Chesteria chuckled and finally looked over at me. “You didn’t put her in thekids’room, did you?”
I paused for a second, then gave a slow nod. “Yeah. But I temporarily renamed itThe Diva Dungeon.”
Chesteria laughed. “Well, she should feelrightat home.”
All jokes aside, that room used to mean something. If we ever had a kid, that’s where they would’ve slept. I’d painted it soft gray, back when we were still painting dreams together. There was a time I’d stand in that doorway and just… imagine. But life didn’t pan out that way. So now, it was punishment quarters… for grown-ass kids in denial.
Chesteria leaned forward slightly with a teasing glint in her eye. “And you sayI’mpetty.”
“I’m only petty when necessary,” I corrected smoothly. “You know, like when someone decides to show up with a nigga who’s not really her man.”
“Look at the pot talkin’ ‘bout the kettle.You brought a woman who ain’t yours here too. But sure… let’s talk about me.”
“I don’t knowwhatthe hell I was thinking. But shid… you live, and you learn. Never again.”
“You got that right!”
I let out a long yawn, rubbing a hand over my face. “I’m tired as hell. I barely slept last night. Hell, I ain’t really slept since we got here.”
“Me neither,” she admitted.
“I wanna go take a nap,” I said, stretching my arms. “But I’m scared I’ma wake up to my soul leaving my body ‘cause Isis tried to cook again or she summoned something unholy.”
Chesteria burst out laughing, then added, “Or wake up and Adrian outside talkin’ to some dude namedLil Something,holdin’ a duffle bag, got a dice game, three lawn chairs, and a sign that says,‘Trap House Sundays: BYOB.”
We both laughed.
“And, Bryce, there may betwoidiots under this roof, but there definitely ain’t three. Get some rest. I can hold it down while yousleep, ’cause I’m sure I’ll be needing a nap when you wake up. I’ll only come get you if it’s a dire emergency.”
I cocked my head. “Dire? You mean like…dying?”
She shook her head, still smiling. “Yes, Bryce…dying.That’s the threshold.”
“Cool.” I nodded. “If I hear screaming about moisturizer or phone chargers, I’ma keep snoring.”
“And I’ma keep scrolling in my book.” She laughed again.
“Aight,” I said, already turning toward the stairs. Then I paused, half-turned and lips twitching with a grin.
“If we only hadoneidiot here… maybe you could come lay with me.”
Yeah, I was flirting a bit.
Chesteria froze for a beat, then let out a light, awkward laugh and rubbed her neck. “Bryce, go to sleep.”
She tried to keep it playful, but I caught the nervous shift in her posture.
I took a step back toward her, just enough to stir the air. “I think the reason I can’t sleep is because you’re here. Maybe I’d rest better with your leg thrown over mine and your name in my mouth.”
Chesteria’s breath caught, and I saw that tiny flicker of heat behind her hesitation. But just like that, she shut it down.
“Goodnight, Bryce.”
Firm… but her voice cracked just slightly at the end.
“It’s eight o’clock in the morning.”
She smirked, her focus now on her Kindle. “Then take your ass to bed-o’clock.”
