Blood Diamonds

My Sweet Love

Blood Diamonds: Chapter 22

~Joel P.O.V.~

I remember Dad telling me sometimes you just know who you love. Whether you've known them for 15 minutes or 15 years, that one person who you know you can give them your heart will pop up. I never understood what the hell he meant by that because I didn't believe you could love someone after 15 minutes but I know exactly what he meant by that, now.

It's just a feeling that you know. I've never once said those 3 words to any other girl, which was a lot of them, because I never felt like I loved them. Charnae gives me a unique feeling, I don't care who believes me or not but I do love her.

"Oh my, Joel." She said with a small smile. "You really do love me?" She asked.

"Yes I do. There is just something with you that gives me a certain feeling." I've always had this feeling since I first met her it just wasn't as strong so I didn't think much about it. Last night and right now, that unique feeling, is all I feel. This isn't lust either, believe me. I'm all too familiar with what lust is. "I'm not expecting you to say it back, but I honestly do love you."

I had to stop talking since my tattoo was on my neck. The entire time we were being worked on, we just kept holding each other's hands.

***

"This looks sick." I said as I looked in the mirror. I decided at the last minute to put red on the Diamond and Heart. I'm glad I decided to do that because it turned out looking too good. I couldn't wait to show the family this one.

Mine was all bandaged up and I looked over to see Charnae looking at hers.

"Wow, it's a lot bigger than I thought you were getting."

"I love it. I can't wait till it's all colored in and then the hues added." She said with an admiring smile as she kept looking at the mirror.

"Consider this an early start to your birthday present." I said as I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind.

"Awh thank you. I love it a lot." She reached up and kissed my cheek.

"Anything for you." I let her go so she could get all bandaged up and get back in her clothes. I walked up to the front to pay.

"She your girlfriend?" My friend asked as he showed me the total.

"Nah, not yet." I said as I dropped the cash on the counter. "Just keep the change."

"Thanks and she seems like a keeper. Real sweet." He said with a smile.

"She's really sweet, enough to give me cavities." We both shared a laugh.

"Alright well Joel, we'll probably see you two again in a little while for her second session." I dapped him and that's when Charnae came out from around the corner. "See you both later." He said.

"Bye and thank you!" Charnae called out before we headed back to my car.

"You don't feel sore? Considering you got part of it on your ribs?" I asked.

"It's a little sore but I'm fine. Did it kill you when you got your ribs tattooed?"

"Yeah it hurt like a bitch."

"I thought you were strong?" She teasingly laughed.

"I'm fuckin' beast but that was the only time where I wasn't." We hopped in my car and started heading for home. "You need me to take you home or are you coming back with me?"

"Can I come back with you?"

"You know I got no problem with that." I switched lanes and made my way back to my house. The car ride was filled with flirtatious jokes and small talk.