He releases my hand and turns to me, moving so close I wouldn’t have to reach far to touch him.
“We’re from the same city but two totally different worlds. You live a life where you don’t have to worry where your food comes from, how to get the lights back on, money isn’t an issue for you. I brought you here because I wanted you to see that I’ve never had what you’ve had but I’ve got everything I need. I don’t judge you, Amelia. Not your car, not where you go to school, nothing. I’m… fuck… what I’m trying to tell you is you have no place here but you’re all I think about. Since I met you, I can’t figure out what makes you so different.”
“I’m not different…”
“Yes, you are, it’s not a bad thing.”
He leans in closer, and I brace myself for him to kiss me. I’m so certain it’s going to happen when a woman’s voice barks frombehind him. He pulls back sharply and takes my hand back in his.
A startling beautiful woman, in her early forties, possibly late thirties if she had Darius at a young age, is stood in the kitchen doorway. I shrink closer to Darius as her eyes cut through me, roaming from my black pumps up to my eyes.
Keeping her heavy gaze on me, she says, “I told you I don’t want your whores in the house.”
“Ma,” he snaps. “This is Amelia, she’s not a whore.”
Her top lip curls in disgust. “They’re all the same to me.”
Turning her back to us, she walks off down the hall and slams a door behind her.
“I’m sorry about her, she doesn’t like people she doesn’t know in the house.”
“I understand. Maybe I should leave.”
I go to take my hand back, but he tightens his hold and pulls me flush against him.
“How is she meant to get used to you if you run home?”
Frowning, I’m so confused. Why would he want his mom to get to know me?
“What are you doing, Darius?” I whisper.
“I strongly believe the universe only gives us what we need, and you keep showing up in my life. I want to know everything about you, Amelia Haynes. I want to know why the universe thinks I need you.”
He runs his finger down my cheek and along my jaw before breaking the spell between us capturing every breath I need to take.
“Stay for dinner.”
“Is that what you really want?” I ask, not sure why.
“I wouldn’t say if I weren’t.”
I nod and he sits me opposite his grandmother. She reminds me a little of my own before she passed away. She was always happy to sit watching daytime TV.
“Hello, dear.”
“Hi. I’m Amelia Haynes.”
Darius disappears off down the hall and I clasp my hands in my lap, unsure of what to do without him around.
“Darius must like you, he’s not brought a girl home before.”
I wouldn’t have guessed that to be true after his mom’s outburst.
“I hope he doesn’t come to regret it.”
Oh God, why did I say that?
“Darius isn’t one for regrets. He must see more than your beauty to bring you home. I apologise for his mother, she’s a little guarded with strangers.”
