He told me that he was taking trade classes, but he never said what he did for work.
“Oh,” he snapped and then looked me square in the eyes, “I forgot to tell you. I found out that my dad did have some money tucked away for me.”
I smiled because I was happy for him. Since I had known him, he always had this weird dark cloud following behind him, and now it looked like he was breathing a little bit easier. The skies were clearing up for him, and he deserved it.
We went back to a meaningless conversation that I was totally comfortable with. Only because it was with him. But every now and then, his attention shifted. His phone lit up, and even when it didn’t, he still reached for it, checking the screen like he was expecting something. It wasn’t obvious enough to call out, but it was noticeable. It was definitely enough for me to clock it. But we had just gotten back together, and I didn’t want to bring the drama in.I’m sure it’s nothing,I thought to myself. With our time apart, I don’t know if he was entertaining anyone or not, so I was trying not to let the moment get the rest of me. I was trying hard.
I watched him do it more than once, and my brows bunched just slightly, but I didn’t say anything. Whatever it was, he wasn’t offering it up, and I wasn’t about to press him on something he clearly wasn’t ready to speak on. So, I let it go. His phone rang, and then he let whoever was at the gate in. Shortly after, a knock at the door pulled both of our attention, and he stood up to grab the food. He came back with two bags in his hand. The smell alone had my stomach reminding me exactly why it had embarrassed me earlier.
We spread everything out on the coffee table and turned the TV on, letting whatever was playing fill the background while we ate.Snowfallwas on. I leaned back into the couch, picking at my food while watching the screen. I was getting pulled into theepisode little by little. It wasn’t long before Tahari let out a quiet chuckle beside me. I glanced over at him with one brow lifting.
“What’s funny?”
He shook his head slightly, like whatever it was didn’t need explaining.
“Nothing.”
I studied him for a second longer, trying to read him. But when he didn’t say another word, I let it go. Between that and the phone, I was a little annoyed, but I tried not to let it show while I turned my attention to the TV. But something about it stuck with me. It wasn’t enough to ruin the moment, but it was just enough to sit in the back of my mind.
Chapter 20
Trigga
Ihad chuckled because for a second, my mind went somewhere else completely. SeeingSnowfallplaying on the screen had made me think about Ghost, about how he used to watch this same show to death. And I mean rewatching an episode that he just damn watched. We had inside jokes about it and all. It was funny in a way I couldn’t explain to anyone else that wasn’t us. I found it ironic that out of everything that could play on the television, this show had to be it. Especially considering he had just texted me not too long ago. The text was simple and didn’t say too much. It was just awhat’s up. My phone sat beside me with a dark screen now, but I already knew what was there because I had seen it and ignored it.
Ghost and I hadn’t spoken since that fight in the alley outside of MB’s Auto. And that wasn’t something small. That was the kind of fallout that changed things. Life for me has been different since then. Better, if I were being honest with myself. Being here, in my own space, with Maliah sitting next to me just felt right. It felt like I was finally stepping into something that didn’t come with chaos attached to it. But I knew Ghost. And I knew better than to think a message from him was just amessage. If I answered, it wouldn’t stay simple. It never did with him.
He thrived on drama and chaos, and I preferred the total opposite. Still… I couldn’t ignore the fact that I missed him. That was my brother, regardless of how things went left between us. My thoughts stayed there a second too long because the next thing I knew, Maliah’s voice was pulling me back.
“You think you could show me the bedroom again?”
I turned my head toward her, and the look in her eyes made my breath catch just slightly. It wasn’t the same soft curiosity from earlier. This was different. There was heat in it now. She didn’t have to explain anything because I understood her without words.
And just like that, everything else faded into the background. The look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know, and I didn’t even try to ignore it. I stood up first, grabbing the remote to lower the volume on the TV before nodding toward the hallway. She was already moving, like she knew I was going to follow. When we stepped into the bedroom, she didn’t hesitate. She walked straight to the bed and laid across it like she had been there before, like she already belonged in the space. And I swear she did. The spot was reserved for her and her only. Shit, the only reason I even pushed myself to get this spot was because of her. Everything I did was for her.
I smiled as she made eye contact with me, then she patted the spot beside her. I couldn’t help but laugh softly under my breath at that as I shook my head, and I bent down to take off my sneakers.
“You really comfortable in here, huh?”
She didn’t answer, she just watched me with that same look. I climbed onto the bed and laid beside her. I propped my head up slightly so I could see her better. For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then she spoke.
“I talked to my mom and my aunt when we weren’t together.”
I gave her my undivided attention as I let her take the floor to tell her story.
“Yeah?” I said as I quickly glanced at her.
She nodded as her eyes drifted up toward the ceiling before coming back to me.
“My mom asked me if I was deflowered.”
The word alone caught me off guard, and before I could stop myself, I let out a laugh.
“She thought you were out here fucking?” I asked, looking at her with disbelief written all over my face.
Maliah laughed too while shaking her head slightly.
“Yeah, basically.”
