Page 33 of My Heart Belongs to You

“You always study like this?”

My eyebrows hiked, then I remembered I was wearing a cropped T-shirt and yoga shorts.

I folded my arms over my chest, covering my nipples. “Yes. You always stop by people’s houses unannounced and criticize their in-the-house clothes?”

Nadir chuckled throatily. “It was just a question. I’m not criticizing you at all, Goldie.”

The insinuation in his tone made my stomach flutter. I returned my attention to the apricots, picking up the first one and biting it. Hints of tartness hit my tongue as I chewed the delicious fruit.

Pulled pork with an apricot reduction sounds nice.

My eyes widened at the thought. I continued chewing considering several recipes as they came to mind.

“Wanna bite?” I waved the apricot in front of him, making him laugh. The low, guttural sound made my belly flutter.

“Hell yeah. You over there having a foodgasm and shit.” He bit into the apricot; his expressive eyes fixed on me while doing so. After chewing and swallowing, he nodded. “I’ve never had anything bad from The Fruit Stand.”

“Ever,” I added, then continued eating.

Nadir ate more plantain, seemingly deep in thought. I looked over his appearance, biting my bottom lip. I was reminded that he was on the way to work when I saw his all-black attire. His locs were down today, a rare sighting. He had the front pulled back into a loose knot, keeping them out of his face.

“Thank you for this,” I said, gesturing toward the bowl.

He smiled. “I won’t act like I bought them without expecting something in return.”

“I’ll make the cobbler,” I groused while rolling my eyes.

“What are you doing tonight? Aside from studying.” He said the last part like it pained him, which made me giggle.

“Nothing really. I might just keep it lowkey and watch movies or something.”

“You know where you can spend your Thursday night, right?”

“You’ll be working,” I reminded him. “And besides, I don’t feel like getting all dressed up.”

He chuckled as his heated gaze swept over me. “Yeah, I can tell.”

Punching his arm, I replied, “Shut up!”

Nadir’s wide smile fell at the sound of my ringtone. I made my way to the living room where I left my phone to see who was calling.

“Hey, Ray,” I answered before taking another bite of my apricot.

“Are you sitting down?” she asked quietly.

My eyebrows met. “No. Should I be?”

I fought back a laugh because Raven could be dramatic sometimes. She was the worst person to deliver bad news.

“Sadé and I are going to a party tonight.”

I plopped down onto my suede, emerald-colored couch.

“Okay?”

“Terrance is proposing at the party.”

“Proposing? To who?” I shrieked, feeling a sudden wave of nausea.