Lethal was fine. He was very fine and looking at him while having impure thoughts made a revelation come to her.
“This might be random and off subject.” Her eyes darted off to the side. Khrome wanted to choose her words carefully because she wanted him to know she wasn’t going to be a problematic baby mama. “I know you’re single, and we’re not together, but um”—she blew out a breath—“it would be kind of awkward if you were here with a woman. So, like if you choose to have company could you let me know, so I can leave?”
When he didn’t speak, her orbs landed on his face, and she was confused by the amused gleam in his eyes. “Nah”—he chuckled—“I was never big on women coming to the crib before but damn sure now. Don’t want to risk getting robbed.”
Khrome knew he was joking but guilt surfaced in her soul as annoyance. All she wanted to do was forget what she’d done, but that would never happen. Khrome chose not to respond. Instead, she stepped around him with a pout. When he laughed, her cheeks burned.
“Wait, you mad?”
She kept walking, and when he spoke again, the amusement had clearly left his tone. “Khrome!” The bass in his voice madeher stop in her tracks. Slowly, she turned to face him. “That’s what we doing? You mad because I made a joke about being robbed? It happened to me not you. I can joke about. It’s over now. Laugh about it, ha-ha, and keep it pushing.”
“Got it.” She forced a fake, tight smile. When she pivoted to walk off once again, he stepped in front of her and gently gripped her chin.
“Fix that shit,” he commanded in a low tone. “We not doing that.”
The fire in his eyes made Khrome aware that he was as serious as a heart attack. She despised the way his touch made her stomach quake. Even the way he politely but assertively checked her had moisture pooling between her legs. The thought of him stroking another woman into an orgasm almost made her throw a full-blown fit, but she kept it cute.
“I’m sorry. You’re right.”
After she spoke, his fingers didn’t leave their resting place. Her breath hitched as they stared at one another. She had no clue what he was thinking, but her thoughts were beyond X-rated.
“I’m not bringing anybody here. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I’m not worried, and it’s okay if you do,” she lied. “I’m not being entitled. Just don’t want to feel awkward.”
His fingers remained. Wondering what was happening, Khrome stared back at him. Finally, he released her and walked off. She walked into the bedroom and closed her eyes. A cold shower was needed for sure.
Tech leaned against his car as he watched the building in front of him. On the way over, he’d smoked a blunt. The last one he planned to smoke for a while because once his class was completed, before he could get his certificate, he had to pass a drug test. He wasn’t worried about getting a job because he was going to start his own business. He was going to take Blossom’s advice and get a food truck. The day before, him and Mario had gone out looking at trucks. He was only able to work part-time for Belvin but Tech saved ninety percent of the money that he’d earned. He was adamant about buying his own trucks. He didn’t want his sons doing it for him.
Tech had been insanely focused. A few days had passed before it dawned on him that he hadn’t seen or talked to Blossom as much as he would have liked. Seeing her at the bar while talking to Alora was ironic as hell. He had met her at a gas station, and she approached him. Alora was a pretty woman, but he wouldn’t have tried her. She seemed a little on the thirsty side and when he told her he was single, she asked for his number. They had one phone conversation. When he mentioned he was going out with Belvin, she took upon herself to show up at the same place.
Tech wasn’t cocky, but he was used to women acting thirsty sometimes, so her behavior didn’t seem too off. She had called him a handful of times when he was busy, and Tech hadn’t returned the calls. Every time she called him, it dawned on him more and more that she was the one acting like she was fresh out of prison.
He wasn’t surprised when he called Blossom, and she didn’t answer the phone. They weren’t in a relationship, but women being territorial with Tech wasn’t anything new to him. He knew she was probably feeling some kind of way, but when he saw her fine ass sauntering out of the building her office was located in,he had to smile. Her expression remained neutral, but it didn’t take away from her sexiness at all.
Tech admired Blossom’s beauty every step of the way. When she was finally up on him, she stopped walking but didn’t say anything. Her attitude made Tech chuckle.
“Damn, I messed up that bad?”
Blossom’s eyes rolled upward. “How long have you been talking to Alora?”
He didn’t expect that but the fact that she knew Alora’s name told him a lot about the way she was acting. “We’ve had two conversations. The second one was at the bar the night you were there. I told her I was going out with Belvin, and she showed up there. I take it you know her?”
The smile that graced her face was forced and fake. “I do. She’s my ex-husband’s sister.”
Tech’s brows hiked. “Oh damn.”
“Yeah, and I’m not psychic, but I’m willing to bet that you gave her a little of your history. Hence the reason my oldest son came in the house one day asking me if I was dating a drug dealer that had just been released from prison.”
Tech’s head dropped, and he chuckled a bit. “Wow.”
“When my ex saw us together, I don’t know how, when, or where, but he had to sneak a picture of you or something. How else would his sister know what you looked like enough to push up on you to get inside information for him?”
“That’s crazy and petty as fuck. The way he’s acting you would think you and that nigga just broke up yesterday. The first conversation we had lasted about an hour. She asked me a lot of questions, but I kept everything vague, short and sweet. She was probing into my last relationship and a lot of different things, and I didn’t have a choice but to tell her that I’d been to prison. I’m not about to hide it and be ashamed of it.”
The scowl on Blossom’s face relaxed, but she still looked tense.
“So, you not talking to me. Is that because of Alora or your son?”
