“No, you wouldn’t have.” Imani smiles. “You’re too nice for that.”
“Maybe.” He looks at me then, really looks, and his expression changes. Acceptance, maybe. Or acknowledgment. “Take care of her, Ironwood. She’s one of the good ones.”
“I know.” The gruffness surprises even me. “I will.”
Another awkward pause. Then Derrick pushes off from his desk and extends his hand toward me.
I stare at it for a second. Then I step forward and pull him into a hug instead.
Not a gentle hug. A real one. The kind that knocks the air out of his lungs and makes his bones creak.
“Thank you,” I say quietly. “For sending her to me.”
He wheezes slightly. “You’re welcome. Please let go.”
I release him, and he staggers back, rubbing his ribs. Imani is laughing, her whole face lit up with amusement, and her pleasure floods through me. She’s happy. Happy that I made the effort, that I didn’t let jealousy ruin this.
“Was that necessary?” Derrick asks, still rubbing his side.
“Yes.”
“Fair enough.” He shakes his head, almost smiling. “Friends?”
“Friends.” I extend my hand this time, and we shake properly. “But if you ever look at her the way you did when we walked in, I’ll rip your arms off.”
“Tolin,” Imani warns.
“Just being clear.”
Derrick laughs, and it’s genuine this time. “Understood. Loud and clear.”
A voice from the doorway makes all of us turn.
“Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up.”
Keisha is leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, a smile on her face that doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s dressed in Shadow Suds uniform, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, her expression sharp and assessing.
“Keisha.” Imani’s voice is carefully neutral.
“We thought you died up on that mountain.” Keishapushes off from the doorframe and saunters into the office, her eyes raking over Imani. “But here you are. In one piece. More or less.”
I feel Imani tense beside me, but her expression doesn’t change.
“I’m fine. Thanks for your concern.”
“Oh, I wasn’t concerned.” Keisha’s smile sharpens. “Just curious. You’ve been gone for what, two weeks? No call, no text. Very professional.”
“I was dealing with some things.”
“I can see that.” Keisha’s eyes drop to the mark on Imani’s neck, then travel up to me. She gives me a slow once-over, her expression somewhere between impressed and dismissive. “So this is him. The bear who makes everyone cry.”
I say nothing. Just stare at her.
She turns back to Imani, undeterred. “I have to say, Imani, I’m impressed. You went up there to scrub toilets and came back with a whole shifter.” She tilts her head. “Though I can’t say I’m surprised. You always were good at... landing on your feet.”
The implication is clear. I feel my bear rising, wanting to put this woman in her place.
But Imani squeezes my hand, and her confidence steadies me. She’s got this.
