“I’m glad you enjoyed it. We gotta keep your circulation right if you’re going to be writing for so long.”
“Yeah. I usually take breaks every two to four hours, but today, I didn’t want to stop. I haven’t written like this in a while.”
“That makes me so happy. I’m glad you were able to lock in. You’re about to create another masterpiece, I’m sure.”
When she was about to pass me as I sat on the side of the bed, I grabbed her wrist and sat her on my lap.
“As a writer, I understand the power of words,” I shared. “I’ve never been the kind of man who didn’t communicate.” Afterkissing her shoulder, I said, “I have to be honest with you and tell you I don’t think I would have had such a successful writing day if it wasn’t for you.”
Confusion covered her pretty ass face as she caressed my cheek then pinched my chin. “What do you mean?”
“I had a bit of writer’s block before you arrived. I had an initial idea and set of characters, but the words weren’t flowing.”
“You said you don’t believe in writer’s block,” she mentioned. “I remember you saying that on that Black Men in Lit panel six years ago.”
Pride surged through me. Even with Avery saying she was a fan, it didn’t really sway me. But knowing she not only was at an event I headlined but remembered something I said . . . that made me feel good.
“Yeah, I didn’t. I don’t. I guess I just wasn’t connected with those characters to tell their story. Then you came, and a new idea formed. Then you didn’t go away, and I felt inspired. I felt what I wanted to write, and feeling it made the words flow. Which is weird because I can write street shit and thriller and kill a muhfucka on every page, but doing this contemporary romance was the true challenge.”
As serious as I was, her light laughter made my facial expression relax as her thumb massaged the space between my wrinkled brows.
“Well, I’m honored to help. It’s exciting being here while you create. This is a moment, an experience, that I’ll never forget.”
“I appreciate your support. The inspiration and influence. Your companionship. I won’t ever forget this moment in time either.”
Her nose brushed against mine before I cupped the back of her neck and connected our lips. In that moment, as much as I craved the warmth of her walls, I preferred the intimacy ofhaving her in my arms . . . on my chest . . . feeling her heartbeat sync with mine.
We settled into bed, because I convinced her to let me hold her . . . just for a little while. A little while turned into all night. When I woke up around three in the morning and found her snuggled up against me as she snored softly, I smiled and thanked God for the intrusion of her presence. She was my own personal gift, and though I knew she’d be leaving me soon, I planned to take full advantage of having her close until that day came.
10
Avery
Today had been a terrible, no good, very bad day for me emotionally. To start, I was pretty sure my period would be coming next week, so I was already moody. Because of that, I decided to stay at my hotel instead of going over to Ali’s house. I got some horrible news that my cousin was in the hospital, and as much as I wanted to go and see her, I knew it would be pointless. Our family had been at her side since she was admitted, and they were already driving her crazy.
She’d texted me and let me know she hadn’t even had a moment alone to cry and process what was going on with her health, so I knew I’d just be another person hovering and creating anxiety for her. I felt helpless knowing she was suffering and there was nothing I could do to help. Hell, her doctors hadn’t even figured out what was causing her seizures and fainting yet.
On top of that, Laya had been calling me for the past two days, and I was pretty sure she wanted an update on my nonexistent article. I hadn’t answered her calls yet because Iknew if I told her Ali wasn’t budging that she’d tell me to come home. And Jessica was also in my head.
Usually she approved of my shenanigans, but this time, she had me questioning everything. I’d shared with her the sweet words Ali had said to me yesterday and she told me to be careful because it sounded suspect. I immediately got irritated and didn’t even respond, because how could a man expressing himself and appreciating my presence be suspect?
It made me feel like she was suggesting Ali wasn’t to be trusted, which would have made me paranoid, and I didn’t have time for that. There was a ticking clock between us already, and the last thing I needed was to wonder about his intentions. Hell, if anyone should be suspicious, it should be him of me. What ulterior motive could he possibly have to have me around? The more I tried to convince myself I had nothing to worry about, the more nervous I became.
Snatching my phone off the bed, I slipped into my shoes and called Jessica. As I waited for her to answer the call, I paced.
“Hello?” she answered sweetly, and for some reason, that only irritated me more.
“What do you mean him being sweet to me sounds suspect?”
The line was silent for a few seconds before she laughed. “What?”
“You heard me. Why would you say that? Now I’m over here overthinking when he’s given me not one reason to doubt him.”
Jessica sighed. “I’m just saying. What are the odds the man you’ve pined over since we were in high school just so happened to be pining over you too, and when you reconnect, y’all connect and just . . . stay together forever?
“What man talks all gratefully and sweet to a person he probably doesn’t even trust? Ali is probably keeping you close to distract you from your article. Or did you forget that’s the reason you’re there anyway? The man hasn’t been in a relationship forwhat . . . three years you said? And he just clings to you and never lets you go? Either he’s playing you, or he’s crazy, and I just want you to be careful.”
Rolling my tongue across my cheek, I chuckled as I walked over to the window and looked out into the bright sky.
