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After hanging up with Akira, I pull the car to the side. Niko scoots to the front seat and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Remember what we spoke about, Niko,” I sign.
She nods soberly.
After last night’s scare, I treated everyone to ice cream as per Dejonae’s request. But when we got home, I sat Niko down and gave her a firm talking to about being more aware of her environment. I believe she will not be running into the street after balloons again.
Checking that my daughter gets into the school building safely, I then drive to Dejonae’s university and send her a text.
Sazuki: Where are you?
Dejonae: Why are you asking?
Sazuki: Are you already in class?
Dejonae: I’m walking there now. Why?
I peer through the windshield and see her limping down the path. Her head is down and tucked toward her cell phone. I climb out of the car and the sound of the door slamming prompts her to lift her head. The moment she sees me, she freezes in place.
Though I did not expect her to be welcoming, I am not prepared for the dismay that crosses her pretty face.
Does she dislike me so much?
I march toward her. The wind picks up, grabbing fistfuls of her honey-tinged curls and throwing them over her gold-dusted cheeks. Today, she is wearing another dress. This one is sleeveless and clings to her shapely form.
My eyes thirstily soak in her curves before I drag my gaze back to her face. Her mouth is pursed as I approach. The pressure of my gaze increases when her tongue darts out to nervously lick her lips.
My entire being longs to capture that mouth of hers until I know exactly what her tongue feels like against my own.
But I inhale a deep breath and wrestle those thoughts away.
“What are you doing here?” Dejonae hisses.
Again, I get the feeling that she is not pleased to see me.
“Is there somewhere private we can go?”
Her eyes widen and a tinge of alarm lights in them before she wipes it clean. “P-private? Why do you need to speak to me in private? What’s so urgent that it can’t wait until I go to work?”
I pin my lips together, saying nothing.
“Is this about yesterday? Is Niko okay? Did she get hurt?”
“Niko is fine. Thanks to you.”
Her eyes dart away. “Don’t thank me.”
“You saved her.”
“She never would have been put in that situation if I had been more attentive.” Squaring her shoulders, Dejonae looks me right in the eyes. “I’m sorry that I put her in danger.”
This woman.
I recall the moment I walked out of the bowling alley and saw Dejonae fling herself in front of an oncoming truck to protect my child. She saved my daughter.
I owe her my life.
Stretching my hand forward, I curl a finger under Dejonae’s chin. “I do not want your apology.”
