“Then she wins, if she has the actual time off.”
“Right? I don’t know why people complicate this.”
Edie leans in close. “It’s because people are hungry for what little power they can hold over anyone they think is beneath them. It’s actually pathetic.”
Power-hungry people are the worst kind with prideful people as a close second. I really wish everyone would just do what good they can in this world and find joy in life..
“It’s very pathetic.”
“But anyway, back to you and your kiss,” she bats her eyes. “What’s next?”
“Honestly, the ball’s in his court. I’m open to exploring us reconnecting, I think, but I’m not about to be chasing after him.”
“I see what you did there.” Edie wags her finger at me and grins. “And I think you’re right. He has to take the lead. What do Charisse and Porsche think about this?”
“They don’t know we kissed.”
“Oh my God! Am I first in line? Am I your true and real best friend?”
My phone buzzes on my desk.
Edie hops up and reaches for my phone. “Is that him?”
I grab it first and turn away from her. It is him.
Javonte: You busy today at lunch? I know a place with fruity teas.
I turn the phone towards Edie. “Tell him no.”
“But I am. I have that PTO mediation.”
“Girl, I got that. Go eat lunch. No. Go take the rest of the day off. You know you want to.”
I do want to. I don’t want to be here at all, and hanging out with Javonte would be the perfect distraction.
“I’ll just go to lunch. You sure you can handle it?”
She purses her lips. “First of all, I can handle anything. Second of all, why just lunch?”
“Because I’m not dropping everything and running to play with him.”
I do want to drop everything and run to play with him. I just refuse to admit it.
Edie sucks her teeth. “Whatever you say. Just text him back and go get your man.”
I hold my phone in my hand. “He’s not my man.”
“Not yet.” Edie grins at me, showing all her teeth.
I opted to drive myself this time, and I spent a few minutes in the car preparing myself. I will not melt into this man’s arms.I will not fall into the same trap of loving him more than I love myself. Not today.
But that wall cracks a little bit when I see him standing outside the restaurant. All tall and handsome and... shiny. Like, you moisturize just so we can see you. A well-moisturized man gets me every time. And there’s something about Javonte Kind anyway that gets me.
His smile when he sees me draws my smile out, and it pulls me right into his arms. I do melt into him, but that’s all I’m doing. That’s what I tell myself. I can melt, but I can’t fall apart. I can’t give him everything. I’m not going to.
At least, like Edie said, not yet.
“Hey,” he says into my hair as we hug.
