I was halfway through an episode of “Insecure” when I heard footsteps in the hallway outside the door. They paused, and I could almost feel him standing there, unsure. This was his space too, but being home wasn’t his thing.
“Co, can I chill with you?”
I muted the TV, surprised by the uncertainty in his voice. “Yeah, come in.”
The door opened slowly, and Lesley stepped inside.
“Why are you being weird? This is our bedroom, and yes, this is my daily routine, but you are invited anywhere I am.”
He smiled at that, showing all his teeth, and walked over to the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight as he scooted beside me, pulling me into his arms.
“What we watching?”
“Issa Rae being messy as usual,” I said, unpausing the show. “It’s Insecure, you probably wouldn’t like it.”
“Play it, I’ll be the judge of that.”
So we sat there, curled up under each other, watching Issa navigate her complicated love life while making questionable decisions. He actually laughed a few times, and I found myself relaxing in a way I hadn’t expected.
“Hold up,” he said during a commercial break, “which one are you supposed to be? And what about Rebecca and Yaslynn?”
I turned in his arms to face him, genuinely surprised. “You’re actually paying attention?”
“Yeah,” he said simply. “So which one?”
“I guess I’m a little bit of all of them,” I said, thinking about it. “Issa, when I’m overthinking everything and making it worse. Molly, when I’m being stubborn about what I think I deserve. Tiffany, when I’m trying to hold everything together and look perfect doing it.”
“And your girls?”
“Rebecca is definitely Molly energy—successful, particular, high standards for everything. Yaslynn?” I grinned. “She’s Kelli energy all day. Loud, hilarious, always in some drama of her own making, but she’s the one who’ll ride for me no matter what. She’ll clown me, sure, but she’ll also pull up at 3 a.m. if I call.”
I laughed, shaking my head at the thought. “Together, they balance me out. Rebecca keeps me sharp. Yaslynn keeps me from taking myself too seriously. Between the two of them, I stay grounded. I met them in the library one day.”
“What made you ask that?” I turned toward him, curious.
“Malice said you looked the happiest when they came to kick it. I’m just tryna figure out who was probably calling me a dog ass nigga.” He laughed again. I was melting into a puddle, just being so close.
“That would be Yaslynn,” I said, laughing. “She’s protective. But she means well. And for the record, neither of them said that.”
“You wouldn’t rat on your friends, so I don’t believe you.”
His smile lit the room up and made the seat of my pants wet.
“You’re a little crazy, jealous, and introverted, but I know a good man is in there.”
He raised an eyebrow. “A little crazy? Just a little?”
“Okay, maybe more than a little. But the good man part is what matters.” I shifted to look at him. “Yaslynn sees things. She knew you were different before I did.”
“Different how?”
“Like you actually cared about me instead of just keeping me quiet.” I traced a finger along his chain. “She said any man who sends two hundred roses and chocolate diamonds is either crazy in love or just crazy.”
He laughed, the sound rumbling in his chest. “It’s both.”
I settled back against him, feeling his arms tighten around me. We fell quiet again, the sounds of the show mixing with our breathing. His fingers found mine, intertwining them against my stomach, and I realized this was what I’d been missing my whole life, not just someone to be with, but someone who wanted to know my friends, who asked about the small things that mattered to me.
The day had been perfect. Absolutely perfect.
