“Caziya,” I say without providing anything else when my brain momentarily short-circuits, and a grin upturns Asia’s lips.
“You are working this dress, mama. No wonder my big brother hasn’t returned to the party,” Asia says.
“Th-thanks. Uh, how about I stop distracting your brother so you two can continue with your night? I have a headache, so maybe I should just head to my room.” My syrupy words sound foreign to my ears, yet I’m attempting a form of politeness I’m unable to feel.
Waving over the bartender, I prepare to settle my tab so I can escape this scene like Brandy inCinderellawith a fast-approaching deadline.
“Hold tight, Ziya. I’m coming with you,” Zakai says before taking the black folder containing my bill that the bartender handed out for me.
Did he just give me a nickname and take my bill?
My wide eyes bounce from the smiling bartender to Zakai, who pulls his sister off to the side while talking low enough for me not to overhear their conversation. Ten minutes later, Zakai and I enter the elevator ascending to my room, and my nerves make my hands tremble as I try to play it off by running my hands over the lower part of my dress.
“Remember, the only thing happening tonight is me giving you something other than destruction to replay when you think about today in the future.” Zakai’s statement causes me to look beside me to see his penetrating eyes already focused on me.
“So, how do you see the night going once we get to my room?” I ask with my brows hiking slightly.
“Like it did when I was a kid, and my mother halfway entertained me about having a girlfriend at seven. With our clothes on and maybe holding hands.”
A slight grin upturns my face because that’s definitely not the answer I was anticipating when I asked the question. The elevator dings, alerting me that we’ve reached my floor, and I exit when Zakai’s hand extends outward for me to lead the way. With every step toward my assigned room, my heart drums like a banjo, and I’m mentally coaching my feet to walk straight so I don’t trip on the carpet in this hallway. Upon reaching the designated door, I hold my phone out so I can scan the electronic key, and a sigh escapes my lips as the lights flash green. I enter the room a second later.
The living room-like setup instantly eases the tightness in my shoulders because seeing a bed first would tempt me to beg this stranger to fuck my pain away. The heat hitting my back has me turning to look over my shoulder as Zakai’s lips upturn into a disarming smile.
“How about we sit on the couch and talk?” Taking my hand, Zakai doesn’t wait for my reply before leading me to the couch as we sit.
Breathe, Caziya. This is the distraction you requested from this man. You can do this. Talking is harmless.
“How did a beautifully sexy woman like you get caught up with that goofy nigga? I mean, watching the exchange between you and ole boy not long ago had me reaching this conclusion: The radiant beauty of the woman you are could never be appreciated by a man who couldn’t express himself beyond the weak carnal attraction he spewed from his lips. Sex is temporary, and simple men use it to put a bandage on the fact that they’re incapable of penetrating a woman’s heart with a soul tie she doesn’t pray God eradicates from her psyche.”
My breath hitches from Zakai’s husky yet steady, confident words, hitting me like a dagger in my chest.
“Shouldn’t we be finding ways to help me forget about that?” I say, fighting the urge to squirm from the intense stare down between us.
“I’ve learned to be me in all ways, and letting you know that in no uncertain terms that you deserve more isn’t random.”
“Hm. I hear you. I just want more than deep revelations on the heels of learning I was forced to be a mistress.”
Zakai nods, and I sigh heavily before my eyes land on his thick, suckable lips when they start moving.
“On a scale of one to ten, how much do you enjoy avocado toast?”
A burst of laughter escapes my mouth upon hearing the unexpected question that effectively shifts my mind from salacious thoughts to something simple and easy to answer.
Okay, Zakai. Let’s do this.
“Hm. I think it’s a ten, but only after you sprinkle some everything bagel seasoning on it. I also like to have a fried egg on top to set it off,” I say, smirking.
Zakai stares at me for a second before his face blanches, a frown forms, and he scrubs his face with his hand, leaving me wondering what he’s thinking.
“Dang. I’m gonna have to deduct a point because you’re one of those people,” he says dejectedly.
“One of what people?” I sit back against the couch before crossing my arms over my chest and crossing my legs.
“The group of folks who aspire to eat that fruit that really doesn’t fit the mold of fruit and needs an embellishment to be enjoyable.”
Laughing at his pitiful expression, I settle into the comfortable discussion with Zakai that wasn’t on my bingo card for today. For a woman who wakes up with thoughts of seeing her man and having her back become one with the mattress, only to discover that she’s a side chick I can get with this impromptu course correction.
“You didn’t tell me that we’d be keeping score for this encounter or that I needed to consider my responses before providing them.”
