"Nah, this is for me. You can take the bed."
"No, Crew, you don't have to give me your bed. It's okay. I can sleep out here."
He frowned as if I’d disgusted him.
"No. You can take the bed. This couch ain't built for sleeping, and tonight I feel like you need some good rest. But don't worry, my bed is clean. I have a maid who comes through every day. Plus, I don’t bring bitches in my house."
"So, am I the first girl who has slept in your bed?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“For real?”
"Yes, really. I'm private, and I'm sure you know why.”
"Yeah, I do, and I get that," I replied, nodding my head.
"But if you are so private, why do you have me here?" I asked, and he reached up and pinched my cheek softly.
"Because you are different. You not a threat to me at all." He glanced away and laughed at the thought.
I crossed my arms. "You trying to call me weak or something?"
"I'm calling you a good person," he said, voice low and calm.
"You are on the better side of shit. Some hoes I fuck with I know would steal my chain off my neck if I passed out, but women like you don't have to be grimy to have shit. You go out and get your own. You are the only type of woman that I would trust in my house, to be honest. Now go in there and get yourself some sleep. You can light the candle next to the bed, too, if you need. The wax inside helps you sleep.” Crew opened up the comforter in his arms and spread it across the couch. He was lying down within seconds, and I walked back into his room.
It felt good that Crew trusted me, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I trust him too. Any man who would do what he did for me tonight deserves my loyalty. I’m sure a man like Marcus would’ve turned me in and been collecting brownie points for my arrest by now.
10:00 am
I woke up yawning and stretching, barely able to tell it was morning with the blackout curtains that Crew had draped over his window. I instantly started thinking about last night's events, but then the time I spent with Crew in his little room made me feel a sense of peace about everything. I will be okay, and I will get past all of this.
I was lying on my back, peacefully, until I heard someone outside yelling, in Spanish, cursing someone out. I laughed to myself at her calling him a sloppy fat bum in her native language. I knew a little Spanish because my mama made us listen to tapes of her learning it all day. She was always so adamant about being bilingual because she said those jobs paid the most. She may have never made it past the first ten lessons or so, but I continued on learning what I could, and when I could, because I knew that being Bilingual could help me in the field, I’m in today. I wanted to represent all races in New York without having to hire an interpreter. Now that I’m about to be on my own with Ramos dropping me like a hot pan, I have to start from scratch on my clientele. I wouldn’t just be handed a big case like Hov’s as I did at my last firm. I’ll have to work my ass off, which I know I can do. I didn’t make it this far to fail. One door closing means another door can open.
I went into the restroom because my bladder felt full as hell. The light came on, bouncing off the marble sink and chrome fixtures. Everything in here smelled like a mix of eucalyptus and something clean and masculine, which I’ve noticed was Crew’s scent. Even his pillows and bedding smelled like him.
After I finished using the restroom, I went to wash my hands and noticed that Crew had snuck in past me last night and looked out for my morning hygiene routine. On the counter, laid out was a new toothbrush still in the wrapper and a fresh tube of toothpaste with a sleek black label that I have never seen before. This surely was not one from the corner store because just from the packaging, it looked expensive.
I tore open the package, layered a strip of toothpaste on my brush, stuck it in my mouth, and instantly felt a cooling tingle all down my throat. I grabbed my phone and quickly took a picture of the brand because it was now my favorite.
When I came out of the room, I called out for Crew.
"Crew?"
But there was no answer.
I looked around the living room, and the couch was empty, the TV was off, and the cover he slept under must've been folded and put away because the sofa looked like it hadn't been touched. I walked through his apartment which was quiet enough to hear the wood creak under my feet, until I made my way into the kitchen and caught sight of a pizza box sitting on the counter, and my car keys with the Louis Vuitton keychain lying right beside.
"Pizza for breakfast and pancakes for dinner," I muttered, shaking my head. “This boy is too much.”
I caught myself giggling, as if Crew and I were old friends. I guess we were something now that we shared such a deep, dark secret together.
I sat down on the wooden bar stool and opened the pizza box that was still warm, so Crew must've left not too long ago.That’s when I noticed under my key, there was a handwritten note on a Marriott Hotel sticky note.
Crew:Help yourself to the pizza and whatever else, except my last bag of Doritos. If you need anything from me, here's my number. I'm in the streets for now.
I read, laughing, hearing everything in his voice, and then I saved his number, smiling as if he were here. I can't even believe Crew would leave me here alone, even without knowing me like that. But who am I kidding? He probably has four cameras pointed at me right now, so I am really not as alone as I thought.
