Ermias was fumbling with his belt, excited as fuck, not catching any of the tension surrounding him. I pushed my door open further. When Eriss started to touch her door, I growled out, “Don’t touch that damn door, girl.” She backed off and waited, gripping her bear tighter.
I stepped out, letting my height and my silence talk for me. Our eyes met, his squinting out of curiosity.
“I know damn well she ain’t got my son around…” his voice trailed off. His steps faltered. His jaw was tight.
I rounded the front of my truck, and when I reached Eriss, she had an annoyed expression on her beautiful face.
“I really can help myself out of your truck, Zyro,” she uttered under her breath.
“Not on my watch,” I replied just as low.
I opened the door and grabbed Ermias by the waist and pulled him out, placing him on his feet.
“Dad! We went to the fair! Zyro…Zyro took us!” He said, running to his dad, who wasn’t paying him any attention. He was too busy watching Eriss.
“Is that right?” he asked.
“You straight?” I questioned Eriss loud enough for that nigga to hear.
“I’m fine, Zyro.” She removed a piece of loose hair from her face. “Thanks for tonight. You made Ermias’ day.”
Eriss started to walk away.
“Did I make your day?”
She stopped in her tracks, and I told her to hold on. I reached into my truck, opened up the console in the middle, and pulled out a bottle of cologne. Removing the top, I grabbed the bear from her hands and sprayed it a couple of times all over. Eriss stood there in disbelief.
“There. So you won’t be lonely,” I told her, smirking. “Now, did I make your day?”
I handed the bear back to Eriss. Her eyes reached mine.
“You did because you made Ermias’ day. Again, thank you, Zyro. Have a safe ride home.”
I chuckled at her dismissing me.
“Bet.” I craned my neck. “Have a good night, big dawg!” I shouted to Ermias.
“Good night, big dawg!” he called back. I snickered and sauntered back over to the driver’s side with my eyes on that nigga because his was on me. I chucked my head at him, silently letting him know I was on whatever he was on.
I wanted to tell Eriss to call me if she needed me, but she’d already put her wall back up. Pulling out of her driveway, I had to talk shit to myself.
“What the fuck are you doing, Zyro? You ain’t tryin’ to be in shit, and she ain’t either. Let that shit go,” I mumbled as I drove down the dark street.
Picking up my phone from the console, I dialed a number.
“Hello?” Leesa answered groggily.
“I’ll be there in an hour and twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
“Zyro!” Marco’s voice carried over the music coming from the built-in speaker in the shop. “Yo, you got company!”
I slid out from under the SUV, grease on my arms, and shirt sticking to my back. Wiping my hands on a rag, I spotted Eriss. She wasn’t alone. Beside her was a tall, older man with a salt-and-pepper beard, plaid button-down tucked sharp into khaki slacks. His eye cut across my shop like he was measuring every single detail.
I stood and sauntered over to them. My eyes dragged over to Eriss. She had a damn patch over her eye. I wanted to ask what happened when I left last night, but it wasn’t my place. I did wonder if she slept with that bear, smelling me every time she inhaled.
“Mr. Coleman?”
