“They don’t know you,” she assured. “They don’t know half of your story. And anybody judging you from a screen probably can’t even hold a fuckin’ club.”
He huffed something close to a laugh.
She added, “And washed up men don’t make Instagram go viral every time they swing.”
His smile came back fully. “Oh, so you watched my games?”
She raised a brow. “Focus, Cooks.” She wouldn’t dare tell him she did.
He shook his head, finally standing to his full height. His eyes finally finding her, sweeping her and soaking her in.
His gaze dragged from her hair to her mouth to the way her outfit hugged every damn curve. His tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek like he was stopping himself from saying something reckless. “Damn, Meadow…” His voice went deeper, the curly swoon in it showing up even more prominently. “You look hella good.”
Meadow blushed.
“Fine,” he corrected, eyes still on her. “Like…I wasn’t expectin’ all this. You stepped out like you tryna get chose tonight.”
Meadow tried to hide her smile, but failed instantly. “Please, shut up.”
“Nah,” his head bounced up and down, his gaze lingering on her lips. “I’m serious. You look crazy sexy. Had me forgettin’ what the fuck we was talkin’ about.”
Her stomach flipped and her thighs hugged.
Zaire smirked, watching her pretend she wasn’t affected. “C’mon,” he soothed. “Before I say some more shit and you get a big head.”
She bumped his arm as they walked beside each other. “You already talking too much.”
“Only when the view fire,” he shot back, letting his eyes fall over her one more time.
And she felt every inch of it.
“Where the car at anyway? I ain’t seen nothin’ but Ray’s old truck since I been here. You got horses out back or somethin’?”
Meadow cackled. “No, it’s parked in the other shed.”
Zaire followed her across the yard to the far shed. She unlocked the door, pushed it open and there it sat. A vintage Cadillac. Clean as hell. Cream-colored with the chrome shining even in the dim light.
“Damn,” Zaire muttered, stepping closer. “This a church-step Cadillac... This a Black granddaddy classic right here.”
Meadow smirked. “Ray used to drive it every Friday. Said it made him feel like money.”
Zaire walked around it slowly. “I ain’t gon’ lie…you just earned points I didn’t even know I was countin’.”
“Whatever.” Meadow laughed, hitting him lightly. “I’m driving.”
“Aye, watch out, cuh,” he countered, running his hands down his facelike are you kidding me?“Let me get behind that wheel.”
“You don’t know these roads, and it’s dark.”
He paused, then raised both hands. “Aight. But this the last time you drive when I’m around. I’m lettin’ you know that now.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She swayed her head loving the way it sounded.
She slid into the driver’s seat. Zaire took the passenger side, stretching out like he owned every ounce of space around them.
She started the engine and the Cadillac hummed like old money and good memories.
Zaire whistled. “Okay, baby. I see you.”
