“Mm-hmm. That’s why you saved her life. That’s why you almost beat a drunk man to death in front of half of DC. That’s why you couldn’t take your eyes off her even after I called you away.”
I didn’t respond.
“What’s her name again? Zahara?”
“Yeah.”
“Pretty girl. I could feel it on her. Strength. But also fear. She’s running from something.”
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “What makes you say that?”
“I been around long enough to recognize it. The way she tensed up when you got close. The way she pulled away even though she didn’t want to. That girl’s got secrets, baby. Heavy ones.”
“I know.”
“And you still want her anyway.”
It wasn’t a question.
“I don’t want to want her,” I admitted. “She’s complicated. Got a kid. Got problems I don’t understand yet. And I’m not exactly relationship material.”
“Who told you that? Your mama?” Grandma Rita sucked her teeth. “Don’t let Vivica’s poison make you think you’re not worthy of love. You hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I could feel that girl look at you like you hung the moon, even while she was trying to pretend she didn’t. And you lookedat her like she was the only person in that whole market. That’s rare, baby. Don’t run from it just because it scares you.”
I pulled up to her house, killing the engine. “What if I hurt her? What if I’m too much like?—”
“Like who? Your father? Your mother? Rashid?” She turned toward me, her cloudy eyes somehow still seeing right through me. “You are your own man, Prentice. You choose who you become. Not them. You.”
I helped her out of the car and walked her to the door.
“Think about what I said,” she told me, kissing my cheek. “And don’t wait too long. Life’s too short, and I’m trying to get some more great-grandbabies before I die.”
“You’re not dying.”
“We’re all dying, baby. Some of us just faster than others. Now go on. I know you got somewhere to be.”
She was right. I had plans to meet Quest at the pool spot. But as I drove away, all I could think about was Zahara.
The way she’d looked at Yusef when he came running up. The pride in her eyes when people were buying her rolls. The terror when that car came barreling through. The softness of her body beneath mine.
I needed to get my head straight. Needed to focus on business. On family. On anything other than a woman with secrets and a kid who reminded me too much of myself.
But I couldn’t.
The billiards place was upscale—darkwood, leather seats, a bar that served scotch older than most people. The kind of spot where powerful men made deals over expensive liquor and felt good about themselves.
Quest was already there, shooting pool by himself in one of the private rooms. He looked up when I walked in, nodding.
“Took you long enough.”
“Had to drop Grandma off.”
“How is she?”
“Getting phone numbers from old men at farmers markets.”
