I looked up from the diamonds to see him smiling, and I couldn’t help but smile in return. Amethyst’s smile and laugh were infectious. No matter how bad my mood was, as soon as I saw or heard him, I was instantly happy.
“What are you doing up?” I asked, then sat back against the couch. “You know you like your sleep schedule.”
“I got too much energy, I guess.” He shrugged. “I worked out and everything when I got home to try and kill some energy, but the shit didn’t work.”
I looked at the clock at the bottom of the screen, then back at him. “Go out, it’s only ten.”
“No lie, I thought about it.” He smiled. “That’s why I called you.”
“I am not going out to be your wingman,” I said, shaking my head. Seeing him flirt with women always bothered me, even though I tried to pretend that it didn’t. “You’d better call one of your brothers or homeboys.”
“Citrine is out of town, and Pyrite is busy trying to build the Queens’ roster.”
“I can’t believe he’s really doing a WNBA team,” I said, and he nodded. “I know you’re excited.”
“Legit, I am,” he agreed. “But he won’t show me the roster because he knows I’m going to give him my opinion no matter what.”
“Leave your brother alone,” I laughed.
“I will if you go out with me,” he replied, and I shook my head. “Come on, Yale, it won't even be for long. Just a few hours. It ain’t like you got shit to do tomorrow.”
“I have my appointment, remember?”
“Besides that, and it’s at three.”
“I don’t feel like getting dressed,” I whined, even though going out sounded fun. I hadn’t been out in a while, and that was with Grant. Going out with Amethyst was utterly different. We alwayshad a private suite, but spent all our time on the dance floor having fun.
“Man, then I’m coming over so we can go swimming.” He pushed up from the bed and looked around. “I would say come over here, but it’d just be easier for me to come to you instead of me coming to get you to come back here and then me having to bring you back once we’re done.” He looked at the screen, then smiled. “Unless you’re trying to stay the night. As a matter of fact, yeah, that’s what you’re going to do. Stay here tonight, your appointment is on this side of town, so that’s less driving I have to do.”
“I can take an Uber,” I suggested, and Amethyst gave me a death stare. “Or not.”
“Or fucking not,” he said, nodding. “I’m about to leave now, call Grant and let him know you’re going to stay at my spot for the night.”
“Okay,” I said, nodding. There was no reason to tell Amethyst that I was playing phone tag with Grant because he’d want to know why, and I didn’t have a real reason besides we just were. He’d have questions, and I wouldn’t have answers. It wasn’t like our relationship was in a bad spot because it wasn’t. We were just at an impasse. I was moving in one direction while he was standing still. Grant was comfortable with just existing at times when I wanted to live. The only thing we agreed on was kids. We agreed it was time, and while I never imagined having them with him, I’d always wanted them.
“Give me thirty minutes,” he said, then hung up.
I closed my laptop and then looked at the diamonds. As much as I wanted to design something, I wanted to be with Amethyst more. I pushed up off the couch, closed the briefcase, and then went to the closet to grab my shoes and clothes. After I packed my bag, I returned to the sitting area, grabbed the briefcase and my laptop, and packed them away.
“Ay yoo!” I heard Amethyst yell from downstairs. I picked up everything I needed and left my room. “Grandma, where are you?”
“Very funny,” I replied as I came down the stairs. Amethyst stood at the bottom, with a smile on his face. He put out his hand, and I gave him my bags. “I see you still have on your readers.” When I was close enough, I reached up and tapped the corner of his glasses and smiled. “These aren’t the ones you had on when we were talking.”
“I left them at the house; these are my drivers,” he answered as we left the house. I locked the door, and we walked to his waiting car. Amethyst opened the door and then stepped to the side so I could get in.
“A man with options,” I said as I got in. He smiled at me before closing the door, rounding the car, only stopping to put my bags in the backseat, then getting in. “You eat?”
“Man, a salad after the gym,” he answered with a nod as he drove. “You?”
“Earlier.” I got comfortable in my seat and rolled down the window. The night was warm, but I wanted to feel the wind on my skin. I rested my arm on the window seal, then put my chin on my forearm to enjoy the breeze. Amethyst reached over and took my left hand in his and interlaced our fingers. “Tell me about the surgeries that you had today.”
“Nothing too crazy.” He looked over at me and smirked. “Just a DUI that came in.”
“Oh, what happened?” I looked over at him and took in his features. Even though the truck was dark, I could see all my favorite things about him. His full lips, long lashes, and beard. He was a beautiful man, there was no denying that, and his cocky ass knew it too.
“Broke damn near every bone from his hips down,” he answered, and I nodded. “Tore his chest open and damn near split his skull open.”
“Was there anyone else injured?”
