A Debt Repaid (The Debt Duet 2)

“Ashanti, als je wil, kun je je Engels oefenen,” Deion says. “Charlotte spreekt alleen Engels.”

“English?” Ashanti mumbles, gazing at me as though I’m an alien. “Okay!”

“I told her she can try out her English skills with you,” Deion tells me, winking. “So help a girl out.”

I grin. He’s only trying to make it easier for me, but he’s pretending it’s for her. Cute.

“I can speak English,” Ashanti says. “Good, huh?”

“Awesome,” I say. “Because I don’t understand a word of Dutch.”

Both of them laugh now.

“What? It’s the truth,” I say.

“So you’re not from here?” Ashanti asks.

“Nope. America,” I reply.

She plays with her fish. “But what are you doing here?”

What a curious little thing. And unfortunately, it’s now piqued Deion’s curiosity too.

“I was here for … a man.” It’s not safe to mention the debt. It could get me into trouble. But I don’t want to lie either. Not when Deion’s been so kind to me.

“A man? And he left you out on the streets?” Deion raises his brow. “That’s no man in my books.”

“Exactly!” Ashanti says, chewing with her mouth wide open.

“Ashanti, mond dicht als je eet,” Deion says, and the girl immediately shuts her mouth. “Sorry, I’m still trying to teach her manners,” Deion tells me, swinging his fork. “But I bet you know how hard that is.”

“Actually, no,” I say, stuffing a piece of delicious fried Kibbeling into my mouth. “I don’t have kids.”

“Hmm … interesting,” he says, taking a bite too while gazing at me as though I gave away crucial information. But none of this will reveal who I am or where I came from.

“Do you want kids?” Ashanti asks point blank.

I’m a little flabbergasted with my jaw practically hanging on the table right now. “I … I—”

“Ashanti,” Deion grumbles. “That’s rude.”

“Rude?” She glances at him.

“Ja. Te direct.”

“Oh,” she says. “I just want to know.”

“Maybe someday,” I reply because I don’t want them to argue over something like this. “But right now, I don’t know.”

“Don’t feel pressured to answer her questions,” he says. “She’s a little too curious sometimes.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” I say with a wink, and he smiles.

“Do you have any family?” Ashanti asks.

“Um … some,” I say. “I have a father and a brother. And a stepmom, but I don’t count her along.”

Ashanti laughs. “A stepmom? I wish I had one.”

Deion’s eyes widen, and his cheeks start to glow as he whispers under his breath, “Ashanti.”

“What? It’s the truth!” she exclaims, still chewing.

He shakes his head. “Girls …”

I laugh. They’re cute together. I didn’t imagine Deion as a dad, but now that I see them together, I totally get it. I wonder where his wife is, though, because judging from what Ashanti said, she doesn’t have a mommy anymore.

“So … a stepmom, huh?” I mutter.

“Or just a mommy,” she says.

I gulp away my fish.

“Uh, let’s not talk about this,” Deion says.

“Why not?” Ashanti asks. “I miss Mommy.”

I cock my head and sigh at the sight of Deion’s embarrassed face, so I grab his arm, and say, “It’s okay. I won’t ask if you don’t want to talk about it.”

He nods and places a hand on top of mine. At first, it’s strange to have another man’s hand touch mine, but his warm, calloused hands make my skin glow. It feels good, and for some reason, I don’t pull away.

“Thanks,” he says. “I appreciate that.”

“Ooo ….” Ashanti coos, making us both laugh.

“Will you stay?” Ashanti suddenly asks.

“What?” I ask, instantly glancing at Deion.

“Uh, maybe? If she wants?” Deion says, who looks at me too now.

Wait … is he for real? “Well, if there’s room, and if it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to stay.” A broad smile forms on my lips. “For now,” I add, so I don’t sound too needy.

“It’s fine by me,” Deion says.

“Yay!” Ashanti says. “Roomie!”

“Nee, nee, ze slaapt op haar eigen kamer, in haar eigen bed. Net als jij,” Deion corrects, and he looks at me, and says, “I told her you sleep in your own room and bed.”

“Ah …” I nod. “Yeah, up in the attic.” I point up at the ceiling.

“De zolder,” Deion explains to Ashanti.

“Okay,” Ashanti replies. “As long as we get to play.”

I laugh. “Sure. Why not?”

Deion leans in, and whispers, “Don’t say yes. You’ll regret it. She’ll make you be her model the entire day so she can do your hair, makeup, and clothes.”

I snigger as Ashanti says, “Hey! Are you talking about me?”

“No, not at all,” Deion says, and I try to hold my laughter.

These two are amazing. “I’ll play with you, Ashanti. I promise.”

“Yay!” she says again, biting off another piece of fish as though she’s ripping it to shreds with her teeth.

We all continue to eat the fish in silence. I don’t know what to say, and it looks like Deion’s too afraid to pry into my personal life. Ashanti keeps getting reined back by Deion, so she doesn’t push too far. But I don’t mind. I won’t tell them anything don’t wanna tell. Besides, I have to be forthcoming to them if I wanna stay, so I try to answer as many of the questions she asks me.