“I didn’t tell him anything,” she said to me. “I haven’t told anyone anything. He brought coffee, and we were talking. You kicking my door in is out of pocket. Don’t do that again. The doorbell works just fine.”
“Malice,” I said toward the hall. “Call Paco. Get her a new door and shit. Today. Grade-A deadbolt. Exterior cam on the porch. Ain‘t shit secure in this bitch.”
“On it,” he said.
“Wait one damn minute. Again, this is my damn house. You don’t get to control my home because you’re having a moment,” she said, low and straight. “A moment with no basis might I add. When did you become my man?”
“I get to control anything near you because of last night,” I said back. “An unknown man in your space is variable. I don’t like variables. And I damn sure don’t like for a nigga to be in your face.”
“He’s not unknown,” she said. “He’s my friend. And this is the face of a single woman. A nigga can be wherever I want him.”
“So he knows your hours. He knows your tired voice. He knows how you take your coffee?” I asked.
“Lesley.”
I stepped in a little more. Her chin came up; she thought she was tough, and I had something to tame that. Rashad shifted, as if he might try to be a hero.
“Don’t lose your teeth or life nigga, you can go.”
“She didn’t say?—”
“Shad, I’m okay,” she said, still looking at me. “Thanks for the coffee. Text me later if you can help with next weekend.”
“There will be a next weekend, correct?” she asked, looking up at me with soft eyes. She was enjoying this.
I nodded. Rashad grabbed his keys he tried to hold my stare. And I ain’t let him.
“Coco, get this nigga outta here before he’s my next victim.”
“Rashad, please just go. I’m fine, he’s harmless.”
He left, and I laughed at being harmless. I took a seat on her couch and leaned back.
“You can’t kick in my door,” she said in a whisper.
“I can, Coco. I did. The real question is—why did I feel entitled to? Figure that out, and you’ll know exactly where we stand.”
Her whisper carried more bite than volume, and I liked that. She thought she could shame me into backing off. But women didn’t set the pace with me—I set it. And I wanted her unsettled, thinking about me every time she looked at that busted frame.
“You good?” I asked her, softer without meaning to be.
“I was,” she said, “until you put my door on the floor. What a psycho.”
“A better one will be installed by noon,” I said. “That’s why I took a seat. Sit.”
She came around and took a seat on the couch, maintaining distance between us. “Why did you kick in my door? That’s embarrassing.”
“What’s embarrassing is you having a man in here like you didn’t meet me last night.”
“You, sir, are already being a thorn in my side.” Her voice carried irritation. “I’ve got things to do. Leave once my door is fixed.”
I watched her walk away and bit my lip. I liked her stubborn ass way too much. Why did I feel bad about upsetting her?
Within fifteen minutes, she returned wearing a gray-and-highlighter-green Von Dutch sweat suit. It wasn’t what Iexpected, but dressed-down Colecion was dangerous territory for my self-control. The way she pulled off that slicked-back ponytail had me shifting in my seat. Her signature scent floated through the air. I stood, needing to put distance between us before I did something stupid like kiss her to see if sparks flew like I knew they would.
“You’re lucky you’re as beautiful as you are. You need an attitude adjustment, though.”
“And let me guess, you’re just the man to give it to me?”
