Malaki
Did you seriously just decline your fiancé’s call?
My phone vibrates again, and if there’s anything about Malaki I know, it’s his unwavering persistence.
I answer at the last second.
“You declined my call,” he says smoothly, his voice coaxing me into a state of delusionagain.
His face comes into view, and his tight angular jaw paired with those blue eyes full of life do something wild to me.
“It…was an accident?” It comes out more of a question than anything.
Malaki chuckles, his lip lifting on one side. He glances away for a brief second before putting his attention back on me. His grin turns into a full-blown smile. “Are you wearing my shirt?”
My excuse is already locked and loaded.
I play it off by rolling my eyes. “Mine are in the laundry…that’s okay, right?”
Malaki’s neck bobs with a swallow, and the dark area he’s tucked himself into while on the phone with me puts shadows onthe defined curve of his jaw. “You can wear my shirt every night if you want to. In fact, I prefer it.”
A breath catches in the back of my throat, and I hope he doesn’t notice.
“Hey,” someone says from nearby. “Food is ready.”
Malaki nods. “Be right there.”
“Did you need something?” I ask.
Malaki opens his mouth, closes it, shakes his head, and then opens it again. “Yeah,” he says, voice lower than before.
“Okay…” I let the word linger for a second. “What do you need?”
He stares at me through the phone. “You.”
My heart stops.
Every part of me knows I shouldn’t engage in this because the more lines we cross, the more willing I am to erase them. I can’t think of a time where I’ve ever craved someone’s attention like this before. In fact, I’ve forbidden myself from needing anyone or anything for years. Yet, with Malaki involved…I can’t seem to remember that.
“Don’t stop texting me,” he rushes out.
Then he hangs up.
My phone remains in my hand, and I stare at it with shock.
What just happened?
An incoming text buzzes against my hand.
Malaki
I can’t stop thinking about the other night.
For a split second, I swoon. But then I banish it away and remember what’s at stake.
Malaki
Do you regret it?
