“Fuck,” I whispered, emptying the contents into the sink. I opted for ice-cold lemonade with a splash of cranberry juice instead. My phone then began to ring on the counter.
I groaned, closed my eyes for two seconds, and answered. I’d been dodging her calls and texts, too. I set my glass down and answered the call on speaker. “Hey.” She didn’t even let me breathe.
“Girl, don’t ‘hey’ me. Where the hell you been?” Taj demanded. “I know you not avoidin’ me! My cousin got you gone, huh? You ain’t slick!”
I closed my eyes. “Taj…”
“Aht aht! I minded my business long enough. What’s up?”
I sighed and dropped onto the arm of the couch. “I’ve just got a lot going on. We’ll catch up after the holidays. Promise.”
Her voice softened for a second. “Mmhmm. Anyway, I’m also callin’ for another reason.”
I straightened a little. “What’s up?”
“Oh, nothin’ major,” she said, then blew air dramatically into the receiver. “Just wanted to let you know your girl done fucked up. Remember when I was tellin’ you about Andru? Bitch, tell me why he’s fuckin’ married! I knew that dick hit different!”
My mouth fell open. “Taj… what? Are you serious right now?”
“Oh, dead serious. Found out after the fact, of course. Typical me. But listen… his wife is crazy, so if I go missin’, check the Arbor Way River. And if I get locked up for killin’ her first, send the bail money. Anyway, back to you.”
Before I could respond, my doorbell rang. My heart jumped straight into my throat. “Taj, I gotta call you back.”
“Bitch—”
I swallowed. “I’ll call you back,” I whispered, hanging up quickly. I tossed the phone aside and took a deep breath. My nerves were acting up so badly that I could hear my own pulse. I walked in a slow circle. “Okay,” I muttered to myself. “Be normal. This man doesn’t know anything. Just be normal. Tell him when the time is right.”
The doorbell rang again and longer this time. I forced a breath out and headed toward the intercom panel by the door. My hands were shaking, but I pressed the button anyway. The camera feed blinked on, and there he was.
Woods stood under the entry light in a black coat, snow dusted across the shoulders, jawline sharp, eyes locked straight into the camera like he could see through the screen. And in his hand was a bouquet of deep red roses mixed with white winter lilies. He looked good in a way that made my knees feel unreliable.
His voice came through the speaker, smooth and deep. “Open up, gorgeous. A nigga ain’t used to this cold.”
I hit the buzzer before my brain could talk me out of it. Because ready or not… he was here.
T h ee l e v a t o rw a smoving slow as hell, but I wasn’t tripping. I wasn’t in a rush no more. I’d waited damn near a month for this—for her. Three weeks and some change since I touched Autumn. Almost a month since she laid on my chest and softened a nigga up. Once in front of her door, I adjusted the flowers in my hand and knocked once. After a few moments, the door cracked open, and there she was.
Autumn stood there in this soft-ass lounge set looking sexy as fuck. Skin smooth, hair up, and that scent? Vanilla and something sweet that had me tight in the chest. She smelled like the kind of peace a nigga didn’t know he needed until it was gone. Her eyes came up to mine, lips parted, but she didn’t say shit.
I stepped in anyway. I wasn’t waiting for no invite. I gripped her waist with one hand and pulled her into me. “Come here.”
Her breath caught like I hit a nerve. She pressed a hand against my chest, like she needed to steady herself, then she gave in and melted against me. “Hey,” she whispered, her breath warm against my neck.
“I fuckin’ missed you, baby.” I didn’t mean for it to come out so raw, but fuck it. Her arms came up around my shoulders, slow at first, then firm like her body knew what her mouth hadn’t said yet. We kissed like we’d been hungry for it before I pulled back, just enough to look at her. “I brought you these, gorgeous.” I held the flowers out.
She took them slowly, eyes dropping to the bouquet like it was easier to focus on than me. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.”
I gave her a slight nod and stepped fully inside. She closed the door behind me, locking it without saying a word. Autumn’s apartment was cute. Girly but grown woman vibes at the same time. Christmas tree up with the ornaments all neat and shit like she took her time. Cinnamon and pine in the air.
“Smells good in here.”
She cleared her throat. “It’s just the candle.”
“Mmm.” My eyes stayed on her as I leaned up against the island in the kitchen. “You look good.”
Her mouth twitched, as if she wanted to smile but didn’t. “You too.”
“I mean it.”
