I giggled. “Get out of here.”
“I’m serious. You gotta notice these things. The way a man pays attention to you is important. Men study what interests them. He was studying you.”
“Bright’s my friend. We hung out a lot while I was in Jackson Falls. He encouraged me to get back into running. The two of us went running almost every morning I was there. We even did a 5k together.”
He chuckled. “You don’t say.”
“Daddy.” I hit him lightly on the arm. “Stop it. He’s my friend. He looks out for me. Makes sure I’m good.”
“Keep talking. You’re burying yourself deeper and deeper.”
I laughed aloud. “Daddy?—”
“Stop calling my name. You’re telling me about a friendship you have with this young buck. Sometimes the best relationships are built on friendship. But friendship sure ain’t the vibe I’m picking up from the young buck.”
The next morning,I picked Bright up from Collins’s house early.
“Good morning,” he said as he slid into my truck. It felt good to be behind the wheel of my own vehicle again after spending almost eight weeks without it. “You good?”
Last night, my mom and Bayliss had taken all of us to an entertainment complex where we bowled, threw axes, drove go-karts, ate, and drank. It took my mind off of everything that happened earlier in the day. But at night when I was all alone, before I was able to drift off to sleep every thought, every emotion, and every feeling came racing back.
“It’s a lot. But even with it being a lot, I still feel like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”
He leaned over and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “It’s gonna take a minute to process everything. Give yourself some time.”
My gaze fell on him momentarily before I shifted gears and pulled away from the curb. “Thanks for hanging out with me.”
“Why wouldn’t I hang out with you? You’re about to give me the insider’s guided tour of Chicago.”
I chuckled. “I am. I have to make a stop first, though.”
When we got downtown, I pulled into an overpriced parking lot. From there, Bright and I walked to 789 Creek Street where the main offices of Chicago Transit Works were located. Bright didn’t say a word. He didn’t ask any questions or talk at all. Hefollowed me into the elevator and the two of us rode with the other occupants to the floor where HR was housed.
“Resignation letter,” I told him, holding up the envelope as we stood outside of the HR office.
Bright’s eyes went wide. “You’re quitting your job, Bae-Bae?”
I shrugged nonchalantly even though my stomach was churning inside me. “I can’t work it from Jackson Falls.”
His lips curved into the biggest smile. “Yeah.” He nodded, still smiling.
After I handed off my letter of resignation to the head of HR, it was too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. Instead I gave Bright a driving tour of downtown. I showed him the Buckingham Fountain, the Bean, the gorgeous view of Lake Michigan from Lake Shore Drive. I showed him Oak Street Beach and the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Finally, both of our stomachs growled. I took him to lunch at theMocha Café.
“Chicago is a cool city,” Bright said as both of us reached for the appetizer we were sharing, oxtail rillettes. It was slow-cooked shredded oxtails served on buttery points of toast.
“We like it.”
“There’s a vibe. Like a real likable vibe. The only cities to ever move me in the past have been D.C. and New Orleans. But Chicago is definitely on the list now.” He paused. “And you were right about the food. Everything I’ve eaten so far has been fye as hell.”
“Has anybody ever told you that you’re easy to be with?”
“Nah,” he said with a chuckle.
“You’re easy to be with.”
He winked at me, and even though I didn’t want to, I blushed.
