I laughed her off. “Come on, lemme show you where you’ll be sleeping.”
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” she murmured, picking up her bag from the couch and walking toward me. “You sure about this?”
“I left you in my house alone for hours with the most important person in my life. If I was sure about that decision, I’m positive about this one. I’ll take your key, so I can move your car.”
Although still skeptical, she dug into her purse and placed her keys in my hand.
“Follow me.”
I walked her down the hall and into the guest bedroom. Taking her into the bathroom, I pointed out the fresh towels and washcloths, offering to give her something to sleep in if she wanted to shower. She respectfully declined, and I didn’t push for obvious reasons.
“You need anything? Charger for your phone? More pillows?”
“No,” she said, looking around the room. “This is fine.”
“Okay, cool. I’ma go move the cars and get settled in.”
“Alright,” she let out softly.
We stood there, staring at each other, likely trying to figure out what exactly was going on here.
“Good night, Enzo,” she finally spoke.
“Good night, shorty.”
Leaving out of the room, I closed the door behind me. I didn’t know how I’d feel in the morning about my decision. All I knew was I didn’t want to part with the peace that came with Thyri’s presence tonight.
CHAPTER 7
A Helping Hand Indeed
“How did a day job suddenly turn into an overnight stay?” I said out loud, in disbelief that I actually agreed to stay the night at Enzo’s house.
I sat on the edge of the bed in his guest bedroom long after he’d left the room, just staring at my bag that sat on a chair across from the bed. Everything in me said to grab my bag and take my chances with the impending storm, but I knew it’d be just my luck that on my way home, the snow would hit, and I’d somehow be stuck out there. Still, a sleepover wasn’t in the cards. I turned my head slightly toward the closed door. This shit was really happening.
What was worse than me making the decision was that I was comfortable – my body was at least. My mind… that was running in overdrive, making up different scenarios. But my body was settled. The set up of the room may have had something to do with that too. It smelled clean and was just as cozy as the rest of the house. Somehow, that made my mind more uneasy than if the room had been disorganized and funky. Because why did I feel so goddamn comfortable?
Running my hands over my thighs, I exhaled in an effort to ease my mind. Kicking my Crocs off, I sat on the bed Indian styleand reached for my phone. Danae’s voice popped in my head before I unlocked it.
“Girl, stay the night. That man ain’t gon’ harm you. I think it’s cute he’s considering your safety.” “If he try to fuck you, then you fuck back.”
Scrolling to our text thread, I typed fast.
Me: I just wanna let you know that you’re a terrible influence. And he heard you talkin’ about fuckin’, nasty ass.
Her reply came instant, like she was by the phone, waiting for an update.
Danae: I’m glad he did hear me because I said what I said. A lil’ one night stand ain’t never hurt nobody. Add in a lil’ hunching in the workplace and I’m here for it.
Me: Is there something you wanna confess about your work husband? Cause I’m all ears.
I smiled while typing, knowing my text would get her riled up.
Danae: That is not my work husband. Just a nigga who won’t take no for an answer. Don’t matter how many languages I say it in.
Me: Yeah, okay. I’m gonna try to get some sleep in this house that doesn’t belong to me.
Danae: sleep tight. Don’t let the fine man bite.
