“Why you think I came all this way, baby?”
“I don’t know,” I said, voice softer than I meant it to be. “Because it’s Christmas?”
Woods’ eyes narrowed. “You think this was just some holiday dick drop-off?”
“I didn’t say that.”
He sat up a little, keeping me on his lap like he was daring me to move. “Let’s stop playin’. You been duckin’ my calls, barely textin’ back, actin’ like we didn’t just spend a whole weekend up under each other a few weeks ago. You think I don’t feel that shift? I know your silence better than your words, Autumn.”
I swallowed.Hard.Because he wasn’t wrong. And I hated that. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like that,” I said finally. “It wasn’t about you. I’ve just… been in my head. A lot.”
“Is it another nigga?”he asked, calm but clipped. “You got somebody out here now?”
“What? No! Woods, no… it’s nothing like that,” I said quickly, eyes wide.
“You sick? Somethin’ goin’ on wit’ your pops?”
I shook my head. “No. It’s not that either.”
“Then what is it?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I slid off his lap, my body still humming. I couldn’t look at him. Not right now. Not with his hands still warm from holding me like I meant everything to him. Not when I knew I was keeping something this big from him.
My bare feet padded across the carpet as I made my way toward the bathroom. My thighs still slick from what we just shared, my heart beating too loud in my chest. I needed to breathe. Pee. Wash him off me before I said too much.
“Where you goin’, Autumn?” Woods asked, voice tighter now.
“Bathroom,” I muttered, eyes locked on the door ahead.
He stood up and I could feel the heat of his stare. “That’s it?” he said. “You just gon’ slide off my lap, hit the bathroom, and act like none of the shit I’m tryna figure out matters?”
I paused at the door. “Quamaine, I’m not trying to have this conversation right now. Please.”
“Nah, fuck that,” he snapped. “You been duckin’ a nigga. Now I’m here in your face and you still tryna sidestep it?”
“I just need a minute,” I said, turning halfway toward him, arms crossed over my chest. “Damn, can I breathe?”
He stepped closer. “You got all the minutes in the world and you still ain’t said shit.”
I felt my jaw tighten. “I didn’t ask you to come here.”
His eyebrows shot up, like my words gut-punched him. “Oh, that’s what we're on now?” I hated how his voice dropped when he was pissed.
“I’m just… not ready,” I said, barely above a whisper.
“Not ready?” he repeated, almost laughing but not out of humor. “Autumn, we ain’t new. This ain’t no outta the blue type shit. We grown as fuck, and whatever you carryin’, you carryin’ it alone, and that’s what got me tight.”
I flinched. The wordcarryinghit different. “I’m not doing this right now,” I said, voice breaking. I turned to push open the bathroom door, and Woods was right behind me.
“You're not ‘bout to just walk off on me again. You ain’t doin’ that.”
“Woods, please.” I backed up until I hit the edge of the sink, breath uneven. “I said I needed a minute.”
“And I said I’m not lettin’ this shit go.” His voice was low, steady, too damn calm for how heated he was. “You’re lyin’,” he cut in, stepping closer. “Your energy is off. Your eyes keep runnin’ from mine. Your whole damn body is tellin’ on you, and you know it.”
“Can you just stop?”
“You owe me the truth.”
