“Awwww, don’t seem so down, Daee!” Shad joked.
“I’m…I’m not. I’m excited to go home and…and be with family,” I stammered. It was the truth.
“I bet,” I heard him say. “Come lie down wit’ me fo a nap. A nigga sleepy.”
When we woke around four, we heard kids laughing outside. I’d hopped up and run to the window. The snow had stopped coming down and was melting. Kids were running around, throwing the snow at one another, and making snow angels. It was cute.
I could see my car, and my heart dipped.
There was a humming sound, and the electricity popped on.
“‘Bout time,” Shad mumbled, turning over onto his stomach. “I’m ready to get back in my bed. My back hurtin’ ‘n shit.”
Grabbing the remote, I powered the TV on to see if the roads were clear. I had to charge my phone before I do, just in case I had an emergency on the way home.
The snow is clearing, but the roads are icy. It is not safe to be on the roads just yet….
A wave of relief so potent it made my knees weak washed over me. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
“I guess you’re stuck wit’ me a lil’ longer.” Shad’s voice was muffled by the pillow. “Bro, I need some real food. We’ve been snacking for two damn days. Go ‘head and put your phone on the charger first. I can wait.”
“Awww,” I cooed. “You so nice.”
Shad groaned, stretching his body before he rose, rubbing his face with his hands. “Meet me in the bedroom. Let me go rinse my mouth out. Stuffing his hands in the front of his pants, he swaggered out of the room.
This man was determined to have me walking crooked when I left his home.
Chapter Nine
Iwish it snowed for a few mo’ days.
This girl had me soft like butter, but remembering what happened when I was this soft for another female, it made my heart ice back up. After putting Daee in the mattress for what would probably be the last time, I showered alone, not even bothering to wake her up to join me.
Being soft was a liability. It got you fucked over. It left you with a shattered heart and caused you to crash the fuck out. There was something about Holidaee that gave me a feeling that she was much different than Lay, but it was too early to tell. Shit, I ain’t think Lay would fuck a nigga over either.
When I came out of the bathroom, Daee was sitting up, rubbing her eyes with one hand and the other clutched the sheet to her chest.
“You took a shower without me?” she queried softly.
“You fell asleep,” I said dryly, walking over to my dresser.
“But you always wake me up.”
“It ain’t that fuckin’ serious, Daee.”
Silence.
I slid on my boxer-briefs and shorts. In the dresser mirror, our eyes met. Hers with confusion in them. Mine with coldness.
I had to push her away.
The silence was suffocating. My eyes left hers, but I could still feel hers burning holes in my back.
“What’s wrong?” she finally asked. “You’re being weird as fuck right now. Are you like, bi-polar or something?”
“Ain’t shit wrong,” I grunted. I rubbed lotion on my arms, legs, and feet, all while still standing.
“You’re lying. You were just fine. Now you’re acting…I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re acting different. Did something happen while I was sleeping?”
