“Then I will.” He places a kiss on my forehead.
Jabari is the first boyfriend I’ve had who doesn’t run away screaming when I start talking about cramps. In fact, he’s the first boyfriend I’ve had who’s jumped at a chance to take care of me.
We say nothing more until I’m sliding my shoes off and padding down the hall toward my bedroom. “I’m going to put on some sweats,” I call out.
“I’ll set up the movie and food.”
I close my bedroom door and quickly go to my dresser. My favorite sweats for this time of the month are at the very bottom. The fact that they’re old Warriors sweats is a bonus.
After changing, I pad out to the front, where Jabari’s laid out the food on the coffee table. My favorite movie is already queued up and ready to go.
He pulls me close. “How are you feeling?”
“Like roadkill.”
“Eat your soup, then you can rest your eyes.”
“Okay.” I settle on the cushion next to him. “Have you ever seen this movie before?”
He presses play. “Nope.”
“I think you’ll like it.”
And I’m right. He’s chuckling not too far into the movie.
The soup warms my insides—a cure for all ailments, in myopinion. When I put the bowl down, Jabari pulls me into his side and smooths my hair back from my face.
“This okay?”
“Perfect.” I bury my face into the crook of his neck and close my eyes.
“Val,” a soft voice murmurs.
“Mm?” I struggle to open my eyes. Why would I when the pain has finally stopped and I’m perfectly warm?
“I think I should get going.”
That’s Jabari’s voice. My eyes spring open as it hits me that I fell asleep. I glance at my watch and groan. “It’s nine at night?” My voice squeaks.
He chuckles. “Yeah. I would’ve left sooner, but Fran said you’ve had a rough week at work.”
“I’ve been putting out fires left and right.” I groan. “Sometimes I want to quit.”
“Yeah? What would you do instead?”
“Actually...” I stop. Do I really want to tell him something I haven’t shared with anyone else?
“What? You can tell me,” he encourages.
“I want to open a nursery.”
“For plants?”
I nod.
“You’d be perfect for that.”
Except I don’t have the guts to do it.
