“Well, thank you for your concern,” I said instead, keeping my composure. “But if you must know, he’s a carpenter... even got his own business. He also works as a substitute teacher at the campus. That’s how we met.”
Bryce squinted, skepticism evident in his eyes. “Yeah, no. I only believe the teacher part… and that’s only ‘cause I’m sure you saw him teaching. But a carpenter? Hell nah. That nigga look like he got banned from Home Depot for calling everything a screwdriver.”
I laughed—likereallylaughed—despite the situation.
“I’m serious,” he insisted, his tone still serious. “You better go back inside and ask for receipts. Hell, ask him to build something,anything.If that nigga can’t hammer a nail, he needs to go... tonight. What if a shelf falls and takes you out mid-zoom? If you too scared or polite to ask him, you know I will.”
I wiped my eyes from laughing. “Yeah… I know you will. You don’t even knock before starting drama.”
“And I sleep great every night,” he retorted with a grin, his eyes glinting in the soft glow of the porch light.
“Well, if that happens, at least tonight, you'll be here to save the day,Captain Frost,” I said, a playful smirk curling my lips as I looked at him.
We held each other’s gaze for a moment, a comfortable silence settling between us.
I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers against the chill and shaking off the moment.
“But lucky for me, he’s not someone I plan to take seriously. Today revealeda lot. After this trip, I might just go ahead and end it,” I admitted, my voice dropping slightly.
Bryce nodded, taking a slow sip of his beer, contemplating my admission. “Same here.”
The silence that followed stretched longer than I liked.
“Well,” I cleared my throat, breaking the uncomfortable stillness as I straightened up, “I’m gonna head inside. Don’t drink too much out here. And if you leave before I wake up, drive safe.”
He nodded slowly.
Just as I reached for the doorknob, his voice caught me off guard.
“Chesteria, I know this ain't what either of us expected… but I’m kinda glad it happened.” The sincerity in his tone made me turn my head slightly.
“It’s good to see you, Chess, and my number is still the same if you need me… for anything,” Bryce added, softening as he looked at me.
I smiled. It was small but genuine. “Ditto,” I replied, appreciating the unexpected moment between us.
As I walked down the hall, my thoughts were louder than my footsteps.
I haven’t seen him, touched him, or heard his voice outside of my dreams in two years, and yet, here we are.God, what are you trying to do?
I needed to know, because the part of me that worked so hard to try to move on from Bryce was suddenly begging to go back.
“Nighttime Clarity (and No, You Ain’t Getting None)”
When I reached the door of the room Adrian and I were sharing, I stopped. His voice was low, serious, coming from just behind it. I didn’t catch the whole conversation—just bits and pieces.
“Nah, I’m outta town right now,” he said. “But I’ll have it when I get back; I told you that already.”
Have what?
Adrian’s tone was calm, but that slick tension sat in his voice like something heavy was on the line.
I leaned in slightly, but he ended the call before I could catch anything else. I waited two more seconds, then turned the knob, pretending I hadn’t just been eavesdropping.
Adrian was already reclined against the headboard, phone face-down on the nightstand, settled in as though he’d been relaxing for hours. He wore black shorts and a muscle tee, his body moisturized with equal parts cocoa butter and pure arrogance.
“You good?” he asked.
I nodded, kicking off my shoes. “Great! Are you?” I countered, crouching near my bag to unzip it.
