“You done lost yo’ mind. Anybody who thinks they’re going to be in my sister’s face has to check in with me. Period. If he’s on the up and up, there shouldn’t be a reason to hide the bum.”
A peg of remorse made my gut churn. All the years we spent committing sins together then righting our wrongs, I felt disloyal for keeping the truth from him. It had only been a few days since I built gingerbread trap houses with Essen, but it still felt too long to keep Shiloh in the blind.
“Hey, Shiloh. I want to talk to you about?—”
“Shiloh! Come here for a second, my love!”
Stevie called for her husband, halting my confession.
Shiloh gripped my shoulder. “Hold that thought, Los. I’ll be right back.”
“Bet. Take this check to Stevie since you’re going over there.”
Once I was alone, I searched for Essen. She was no longer helping Stevie, and I didn’t see her at any station. Thirty minutes went by of me wandering around the event, speaking to members of S.O.E and our guests, but after growing restless, I started to crave the sight of Essen. Assuming she went inside, I wandered through the nearest rear door of the building, then slowly roamed down a carpeted hallway. Essen’s voice was faint, yet the more steps I took, the more I recognized her discomfort. The second I bent the corner, Essen’s professor sped past me. He didn’t look my way, but I studied the four-eyed creep. His puffed cheeks were red, and his steps were heavy.
“Loso!” Essen called my name. “What are you doing back here?”
“I should ask you the same thing. Why the fuck did you invite that weirdo up here? Did you think I was playing about what I said to you last week?”
She grinned. “No. The roses and candy I received every day this week proved that. I didn’t invite him anywhere. Caleb is here with his . . . friends. He didn’t come to see me.”
I scoffed. “You sound sad about it.”
“It’s not that. The conversation with Caleb just reminded me why I haven’t accepted his calls. I’m just afraid that will be the case with us.”
“Your little chocolate ass deserves to be shown off, but don’t act like telling your brother will be the easiest thing in the world.”
“I’m not naïve, Loso. I don’t want to start a war.”
My lips twisted to the side. “Sounds like you’re trying to keep me tucked away.”
“It’s not that, and I’m not afraid to deal with the aftermath. I just need to know my sacrifices won’t be in vain.” She worried unnecessarily. “The last man I let into my world didn’t want more than to have me in his bed. What do you want, Loso?”
“Everything,” I replied without hesitation.
She nodded. “We’ll see.”
For a few hours, I accepted the distance Essen kept between us. I purposely worked at a different booth when she handled toys, and I didn’t bother to mumble a word when we ended up next to each other in the food line. However, I couldn’t stay away when I saw her prepare to shoot metal targets in a field with a small group. Her back was to me, so I couldn’t see her eyes, but I detected her frustration when she struggled to load the shotgun.
“Can I help you with that?” I asked when I approached her.
“Nope. I got it. You better back up before someone sees us together.”
A one-note chuckle caved in my chest. “Stop being a baby and let me help you.”
She combed a piece of hair behind her ear as her eyes piloted to her golf sneakers.
“I know yo’ ass ain’t actin’ shy now,” I teased her. “Let me show you how to handle this burner.”
I eased behind Essen then placed my hand on top of hers. Doused in chocolate, Essen’s skin was as soft as it looked, and her hair smelled like sweet cinnamon.
“The trick to handling a burner this size is knowing how to position it.” I angled the tail of the shotgun toward her waist. “See how much more comfortable that feels.”
She nodded, and I could feel her soften in my hold when I guided her finger to the trigger.
“You can’t get loose when you’re about to let off bullets. Tighten up.”
I stepped back, giving Essen room to shoot without me breathing down her neck. Out the corner of my eye, I spotted someone walk up, but I didn’t redirect my focus. I studied the steel, white plate that ascended into the air, escaping the bullet Essen let off.
