“You want to call it?”
“Fuck no.”
“Good.” He took a step back out of my space and exhaled. “I’ll hit you when I get home.”
“Bet. Do that.”
He nodded then pivoted around and I watched him as he walked back to my door. I collapsed back in my seat. I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest. I kicked my feet up on my desk and looked at my flowers. My eyes trailed to the series of cameras on the wall and I watched Bishop as he made his way to his whip, hopped in and headed out.
I let him leave the parking lot before I dragged my eyes back to my work. It was hell to focus after kissing Bishop but I did my best. He texted me to let me know when he got home and I focused on finishing up the night at the club. Then, I headed home, took a hot shower and collapsed in bed ready for sleep.
A month went by before I realized what was happening. Bishop and I got together at least once a week, sometimes twice. I noticed that he was awake at late hours but didn’t focus on it. By week two I was sure his family didn’t just work with art but I didn’t call him on it. I planned us out a date to the gun range for our third date. Bishop took me to my first three star Michelin restaurant. I took him hunting and we skinned the animal together. Bishop took me to a jazz concert. We were good at picking shit out that allowed us to slide under the radar and still felt intimate.
We each played into our own hobbies and welcomed the other into that space. It was interesting. I was from a small southern town. I was used to wearing camo, hunting, fishing and shooting so it was nice to have Bishop hunting and going to the gun range with me. Bishop was from old money and he liked using that money and the influence it brought forward. Therestaurant and jazz concert were both nice and things I’d never thought about trying but genuinely enjoyed. A part of me wasn’t sure if it was because it was nice or if it was just because I was spending time with Bishop.
We heard each other’s voice every day after our third date. Then, the Facetimes had started. They were usually late at night while I was in my office. I usually let Bishop decide when he wanted to indulge but the few times I’d called he hadn’t been home. That was another reason I was sure he didn’t just deal art. That raised red flags in my head because if he had to lie about where his family’s money came from it probably wasn’t somewhere respectable. I couldn’t find a single reason to care though.
We’d kissed every time we’d seen each other after the first time and I expected for things to mellow out but they never did. Maybe it was because we knew our kisses were limited no matter how much we liked each other or wanted there to be a chance at more or maybe it was just because I liked him that much. I wasn’t sure and I wasn’t going to overthink it.
I paused and tilted my head to the side when I heard banging at my front door. I spit into my sink and tossed my toothbrush into the holder. Then, I wiped down my mouth, spun around and halfway jogged to my front door.
“Who is it?” I paused and waited. Nothing. I looked out of my peep hole. “Who is it?” I repeated.
Nothing.
I reached for my gun and clicked the safety off as I plucked it from where it was tucked into the back of my pants. Then, I threw my door open and cursed while Nadira and some woman threw her hands up.
“Nadira?!” I stared at my sister for a moment before everything clicked. I put my safety back on and tossed the gun onthe little table by the door. Then, I yanked my sister into me and hugged her. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting my favorite baby brother of course.”
“You’re only baby brother.” I scoffed and squeezed my arms around her. “And you are?” I offered a hand to the woman standing beside her.
“This is Jhene. We uh, we met at work and we took the drive out here to look at cars and stuff for her and I told her I had an amazing older brother who could maybe come with us and check them out? She’s willing to pay you in baked goods and a really nice dinner?”
“Or just cash,” Jhene added.
“A really nice dinner?” I repeated and looked at Nadira who smiled and blinked at me with fake innocence etched into her expression. “Come on in and let me get dressed.” I gestured for them to enter and locked the door behind them. “Come here. Let me holla at you.” I nudged my head toward the hallway and Nadira nodded.
“Okay.”
“You can sit anywhere you want, Jhene. Feel free to check the fridge and help yourself to anything in it.” I gave her a small smile then led my sister back to my bedroom. “What are you doing, Nadira?” I asked as soon as I felt like we were out of earshot.
“Visiting?”
I stared at her and she stared back. I shook my head while I thought carefully about what I wanted to say. I yanked open my closet, walked inside, grabbed a shirt and threw it on.
“You’re mad?” Nadira walked over and leaned against the doorframe.
“I had plans for the day and they didn’t include checking out a car for a woman you’re trying to hook me up with when I made it clear I didn’t need or want to be set up in the first place.”
“Who said anything about setting you up?”
“Nadira,” I hissed her name.
“Okay. Maybe I’m trying to set you up a little bit,” she admitted.
“Did I ask to be set up?”
