Mahlia sat down on the bed in her own pajamas. A serious expression graced her face.
“What?” I huffed.
“Zyro would really be good for you,” she said quietly. “I see how he is already protective…overprotective of you and nephew, that…I just can’t wait to see him with his own running around here. I swear he’ll keep your beautiful ass pregnant.”
“Mahlia…”
She raised her hands, stopping me from crushing her spirit. “Hear me out.”
I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Remember, I told you not to block your blessings. I really, reaaaally feel like my cousin is your blessing. He’s a damn good man.” She pointed a finger in my direction. “And you can’t deny that.”
“I also told you that I wasn’t ready to get in…”
“A relationship,” Mahlia finished, mocking me. I narrowed my eyes at her. “I’m just saying, don’t let him get away. You might end up with a Zyleek.”
We guffawed.
“He’s actually fun to be around,” I told her.
“He is! Dating, though, hell no.”
“He might get it together one day, with the right one, but you’re right…I don’t want a Zyleek.”
We snickered again.
“Not too much on my bro.”
Our heads both turned to the door that Mahlia had not closed. My face grew hot because I was so embarrassed to be talking about his brother in his house. Mahlia was now on the floor, rolling with tears in her eyes.
“You know it’s true, cousin. I would never put my real friends on to Zyleek.” Mahlia giggled. “That’s my boy, but he isn’t ready to settle down just yet. If my friend was just looking for a fuck and fun type shit, then yeah, Zyleek is the man.” I cut my eyes over at Zyro, and Mahlia caught it. “Nuh uh, friend. Zyro and Leesa… nah, just don’t put their names together.”
Zyro snickered. He leaned against the doorframe, wearing that lazy grin, one of his dimples exposed. Could I see myself with someone like him? He’s been nice since we met, and the way Ermias talks and gloats about Zyro all the time. The way his face lights up upon seeing Zyro needs to be studied.
“That nigga got three baby mamas…”
“That we know of,” Mahlia interrupted Zyro and added.
He scratched the side of his face. “They like it. All three of them are on that nigga, but he said he ain’t fuckin’ with nan one ‘cause they ain’t put shit on his bail.”
Mahlia and Zyro both cracked up. Without thinking, I picked up the stuffed bear and inhaled. I mean, eyes closed and everything. When I popped them back open, two sets of eyes were on me.
“You ain’t even gotta say it,” Mahlia hooted.
“You need me to spray some more?” teased Zyro.
Right then and there, I decided to play along. Mahlia dared me with her eyes.
“Sure. It can use some more,” I uttered, bringing a squeal out of Mahlia. She brought an arm up and rotated it in a circle as if rooting for me.
Zyro jutted his head toward the door. “Follow me to my room with the bear.”
I wasn’t sure what had gotten into me, but my legs began to move. Mahlia’s jaw dropped. I followed Zyro down the long hallway. All throughout his home, it smelled like lemons. One of my favorite scents for cleaning products, wall plug-ins, andcandles. I was barefoot, and the cool, wooden floors felt good underneath my feet. This wasn’t liquoring courage because I hadn’t been drinking. This had to be the throbbing between my thighs that wouldn’t stop when I was around Zyro.
The two wooden doors that opened to his bedroom were taller than he and I. This whole house was luxurious. I couldn’t hold back the gasp that escaped my throat when I trailed him beyond the doors. It was so beautiful. Everything was black, but the wall light fixtures made the aesthetic even more beautiful. His bed was enormous.
“My mama designed all this,” he told me without breaking his stride to his bathroom.
