“You think? Look, you got any family I can ca?—”
“Don’t!” I swipe my wet nose again. “Don’t call them.”
“Look, lady?—”
“My name isn’t ‘lady.’ It’s?—”
“Lovie!” AJ howls from somewhere in the crowded street.
My heart drums in an unnatural rhythm, and I strain my neck, looking around for him until I spot the top of his braids.
His mahogany skin stands out against the pale complexions of the white people trampling through our neighborhood, and he towers over everybody, looking down at each of their faces as they walk by.
“You know that guy?” Officer Patton asks while I stare at AJ.
Jesus, I hope we don’t catch eyes.
That’s how he got me the first time.
His hazel eyes had pierced into mine on the quad back at school. Then he smiled at me with teeth so straight and white that I got self-conscious about my own.
He swings his head wildly until his eyes slam into my face. I pinch mine shut and open them right as he pushes through a group of shaggy-haired teenage boys and steps off the sidewalk. He takes long strides across the bustling street in his cobalt blue suit, pulling at his loosened tie and hugging his single-breasted coat to his chest.
We look like we’ve been to two different parties.
Just an hour ago, Coach Caldwell complimented him on that coat he’s hugging and congratulated us on our impendingnuptials. He said we were a “fine looking quiet couple” and I still don’t know if that’s a good thing.
When AJ gets closer, he frowns at Officer Patton idling next to me. Now all the black truffle risotto I ate at dinner bubbles up my throat.
“Bae!” he yelps, stepping onto the curb. “Where the hell you been?”
He’s talking like I wasn’tjustin our kitchen.
He reaches out and pulls me into his solid chest.
My perfume floats off him. The lavender and bergamot notes are embedded deep in his button-down, and my mauve lipstick sits on his collar. I’m all over him. I think there’s even a speck of my blood on his loafers, but Officer Patton doesn’t notice because he hasn’t bothered looking any further than AJ’s face.
“Look at you,” AJ murmurs, raking his fingers through my short curls and staring at my hot cheeks. “Look at your face. Jesus. What are we gonna do about the shoot tomorrow? We already confirmed with the rep fromPeople. You can’t take pictures like this.”
I gurgle out a choke while he lets my head go and thrusts his hand out to Officer Patton. “Thank you. I’ve been looking everywhere for her.”
Officer Patton clears his throat and gives AJ a firm handshake. “A lady called in—said she was wandering up and down Kaufman without shoes and a busted up face asking folks to use their phones.”
I was?
I try to pull away, but AJ pulls me back to his side, and I feel the reason I took off out of our apartment in his pants pocket. It jabs me in my rib while I chase Officer Patton’s eyes.
I need him to look at my face.
I need him to knowthisisn’t me.
I don’t know who this woman is he keeps talking about.
“Is that true, Lovie?” AJ asks. “Were you asking strangers to use their phones?”
“No, I was…I was just?—”
He rolls his hazel eyes away from me and chuckles. “I’m sorry about the commotion, Officer. My fiancée really, really loves New Year’s Eve. Maybe a littletoomuch.”
