She tried to fight the smile, but I saw it anyway.
“I’m not really in the mood for company,” she said.
“Good thing I ain’t offer all that. Just the drink.”
That made her laugh softly, and that little sound did something dangerous low in my chest.
“Still slick, huh?” she said.
“I got a few talents.”
She shook her head like she was already tired of me, but she sat back down anyway.
“One drink,” she said.
I took the seat across from her, and for the first time in a long time, being around somebody didn’t feel heavy.
It felt… easy.
Not because I forgot about Mo.
Not because my pain disappeared.
But because for the first time in a long time, something other than grief had my attention.
Melissa leaned back in her chair and looked at me. “So what, you just out here taking random vacations now?”
I swirled the drink in my glass. “Needed to clear my head.”
She nodded slowly like she understood more than she was saying. “Same.”
And just like that, with the ocean behind us and both of us pretending we weren’t carrying way more than we wanted to admit, the conversation started to flow.
It wasn’t flirting exactly.
But it damn sure wasn’t nothing either.
Iwould’ve never thought I’d leave the city to get away and end up running into Roman Blake.
I had been seeing him around from time to time, and every time he would flirt and try to take me out, but I wasn’t off that. After the year I had, I was still on my fuck-men crusade. All I wanted to do was date them, fuck some, and keep it moving. I guess I was on my hoe phase, as Charlee and Fee would say. I didn’t care, though. It was what it was. The minute a nigga wanted more than what I wanted, I was out, and I meant that shit.
After we had that drink, I left and Roman did the same, but once I got back to my villa, I noticed he was staying in the one across from mine. I couldn’t do nothing but shake my head.
Out of all the islands, all the resorts, all the damn villas, this man had to be right across from me.
“Of course,” I mumbled, dropping my purse on the counter.
I slid my sandals off and walked over to the balcony doors, peeking through the curtains like I was crazy. Sure enough, Roman was over there, moving around like he had all the time in the world. Calm. Unbothered. Fine as hell.
I rolled my eyes and let the curtain fall shut.
That man was a problem.
And the worst part was, he knew it.
Ever since that night at Club 4 Play, Roman had been popping up more than I wanted him to. Not in no creepy way exactly, but enough for me to know he was paying attention. If I came to check on the money Jordan owed me, somehow Roman would be there. If I stopped by the club for anything, he’d find a reason to slide over and get in my face with that smooth-ass mouth of his and them eyes that always looked like they knew more than he was saying.
A few times back home, he had managed to get me to go out with him. Nothing major. Drinks one night. Food another. A late-night spot another time when I couldn’t sleep and he just happened to call. Every single time, I told myself it wasn’t a date.
