Stevie shrugged. “I guess. How’s the party planning going? That’s what I was referring to before you had a fit a minute ago.”
“It’s going. The original coordinator took care of a lot. I’m just adding the finishing touches and making sure everything is finalized.”
The infectious giggles from my nieces and nephews entered the house before they did. I had been an auntie for a long time since Shiloh had his first kid as a teen. Still, I never took the role for granted. I spent as much time as I could with each of them, and nearly all of the gifts under my tree had their names on them.
“Sounds like the fellas and the kids are back,” Stevie announced, standing to her feet.
As she walked to the front door, I jogged to the bathroom upstairs. I hadn’t seen Loso since we spent time together, and apart of me felt like I needed to prepare to see him. Once I was behind the bathroom door, a whistled exhale caved in my chest. Loso called a few times sincethatnight, but I didn’t pick up the phone. Instead, I sent him a text he didn’t respond to.
My heated skin led me to the sink. Cool water from the faucet chilled my face, but the deeper parts of me were set ablaze. For a week, I tried to block out what I did, hoping I could forget my bold move. Then, I would have a flashback of Loso sucking on my tongue, and I knew there was nowhere I could hide.
Knock. Knock.
My eyes raced back and forth across the wall-to-wall mirror. “I’m in here.”
“Open the door, Essen.”
“Fuck.” I mouthed the word. “Hm. No. I’m using the bathroom.”
“If you don’t open up, I’m going to take the doorknob off.”
I rushed to the other side of the room then pressed my palms against the door. “Why would you do that?”
“Because that’s the only way you’ll talk to me. I’m only going to say it one more time.”
The rebel in me dared to test the wild man, but being around Loso for years, I knew I would be setting myself up for failure. With shaky hands, I twisted the lock then stepped back. The instant my back touched the sink, Loso was in the bathroom. A semblance of a smile twerked his lips when the door shut behind him.
“Where have you been, Essen?”
“Around.”
A one-note laugh plunged to his feet. “I called you.”
“I know.”
“You not handling the party anymore?”
“Of course. I’ve sent you emails.”
“And I called you,” he repeated. “You ashamed to talk to me now?”
“Why would I be?”
He grinned. “You want me to say what you did?”
“Say it. I’m grown.”
Fire erupted behind his menacing stare as he hunted me without moving a muscle. He rested his back against the door, giving me the chance to admire his fit. His smoked gray cardigan matched his beanie and corduroys, and the Jordans on his feet were classics. Even though his teeth were covered in gold, diamonds flooded the chest length chains around his neck.
“You’re not supposed to be in here.” My low tone competed with the Mariah Carey single playing downstairs.
“Who said I can’t be in here, Essen?”
“Ugh. Don’t be childish.”
In a blink of an eye, Loso was on my side of the bathroom. I didn’t have the chance to challenge him since he planted himself behind me. The fear of the unknown kept my eyes shut, yet the sensation of his hand running up my ribs pried them open.
“Look at you. You can barely look at me. I don’t think I’m the childish one.”
