“How about we get in school together? On your next free day we can research some classes at a community college.” Serenity suggested hopefully.
She held her breath, waiting for La’Nova’s rejection.
“Let’s look into it together Monday. Give me your address, I can come over. You got a laptop? I’ve been planning to buy one,” La’Nova said, picking up her glass of water.
Serenity’s mouth dropped open.
“You for real right now?” she asked in disbelief.
“About what I just said?” La’Nova frowned.
“Yes!” Serenity practically squealed in a high-pitched tone.
“Yeah girl, I need a woman as a friend outside of Luca. You the closest to that since you been working my nerves since day one.” La’Nova playfully rolled her eyes.
“Can I—” Serenity inhaled sharply, fanning her face but her tears had already started to fall. “Can I hug you?” Her voice cracked.
“Yes girl, you can hug me.” La’Nova scooted back in her chair then stood to her feet.
“I’m starting to realize even people like us need to embrace each other. We deserve to be embraced, loved, accepted, and evenprotected.” La’Nova blinked away her emotions as she neared Serenity.
The restaurant buzzed around them like nothing important was happening. Somebody dragged a chair across the tile, making a scraping sound that usually caused attention. Serenity’s fingers twisted together at her waist, La’Nova felt her nervous energy as she looked into her glassy eyes, already begging to be embraced. La’Nova was stiff as an iron board, not used to initiating hugs and showing love. Her shoulders stayed squared as she continued to study Serenity carefully.
Trust was a big issue that she struggled with over the years. La’Nova questioned if bringing Serenity close into her personal space would come back to haunt her.
“Are you going to hug me?” Serenity’s voice cracked but she managed a weak smile.
Finally, La’Nova’s shoulders dropped, her chest lifted as she took in a deep breath and stepped forward, crossing a line she normally wouldn’t cross. Soon as her arms wrapped around Serenity, her body sagged against La’Nova’s as a broken sound escaped her before she could stop it. Her fingers grabbed the back of La’Nova’s dress as she sobbed lowly against her shoulder.
She pulled Serenity closer and rested her chin against her temple.
“I needed this, thank you,” Serenity whispered, feeling like relieved.
La’Nova offered no words herself because she hadn’t realized how much she needed it as well. She pulled Serenity back by theshoulders and just stared into her eyes for seconds that felt like minutes before speaking.
“We got different shit with us. I’m no better than you, and I never thought that. I see more then beauty when I look at you. It’s one of the reasons why I’ve taken extra time while working at House of Angels talking to you and always getting on your case. I can’t wait to see what unfolds for both of us because we deserve to finally feel freedom of doing whatever the fuck we want to do…freedom of feeling good and succeeding.” La’Nova spoke with so much conviction, her own words soothed her.
Chapter 27
Pain makes it feel real
Luca’s man cave stayed dark even though it was the middle of the afternoon. He preferred it this way since it matched his dark mood. Heavy blackout curtains covered the tall windows that normally looked out over the back half of his estate. Only a thin strip of daylight slipped through the edges, cutting across his marble floor.
The scent of leather mixed with cigar and weed smoke made the room cloudy. A massive black sectional curved around a low glass table that was scattered with unopened mail along with two chess pieces knocked sideways from an unfinished game he played this morning.
Luca sat slouched deep into the corner of the couch, one elbow resting on the armrest. His free hand wrapped loosely around a half glass of cognac. Roy had been talking for ten minutes straight and Luca hadn’t interrupted him once.
“Like I said my nigga,” Roy cut through Luca’s jumbled thoughts, pacing in front of the huge flat screen TV like what he was saying was the most serious conversation in the world. “I pulled up respectfully. Knocked on the bitch door, respectfully…even brought food, respect-ful-fucking-lee!” His voice went up and octave.
Luca blinked slowly, tuning back into Roy’s conversation just as he threw his hands up dramatically in the air.
“Bitch open the fucking door smiling in shit.” Roy shook his head, still not believing what happened between him and Serenity.
“She hit a nigga with a—” Roy smacked his lips, licked them then mocked Serenity’s voice the best he could. “What’s up Mr. Transaction.” He twisted his neck just like her.
Luca’s stoned expression cracked into a half smile at Roy’s theatrics.
“What happened next?”Luca signed with his free hand lazily.
