“Good choice, baby.” I brush a kiss against her temple, earning me that adorable, flushed smile of hers.
“Guess I’m out of luck.” Dice straightens up, not missing the chance to add, “But if you ever change your mind . . .” He grins. “I’m gonna grab my boy here real quick.”
“No problem. It was nice seeing you again, Dice. I’ll be sure to come by for that crantini. With Chaz, of course.”
He gives her a friendly salute, but his jovial demeanor fades once we’re out of earshot. “Let’s talk in the back.”
“Alright.” I have a sense of where this is headed. I glance toward the counter. Jamar is filling up the hopper, and Lexie is loading sandwiches into the display case. Sunlight streams through the windows, catching subtle red undertones in her dark hair. She looks like she belongs here. I stare a moment longer before I grab a coffee for myself, and Dice follows me into the back office.
He props a shoulder against the wall, but there’s nothing casual about what he says next. “What’s her plan?”
The question isn’t unexpected. I’ve heard it before—from Eva and Val, from Sophia. Hell, I’ve wanted to ask the very same thing more times than I can count. But I haven’t.
“She’ll get to that in her own time.”
“Clock’s ticking bro,” he says, tapping his watch. “Seems you better find out if she’s sticking around or not.”
My grip tightens on the mug. “Even if she goes back to Chicago, we can still see each other. Commute. Whatever.”
“Bro, who are you kidding? Even if she’s down for that, you’re not gonna be happy with that setup.”
“Maybe not. But it’s not just about me. Lexie’s had enough people in her life expecting things from her without giving adamn about what she wants. I’m not going to be another person putting pressure on her.”
Dice shakes his head, pushing off the wall. “I get all that sensitivity stuff, but it seems to me you both need to know where things stand.”
“She knows how much I care about her.”
“I’m sure she does. But that’s not the same as telling her you’re inlovewith her.” He claps a hand on my shoulder. “Look, C, I don’t know shit about relationships, but it stands to reason that if Lexie’s making a decision, she should have all the facts. That’s not pressure, bruh. That’s keeping it real.”
He squeezes my shoulder before stepping out, his words landing with a truth I can’t ignore.
I’ve been so focused on giving Lexie space—letting her find her own path and exploring physical intimacy without any pressure—that I might have held back too much.
The longer I sit with that thought, the clearer the answer becomes.
Tonight, I’m going to tell Lexie I love her. That I want more than just another week. That the simple ring I slipped on her finger isn’t just a trinket.
Tonight, I’m going to give her my heart in the only way I know how.
My friends have been blowing up my phone all morning. Once the display case is stocked and there are no customers in line, I find a quiet corner in the dining area to text them back. My gaze flicks toward the office door. Chaz hasn’t come out since Dice. He usually catches up on paperwork between rushes, and I didn’t want to disturb him. Although . . .
Nope, we’re at work. But now unleashed, I think I might be insatiable. Good thing Chaz is up for the job.
SISTAHS4EVER Group Chat
Smiling to myself, I scroll through the half-dozen messages from Jordyn and Dee, all demanding details from our first sleepover.
Lex: I CAME! Twice!!!
Jordyn: Holy shit! I’m crying.
Lex: I did too. And so did Chaz.
Dee: He sounds like such a sweetie. How do you feel?
Lex: Like I finally know what all the fuss is about. Like I want it 24/7.
Dee: LOL. When it’s good, that sounds about right.
