“You look pretty,” she said, leanin’ back to really look at me. “Roman done had you stressed, but you still holdin’ up.”
I huffed a laugh. “Thank you.”
“He out back,” she said, noddin’ toward the yard. “I’ma run to my friend house for a bit. I left y’all some sweet tea on the little table. Talk. Tell the truth. Don’t raise your voices too high, these windows thin.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
She winked. “And baby?”
“Ma’am?”
“Don’t let that boy fool you,” she said. “He loud, but his heart softer than he let on. Same for you.”
My throat got tight.
Before I could say anything, she was already grabbin’ her keys and headin’ out.
“Lock the door behind me,” she called. “Y’all use the back door.”
I did as she said, then walked through the kitchen to the yard.
He was already out there.
Roman sat at the small patio table, tall frame takin’ up too much space in one of Nana’s little metal chairs. He had on a black tee and joggers, chain glintin’ in the light, eyes on the ground until he heard the door.
When he looked up, my chest did that dumb little stutter.
“You good?” he asked, standin’ as I stepped out.
“I’m here,” I said. “That count?”
He gave a half smile. “Yeah. That count.”
He pulled my chair out for me like a gentleman, then sat back down across from me.
Sweet tea sweated on the table between us.
No music. No club noise. No other people.
“Thank you for not poppin’ up somewhere else when I texted,” I said first. “I halfway expected you to just be outside my door.”
He huffed. “I thought about it.”
“I know you did,” I said, mouth twitchin’.
His eyes softened. “You call, I come. That’s just… how I’m wired.”
“I’m seein’ that,” I said quietly.
Silence sat there again.
My heart was beatin’ too fast, but I knew if I let him talk first, I’d end up reactin’ instead of sayin’ what I needed to say.
So I swallowed my pride and jumped.
“Alright,” I started. “Let me go first.”
He nodded. “I’m listenin’.”
