“In a few weeks.”
“Big grand gesture?”
“Jess will fuck around and say no if I didn’t.”
“As long as you know.” I held out my hand to dap him up. “Well, not that you asked, but you have my blessing. Welcome to the family.”
“Appreciate it, bro.”
We both exhaled and just stood there for a minute, letting the news he’d just shared settle. They would soon move out, and the house would be mine to do with as I pleased. I didn’t know how to feel about that just yet. I bought this house for Jess. I never intended to live here.
“Now, go get that woman to her show. And don’t forget them weird ass flowers.”
“Yeah, Unc, don’t forget the flowers.” Zy snickered.
I grabbed my keys off the counter, smirking. “I’ll think about the flowers.”
“Uh-huh.” Ron sucked his teeth. “Don’t be late to your date, lover boy.”
I shook my head as I headed out the door, my phone in hand, Googling the nearby florists.
My nerves were bad.The type of bad that had me sitting by my front door, staring at the doorknob like I didn’t just hear the knock. It wasn’t my first art show, wasn’t even my tenth, but I couldn’t seem to calm myself down.
“Noa!” Quade called through the door, making me take a deep breath. I opened the door slowly, trying my best to catch my breath.
“I thought you’d ditched me and took a rideshare,” Quade teased, and my eyes immediately took him in. Damn. He had the nerve to show up here looking like he’d just walked out of aGQmagazine. My mouth watered, and my thighs were hot.
“Hey,” I said softly, my hands curled around the rims of my wheels. He gave me that slow once over and slowly licked his lips before meeting my eyes.
“You look beautiful.”
“You clean up pretty nice yourself,” I replied as I wheeled out the way to let him step inside.
“You ready?”
I nodded. “As I’ll ever be.”
He stepped past me and, without needing instructions, lifted the art pieces that were propped by the door. I watched as he handled them with careful, steady hands, all the way down to his car and placed them across the back seat. I made my way out the front door, locking it behind me, and made my way down the ramp. He met me there quickly, snatching the car door open before I could touch the doorknob.
“Don’t even play like that,” he said. I nodded again, and he helped me into the front seat of his car like it was second nature. There was no awkward fumbling, no exaggerated care, just respect and quiet attention. I settled into the passenger seat, still adjusting the belt, when I heard the trunk open and shut.
“You put my chair in the back?”
He grinned as he slid into the driver’s seat. “Of course.”
My eyes bounced around the interior of his car. It was clean leather with red trim. I didn’t expect him to be driving the Northside truck, but a bright red Hellcat; I didn’t expect that.
“This is flashy.”
“That a problem?” He smirked, and I shook my head. I hoped that didn’t offend him.
“Nah, it’s just not what I pictured you driving. That’s all.”
“Bought it before my life crashed. It was my dream car. Been thinking about trading it in.”
“It’s nice. I like it.” I sat back in the passenger seat as he pulled away from the curb. Once we were on the road, he reached behind his seat and handed me something.
“These are for you.”
