Meadow got up to show Lesha where everything she would need was.
“Here,” Meadow sighed.
Lesha grinned. “Perfect. Now go find that boy before he smoke himself into the sky.”
Meadow stood in the doorway. “Lesha?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Please…do not get on the pole.”
Lesha winked. “Girl…I ain’t makin’ no promises.”
Meadow stepped outside,the night warm and heavy. Zaire sat on the porch steps, blunt glowing at the tip, looking out over the yard like he was thinking about ten things at once.
He glanced back when he heard her footsteps. “You good, baby?”
Meadow walked over, sat beside him, and took the blunt from his fingers without asking. She hit it slow, letting the smoke warm her chest.
He watched her lips. He always watched her lips.
“Your Mama,” Meadow whispered, exhaling, “is chaotic.”
“Yeah,” Zaire nodded proudly, “ain’t she perfect?”
Meadow laughed. “She found the pole.”
Zaire smirked. “That didn’t take long.”
“She said it wasn’t for exercise.”
“My OG, knows what’s up.”
Meadow shoved his shoulder. “Stop.”
He leaned in closer, voice low. “You gon’ show me one day.”
Her stomach flipped but she nodded, the buzz of the weed already coating her eyes in a sheen.
“You good?” he asked again.
Meadow nodded. “Tonight was…nice.”
Zaire nudged her knee. “Say what you wanna say.”
She swallowed, heart racing. “I love you.”
Zaire froze.
Meadow touched his jaw, thumb brushing his cheek. “I love you, Zaire.”
His breath left him slow. “Say it again.”
“I love you.”
He took the blunt from her, put it out on the step, and pulled her into his lap like he’d been waiting hours to do it.
“Com’ere,” he whispered. “I love you too. Been lovin’ you since before you let me touch you.”
