I tapped him lightly on the arm. “Boy?—”
A grin returned to his handsome face. “I’m just saying. Have a good day, Connie.”
“You too. We’ll talk about that date.”
Roman stood up like the conversation had already been signed, stamped, and approved.
“We not going to talk about it. We going to do it,” he said. He threw his trash away.
I laughed, and Roman looked back at me one more time before he walked out of the breakroom and winked at me.
He was something else, and I welcomed it with open arms, even as a small voice in me whispered a gentle warning and a hopeful prayer at the same time:Lord, let this be real. Let this be safe. Let this be mine without costing me myself.
The end of the day had finally come, and I was ready to exit the building immediately. Mel popped into my classroom like she always did, purse already on her shoulder.
“You ready?” she asked, her smile mischievous.
She was up to something.
“Yes, girl. Let’s go.” I exhaled, grabbing my things.
We stepped into the hallway together, and my stomach dropped.
Mr. Henderson jumped slightly, like I had caught him doing something wrong. He was standing right outside my door.
“Ms. Stevens, can I speak to you for a moment?” he asked, smiling like he had been waiting on purpose.
I blinked, already feeling my body tense up. “Uh . . .”
“I wanted to see if you’d let me take you to a little bistro in South Self,” he continued, leaning in like we were having some cute little moment.
It was not cute.
The hallway suddenly felt too narrow. The fluorescent lights felt too bright. His smile felt too practiced. I shifted my weight, suddenly wanting to disappear into the walls, wanting my softness to stop being mistaken for permission. I could feel Mel’s energy tighten beside me, protective and ready, like a match being struck. She was getting ready to step in.
I opened my mouth to tell him no, but the words felt stuck right behind my teeth, not because I did not know what to say, but because I hated having to say it at all when I had already said no so many times before.
Then I heard Roman’s voice, smooth and loud enough to cut right through the awkwardness.
“Excuse me, Ms. S. Did you still want to set up your private swim lessons with me? Do you have time now? I can put you on my schedule for next week.”
Relief washed over me so fast I almost felt dizzy. It poured through me in one clean sweep, loosening the knot in my chest, giving my voice back.
I turned toward him with a grateful smile. “Yes. Yes, I do,” I said quickly.
Roman nodded once, like we settled it, and I didn’t waste a second. I walked away with him toward the parking lot. My steps were lighter than they had been all day.
As soon as we got outside, I looked up at him. “Thank you.”
His face stayed calm, but his eyes didn’t. They were sharp with care, steady with concern, protective without being too loud.
“You must speak up for yourself, baby. Next time, I won’t be so nice to him. I don’t like you looking uncomfortable. How long has that weird nigga been pressing you?” he asked inquisitively.
“He’s harmless, Roman. I can handle him. I don’t need you to get into any trouble for me, baby. You just got this job, and it would devastate me if they reprimanded you over some tomfoolery on my account. I’ll let him down easily,again. I think the only other person who wants me besides you is my student’s father from the game,” I declared.
Roman stepped in front of me, looking down at my face, blocking the sun and the noise like he meant to make a quiet pocket where only the truth could fit.
“You are too nice, baby. That nigga was watching you through your classroom door earlier when I first came to walk you to your car. I didn’t even want to go back to sis’ class to get her portion of the play I set up for you for our date. I want to be with you next time you tell him to fuck off in case he tries something funny. I don’t like that nigga energy, and I’m never wrong, love.”
