“Idon’tlove him!” I said, giving them the stankest of stank eyes when I realized how ridiculous I was being.
“We didn’t say anything!” they both yelled back. I had to work on my poker face, because they swore they knew me. Even though shit was a little weird, I couldn’t wait to get back home to him.
CHAPTER 25
CHASE ME
“Hey,”Amaya said awkwardly as she slipped in her front door. For the past few days, she had been weird as fuck, and avoidant. She had just got back from her third trip to the grocery store that day, and for someone who didn’t even fucking cook, that was way over the top.
“Come here, babe,” I said. I watched her eyes flitter in my direction before she started scrambling in a panic, trying to find anything to do other than make eye contact with me.
“Yeah, just give me a second, I gotta put all this stuff up, or you know I won’t get it done.” I huffed. How dare she try to use my love for organization against me? She scurried into the kitchen, but I had enough, springing to my feet and following her—only when I got there, it was empty. I heard footsteps and realized that her sneaky ass had slipped out the back way and was headed back toward the bedrooms.
“This damn girl,” I mumbled to myself as I chuckled. You would have thought I was on the field the way I sprinted back through the living room to cut her off at the pass. When I popped up on her ass, jumping out in front of her, she screamed like I was Freddy Krueger. For somebody who played tough like she did, her ass was scary as shit, and it cracked me up every time.
“Amaya, baby it’s me,” I said, grabbing her arms before she could swing on me. I had caught a few of her accidental hits before and quickly learned to go for the hands first.
“I know… You just… scared me.”
“Why you running from me?” I asked, getting right to the point. I wanted to have the conversation in a more relaxed environment, but since she wanted to make a nigga hunt her down, we could do it right in the hallway.
“I-I’m not running from you. I went to put the groceries up, but then I realized I needed to change my clothes, so I—” She started over-explaining and stumbling over her words, so I knew somethinghadto be wrong.
“Amaya,” I snapped, cutting her off. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! Everything is fine!” she answered quickly.
“Nah, Toni. Talk. You a grown ass woman,” I demanded.
“Fine,” she huffed. “You… told me that you… loved me the other night.”
“That’swhy you been actin’ like this?” I couldn’t help but laugh at her skittish ass. Even now, she was shifting her feet and refusing to look me in my eyes. I gripped her chin and forced her eyes on me.
“Yeah! Why would you say that to me?”
“Because it’s the truth.” I shrugged.
“No, it’s not! You were drunk!” she argued.
“I was drunk, and that’s damn sure nothowI wanted to say it to you for to the first time, but I absolutely meant it. I love you.”
“N-No you don’t.” She wasstillrunning from me. I stepped closer, grabbed her gently by her shoulders and stared right into her eyes.
“What are you scared of Amaya?”
“I ain’t scared of shit!” she snapped. Clearly calling her scary ass out was a trigger because now she was puffing out her chest, trying to intimidate me.
“Aight tough girl,” I chuckled. “You ain’t gotta do all that. Iknow you’re strong… but I also know that you’re soft, and sweet, and completely in love with a nigga,” I jested, making her reach over and punch me in my chest.
“So stupid! Ineversaid that!” She rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, because you scary! You don’t have to say it, just know that I know. What I don’t know is why you still running from me… What are you so afraid of, Toni?” I asked, pulling her body to face mine.
“I—um…” she stumbled over her words, biting her bottom lip and looking off.
“Look at me,” I scolded. She complied. “It’s just me and you here. What are you scared of baby?”
“Getting hurt… again.” Her deep sigh hit me right in my gut.
