He shook his head. “I tried to handle every threat myself. Every problem. Every secret. I thought that’s what a man was supposed to do. But it just made her feel like I didn’t trust her. Now instead of being between her thighs, I’m with you two niggas frustrated, sad, and shit.”
The gym went quiet. Real quiet. Until Chance laughed loudly. Causing me and Malik to do the same.
Even though we were laughing, I heard the lesson I’d been running from.
Halo wasn’t Devyn. Halo wasn’t Cassie. Halo wasn’t a problem to manage, a danger to absorb, or something fragile to hide from the world. She was a woman who’d run into burning buildings for a living. She didn’t need a shield. She needed honesty, even when it was messy.
I wiped sweat from my brow. “Bruh, she just needs some time, if y’all don’t make it, ain’t no hope for the rest of us. Chance, what’s up with you?”
“Nah, don’t bring me into this. I’m fresh on some shit, and I don’t need no bad juju.”
“Wow. But you had so much to say about me.”
“Aye, what y’all doing on the twentieth of December?”
“Shit, I ain’t got nothing that I can think of. I might be on the road, but what’s up?”
“I’m branching out, doing my own thing with the physical therapy. My grand opening. I want y’all there. Especially you, D.”
“Damn, it’s like that?”
“Nah, you said you locking in on something serious, Chance.”
“But D, my girl got a friend for you. I want to introduce y’all.”
“Nah, nope. A bitch just tried to burn my crib down. I don’t need unvetted problems. Plus, I’m on something too. Just cooling right now. Shit, I guess that’s why my ass is here with y’all instead of handling business.”
Malik wiped sweat from his brow. “Don’t be bullshittin’. I think my girl’s friend is right up your alley. She ain’t for no bullshit.”
“Bro, I’ll be there, but I don’t know about linking with the friend. All friends ain’t created equal.”
“Just come meet her. Shit, look her up. She’s a firefighter, and her name is Halo, I’m telling you, she good people. I wouldn’t steer you wrong, bruh.”
I hid my expression as best I could, but Malik caught it. “What?”
“Nothing. What kinda name is Halo, bruh?” I joked, attempting to play it off. But inside my heart was beating fast as fuck. I’d come here to escape thoughts of her, and here she was again, consuming me. I wasn’t safe anywhere from her.
“Shit, your guess is as good as mine. Come through and trust ya boy.”
“Count me in, nigga. For real.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Also, Chance, get with Pops and set up a donation to go in with bruh.”
We shot around until I headed out.
By the time I made it to Ignite, the lunch rush was winding down. The flagship location was my favorite; we had an upscale steakhouse with that old-money feel. Dark wood, leather booths, and dim lighting made every table feel intimate. The smell hit me as soon as I walked through the door. Seared ribeye. Garlic butter. Fresh bread. Ma’s southern twist on a classic steakhouse, perfected by Omni’s hands.
“Well, well, well,” Omni called from behind the bar where she was doing inventory. “Look who finally decided to show his face.”
I slid onto a stool across from her. “You said come eat.”
“I did. Two days ago.” She didn’t even look up from her clipboard, but I could see the smirk tugging at her lips. “Figured you’d still be watching your firefighter from the shadows.”
“I’m done with that.”
“Mmhmm.” She set the clipboard down and finally looked at me. “I’ll get it.”
She disappeared into the back and returned a few minutes later with food that looked like it belonged in a magazine. Perfectly seared filet, loaded mashed potatoes, sautéed green beans with bacon, and a slice of Tuxedo cake because Ma wouldn’t let Omni open a restaurant without dessert. And we had the best in town.
I dug in, and for a minute neither of us said anything. Just me eating and her watching me with those knowing eyes she got from Ma.
