleep them and then get them to marry you so you can spend their riches. Like your mother did" that struck a nerve.

"Maira!" His father yelled angrily.

My eyes began to water not because it was sad but because I was angry and I wanted to smack the wrinkles off her face but I wanted to have respect for Zach.

I wipe the tear from my eye and I walked straight towards the exit, walking past Zachary.

"Really mama?!" I could hear him say.

"Nichelle, wait hold on" he caught up to me.

"Im sorry about her" tears were spilling out of my eyes at this point. I just couldn't stop it and when he noticed he pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry mama" he kissed my forehead.

"Cmon" he opened the car door and I got in and for the most of the ride we sat in silence.

Until he pulled up to a beach somewhere.

We got out and we both sat on the front of the car.

He allowed the silence to settle and I could tell he was waiting for me to talk.

"My mother was raped when she was younger by a wealthy man" he flashed me a look of surprise.

"He was a wealthy man. He was drunk when it happened. When he came to his senses he tried apologizing and trying to buy my mommas forgiveness but she just didn't want anything to do with him."

I sighed "and then she got pregnant and here I was. His family tried to take corrective action because they didn't want him to have a baby out of wedlock because it wouldn't portray a good family image"

"My mother didn't want that and despite their threats she just ran away and came here and started her new life"

"Damn"

You think that's a reason why you don't really like rich people, because your father was or is one and because of what your mom went through?"

"Honestly I don't know. Maybe" he looked bothered by this information and stared at the water. "Here's what I do know.. Zach?" He looked at me.

"I'm in love with you" I said making his eyes go wide.

"I've been trying to keep what I feel for you low key but I can't keep it all inside anymore" I shook my head.

"Everyday I fall more and more in love with you and even though it's scary... I wanna fall with you, I wanna ride with you. I honestly wanna do it all with you" I said. He didn't say anything for a few seconds. Literally a minute went by and he didn't say anything.

"Zach?" Why wasn't he saying anything?
"Za-" he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.

Once we parted from the kiss he looked me dead in the eye.

"It's about gotdamn time"