“So I’ve heard.”
I sipped from the bottle as I observed his posture. He surveyed our surroundings as if they were unfamiliar to him. I was no fool. He’d visited. The moment he discovered this was where I’d be frequenting during my stays, he’d visited.
I knew Chem by heart because for the longest, he was my heart. Jru forced me to make room for others. So did his first-born son. And Psalem. And Prince. And Malaya.
Ishmael required room now. It was no struggle creating it. My heart was expanding with each thought of him, mention of him, or sight of him.
“Are you comfortable here?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
He tilted his head, waiting for more to escape my mouth.
“I’m comfortable, Teddy. I’m not here much. I–”
“You’ve made a choice, baby. Even if you’re not here much now, you will be here more often than not. Your comfort is priority.”
“His.”
He nodded.
“Maybe one day. But, today, it’s mine. Always have been.”
It didn’t surprise me that Ishmael was the topic of our conversation. Chemistry’s presence was a result of our arrangement.
He placed both hands behind his back. His chin lifted. His chest protruded. There was so much on his mind. So many words that would remain unsaid. However, I still read them. Read him. Like the open book he wasn’t.
“It –” I paused, running my finger around the rim of the water bottle, “It was supposed to b– it was suppos–”
“But it’s not.”
I shook my head.
“No. It’s not.”
“And your apprehension?”
“Public eye. Publicity in general,” I scoffed. “We’ve been thro–”
“Does he make you smile, baby?”
I nodded.
“Does he make you laugh?”
I nodded.
“Does he consider you in everything he does?”
I nodded.
“Do you feel like a burden?”
I shook my head.
“Do you listen?”
