“You said you hated men like the ones your mom dated and I’m assuming you saw me stuck with a loser and didn’t want me to end up like her, but I don’t need you to save me. I’m not going back and I’m not your problem.”
“I know.” I reached over and let my hand lightly close around the back of her neck. I let my thumb trace up and down the side of her throat. “November,” I said her name and waited for her tolook at me. “I’m a lot of things, shawty, but I ain’t a liar so hear me when I tell you that I’m with you right now because I want to be and I like hanging out with you. That’s all. I promise.”
“Okay.” She nodded and I mirrored the gesture.
“Alright.” I exhaled. “Let’s get something to eat and get you home before I have to knock JV’s two front teeth out in honor of Allur.”
I climbed up and stretched. Novi laughed. I offered her my hand and helped her up.
We got dinner in a little diner on the outskirts of the city together and talked about random shit, her favorite movie right now and my favorite sports teams just sharing mundane facts while one hour bled into two then three.
And when I brought her to Allur’s, I walked her to the door.
“Thanks for hanging out with me,” Novi said.
“I had fun.”
“Me too.”
“So, you’re planning the next outing?”
“Oh, definitely.”
“Alright. Bet.”
“So, how was it?” she asked.>
Novi shifted on her feet. She looked up at me. I watched her eyes drift from my eyes to my mouth. She licked her lips.
I took the offer.
I reached over, grabbed her chin in my hand, leaned down and kissed her softly, just one soft kiss.
“Have a good night, Novi.” I spoke against her mouth and she nodded with her eyes still shut.
I kissed her a second time.
Then, I took a step back and another one.
I waited at the bottom of the steps for her to get inside and hear the lock slide into place before I headed to my car.
There was a chance JV was right. Shit. Maybe I was intense and started to like people in no time, but fuck it. We were here and I’d already proven I could beat her ex up so it was what it was. What or who was going to stop me or her or us?
I wasn’t in denial. I liked spending time with November and I couldn’t wait to see her again.
4NOVI
I looked up at Allur while she massaged my scalp. I’d already showered and gotten ready for bed. I had been on my phone looking up different things that Kaleo and I could do on our next date when she’d come quietly into my room and asked if I wanted to talk. I’d said yes. She’d agreed to scratch my head like her mom used to do the both of us to get us to sleep when we were younger.
“So, how was it?” she asked.
“It was so good.” I smiled. “I had a great time and Kaleo’s nice.”
“He is nice. He’s a little… passionate about some things, but he’s a good person. I like him. He’s probably my favorite of JV’s friends.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Allur started to run both hands through my hair. “So, do you like him or do you think you’re on your way to liking him?”
