Page 49 of The Wright Man

Angelica watched us with something soft in her eyes. Like I invented fire that night. And I'd never stop wanting to be the kind of man who deserved it.

* * *

Maleek

Now

"Hells Bells!" I grinned, spinning Bella once before setting her back on her feet. "Damn, I missed you, girl."

"Uh-uh," Bella said, wagging a finger with faux indignation. "I have been DELIVERT from my hellish ways for a long time now, Mr. Wright. You may as well call me Heavens Bells." She gave her bob a dramatic swish and hit me with a grin so fake it damn near circled back to convincing.

I smirked. "Mmm-hmm. I'll believe it when I see it."

"Don't believe the lies, baby brother!" Tina's voice floated over, syrupy sweet with just enough edge to make me brace. She strutted over in a bright wrap dress that clung like it had beef with gravity, her smile wide and familiar. "She may look sweet, but that one is still very much a heathen."

I raised an eyebrow. "...Like you?"

She didn't even blink. "We ain't talking about me. Now, show me love."

Tina didn't wait for permission. She pulled me into a hug that was full and firm and smelled like brown sugar body butter and something floral I couldn't name. I closed my eyes for a second, letting the comfort hit me full force.

Her hugs always felt like Mama's. Not exactly, but close enough to pull something deep from my chest. Something old and warm and grieving all over again.

She pulled away and gave me a once-over. "You look good, kid. You still working out or just lucky?"

I chuckled. "A little bit of both."

I looked around again, instinctively scanning for the one face I hadn't finished seeing.

Angelica wasn't on the porch anymore.

I felt it again. That low-grade ache behind my ribs.

Because no matter how good it felt to be here—back home, wrapped in hugs and shit talk and the girls who'd helped make me, me—it didn't hold a candle to the quiet hum in my chest when Angelica looked at me like she used to. Like I was hers.

And now she was inside somewhere, running from me, putting walls back up before I could decide whether to knock.

Tina's arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me back into the moment, somehow knowing exactly where my head was and how to bring me out of it. "Don't look so serious, 'Leek. We got time."

I nodded slowly. But my eyes drifted back inside the house, looking for that green dress and coming up empty.

Time wasn't really what I was worried about. It was whether she'd let me close enough to use it.

"Now that the hugs are out of the way," Bella said, crossing her arms and giving me the kind of side-eye that I'm sure made grown-ass men second-guess their life choices, "you're late."

I raised an eyebrow. "Damn. No grace period?"

Tina snorted. "Bells, give the man a break, with your Type-A ass. It's been four years and he's probably still on Japanese time or whatever... You human appointment book."

Bella rolled her eyes and stuck out her hand like she was swatting away Tina's nonsense. "Be serious."

Tina pretended to bite it.

I barked out a laugh—quick, surprised, full-bodied. It was good to be home.

"My bad, my bad," I said, throwing my hands up in mock surrender. "I had to pick up Cap's gift."

Bella squinted like she didn't quite believe me. "Hmm... same thing Angie said when she got here late. You're gonna have to do better than that."