"You be doing too much," she said, but I could hear the smile in her voice. "You need to rest."
"I'll rest when I get home. I got shit to do tomorrow."
"You always got shit to do. When you gon' slow down?"
"When this money slow down."
She laughed, and damn, I loved that sound. "You so stupid."
"Nah, I'm just focused. But I'm tryna see you when I get back though."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. It's been a minute since I seen you."
"Whose fault is that? You the one always out of town."
"I know, I know. But I'm making it up to you. I'ma come see you tonight."
"Yatta, it's gon' be like three in the morning by the time you get here."
"So? You gave me a key for a reason, right?" She was quiet for a second, and I could picture her biting her lip the way she always did when she was thinking.
"You really coming?"
"Yeah. I'm coming."
"Okay," she said softly. "I miss you."
I felt my chest tighten a little bit, that feeling I always got when she said shit like that. I ain't used to this, caring about somebody this much, wanting to be around them, missing them when I'm gone. But Zurie did something to me.
"I miss you too, mama."
"Drive safe, okay? Text me when you get close."
"I got you."
"Okay. Goodnight, Yatta."
"Goodnight, Zurie Maddox."
I hung up with a smirk still on my face as I merged onto the highway. My mind was already on how she looked the last time I saw her, how she smelled, how she smiled at me when I said some slick shit. Zurie was different from all the other females I used to fuck with. She wasn't pressed, she wasn't on no drama shit, nor was she trying to trap me or get in my pockets. She was just... her.
We had a connection, real shit. But we ain't cross that line yet. She was still healing, still getting herself together, and I respected that. Plus, I was always on the move, always out of town handling business. But that don't mean I ain't want her. Because I did. And I wanted her in the worst way.
* * *
The drive back to Chicago was long as fuck, but I was used to it by now. I stopped once to get gas and grab some snacks, but other than that I just drove straight through, my mind on Zurie the whole time.
By the time I pulled up to her condo in Hyde Park, it was damn near three in the morning. The building was quiet, all the lights off except for the streetlamps outside. I parked in the guest spot and grabbed my phone, texting her.
Me: I'm outside
She ain't text back, she was probably already sleep. I got out the car, locked it, and headed up to her floor. When I got to her door, I pulled out the key she gave me a few months ago and unlocked it, stepping inside quietly.
The condo was dark except for the little nightlight she kept on in the hallway. I locked the door behind me and kicked off my shoes, making my way to her bedroom.
The door was cracked open, and I could hear her breathing, soft and steady. I pushed it open slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the darkness. She was knocked out, laying on her side, her bonnet on, the covers pulled up to her chin. JJ was in his room down the hall.
