I stood there, heart beatin’ a little faster, watchin’ him cross the street.
He walked right up to the driver’s side, tapped the window with two knuckles.
The glass slid down.
Even from where I was, I could see Roman’s silhouette.
They talked low. I couldn’t hear words, just tones, deep, even. No shoutin’, no wild hand movements. Just two men havin’ a conversation in the dusk.
At one point, Charlie Mac laughed, patted the top of the door like he was amused.
Roman said somethin’ that made him nod slow, face more serious.
After a minute, Charlie stepped back, pointed at the house, then pointed down the street like,you see this, you see me.
Roman gave a little nod.
Window went back up.
Charlie walked back to me, chucklin’.
“Who was that?” I asked, even though I already knew.
“Your man,” he said. “Roman.”
“He not my man,” I said automatically.
He smirked. “I told him the same thing.”
My eyes widened. “What you say?”
“I told him if he gon’ sit outside my house starin’ at my daughter like aLifetimemovie, he might as well come check me out and talk ‘bout you sometime this week,” he said. “He said he was gon’ pull up.”
I sucked my teeth. “You invitin’ my stalker in the house now? Wow.”
He laughed. “Ain’t nobody scared of that boy. He respectful. Crazy, but respectful. I just wanted to see what kind of man got you in a chokehold.”
“I am not in a chokehold,” I lied.
He gave me that daddy look. “Okay, Melissa.”
I hugged him, shakin’ my head.
“Love you,” I mumbled into his shirt.
“Love you more,” he said, kissin’ the top of my head. “Text me when you get home. And if that boy act too wild, you know where to bring him.”
I laughed and pulled back. “You not about to be fightin’ my almost-boyfriend.”
He raised his brows. “Almost?”
“Goodnight, Charlie,” I said, dodgin’ the question.
He chuckled, watchin’ me get in the car.
Once I pulled off, I checked my mirror.
Sure enough, that truck eased out a few seconds later.
