All of it.
“This is perfect, love. Is Isaiah Falls really coming?”
He shot me a look. “When did I start lying to you?”
“Never.”
I sank into the seat. He came right to my side, thigh to thigh, claiming his space next to me.
“And I’m not about to start,” he said. “He was at the game. I asked him to slide through and perform. You must be one of God’s favorites, Lo. You know that?”
Before I could respond, a server appeared setting down wings, lumpia-style egg rolls, mac bites, truffle fries, and cocktails. His was neat. Mine was fruity and dangerously smooth.
He waited until the door closed again, then looked at me.
“Thank you for coming tonight,” he said finally. It was quiet but from the heart. My showing up meant a lot to him.
“I told you I would.”
“I know.” He nodded once, eyes dropping to my necklace before coming back to my face. “You don’t know how much that meant. I enjoyed seeing you while I was playing. I don’t know, having you in my life just feels like I won in life.”
“I do,” I said. “Because it meant the same thing to me.”
He studied me for a moment. Then he leaned back against the booth, arm draped behind my shoulders, pulling me close.
“Shit is so easy with you. I love that.”
His chin nuzzled my neck before he placing soft kisses until he made it to my jaw.
The jazz band started downstairs and performed 'My Funny Valentine'by Chaka Khan. He slid my hand into his, thumb rubbing the back of my fingers before lifting it and kissing my knuckles.
“We gotta talk about something, though,” he said.
I turned a little, angling my body toward him. “What’s up?”
He hesitated.
“I’ve been thinking about us. About where this is going. About how good it feels when you’re with me.”
His eyes roamed over my face.
“And I keep coming back to the same thought.”
“Which is?”
“I want you with me,” he said. “Not sometimes. Not when you’re off work. Not when we both free. I want you with me. In my space. In my bed. In my house. Waking up next to me. Coming home to me. I’m not trying to rush you, but I’m not interested in playing the distance game forever.”
I had felt the same thing simmering in my own mind, but neither of us had put it into the air yet. Since the night of the club, I hadn’t even been home.
“You want me to move in?” I asked, voice steady.
“Eventually, yeah.”
He didn’t blink or look away.
“I’m not saying tomorrow, unless you are.”
I swallowed and whispered against his lips, “I hear you.”
