“Can I come in?”
“Yeah, come in, baby.”
The door opened and there he was—my whole reason for breathing. His face still showed those fading bruises, ugly reminders of what happened when I couldn’t protect him. Buthis smile was real. Bright. The first genuine smile I’d seen from him in weeks.
He leaned against the doorframe, taking me in with those observant eyes that missed nothing.
“You look really nice,” he said softly.
Something in his tone made my chest tighten. There was approval there. Hope. Like he wanted this for me.
“Thank you, baby.”
“So, what time does he get here?” He couldn’t hide his excitement. His whole body practically vibrated with it. It made me uncomfortable. I didn’t want him getting too close to someone who might not be in his life for long.
“Yeah. Should be here in about thirty minutes.” I reached for my lipstick—a deep berry color I’d impulse-bought two years ago when I still believed I might have a life beyond work and survival. I’d worn it exactly twice.
Tonight would be the third.
“I can’t wait for him to teach me boxing!” Yusef pushed off the doorframe, his energy shifting into something almost manic. “When do you think we can start? Tomorrow? This weekend? I’ve been watching videos online about footwork and?—”
“Yu.”I cut him off gently, meeting his eyes in the mirror. “I know I said yes, but I’m still on the fence.”
His face fell like I’d physically struck him. “What? But you said?—”
“I need more time.” I applied the lipstick slowly, giving myself time to find the right words. “I’m still not sure about him.”
“Why not?” Frustration bled into his voice. “He’s been nothing but good to us. He brought groceries when we needed them. He saved you at the farmers market. He got you that hugecatering job.” Yusef crossed his arms, looking older than twelve. “And he’s the only person who’s offered to teach me how to protect myself. I like him, a lot.”
God, he was right. I knew he was right. But knowing didn’t make the fear go away.
“I know it does, baby. I just…” I pressed my lips together, blotting the color. Stalling. “I don’t even know why I agreed to this dinner.”
“Because you like him.” Yusef said it like it was the simplest truth in the world. No judgment. Just fact.
“I don’t—” I started to protest, but the look he gave me stopped the words in my throat.
“Yeah, come on. You think I don’t notice? You’ve been checking your phone all day. You changed clothes like five times. You’re wearing lipstick.” He gestured at me. “You never wear lipstick.”
Damn. When did he get so observant? So perceptive?
“That doesn’t mean anything,” I said, but even I could hear how weak it sounded. “I’m just being polite. Professional. He helped me out with a business opportunity. This is me saying thank you. That’s all.”
“If you say so.” But his small smile said he knew better.
I turned on my vanity stool to face him directly. “Yu, listen to me. I know you like Prime. I know you’re excited about the boxing lessons. But I need to be careful. We need to be careful. We can’t just let people into our lives without?—”
“Without what? Without knowing if they’re safe?” His voice dropped lower. “Nobody’s completely safe. But Prime… he’s different. I can feel it. Can’t you?”
Yes. God, yes, I could feel it. That was the problem.
I could feel it in the way my body responded when he was near—pulse racing, skin tingling, every nerve ending comingalive like I’d been sleepwalking through my life and he was the alarm clock.
I could feel it in the way he looked at me—not like I was a conquest or a challenge, but like I was something precious. Something worth protecting. Worth knowing.
I could feel it in the groceries he left without asking for thanks. In the way he’s been pressing to teach Yusef to box without making him feel weak. In how he’d thrown his body over mine when that car came barreling through the market without a second’s hesitation.
I felt it in my bones, in my blood, in places I’d kept locked down so long I’d forgotten they existed.
