"Call her. Talk to her," he suggested. "See how she's feeling. Hear the why. And then decide with both eyes open if this is some shit you really wanna get into."
"And what if I decide that it is?" I asked.
Boogie smirked with a shrug. "Then at least you know the sex life will be robust."
I rolled my eyes slightly with a small smile.
"But real talk, Rem—" he continued. I looked back at him, and his face was serious again. "Whatever you decide to do, you have my full support, aight? I just wanna see you and my godson happy. No judgement on where it comes from."
I let out a sigh of relief. I needed to hear that. "I appreciate that, bruh."
Boogie nodded. "Always." He slid his legal brief back towards him. "Since you here, maybe I can run this case by you right quick. Get your perspective."
Hell nah. I wasn't about to sit and listen to his legal jargon for an hour. I did that enough in college. I looked down at my imaginary watch. "Damn frat, I would but I gotta pick up Melo."
"You lying ass nigga, it's only one," he smirked.
I stood up, stretching. "Yeah, but traffic and shit." I grinned. "Next time."
He chuckled. "Bye, asshole."
I gave him a two-finger salute. "I'll see you. Love you bruh."
"Love you too, fam."
Later that night when my son fell asleep, it was just me and my thoughts. I laid back against the headboard, phone in my hand, thumb hovering over the screen. Her name sat there.
Gianna.
I stared at it.
Wondering what she was doing…
Whoshe was doing.
The thought came uninvited. My jaw tightened slightly as images I didn’t ask for started forming anyway. Her with another man. Laughing. Touching him. Letting him touch her.
She wasn’t mine, not even close, but the jealousy that crept in didn’t care about logic. It came fast and uncomfortable.
Was she on a corner?
Nah.
I shook my head, almost offended by my own thought. She was too pretty for that. Too put together. I exhaled slowly and pushed myself up out of bed, sliding into my slippers before stepping out onto the balcony. The cool air hit me. I dropped into the chair, leaning back, head tilting up toward the sky.
“Dri…” I murmured softly. “I need your help, my love.” I dragged a hand down my face. “I’m trying to do this whole dating thing, but I don’t know how to. It seems cruel that the first woman I meet who I feel something for…leads a life completely different than mine.” I paused, swallowing. “But I like her. And curiosity is getting the best of me.” I huffed a quiet breath. “I don’t wanna fuck this up, babe. I wanna do right byour baby boy. I wanna move the right way.” My eyes closed. “Guide me in the right direction, love.”
Silence answered back at first. Then… I felt a breeze, soft and warm. It brushed across my face gently like fingers grazing my skin. Or a kiss.
My chest tightened. And then I heard her clear as day, like her lips were pressed against my ear:Everything happens for a reason, my love.
My eyes opened slowly. A heavy breath left my chest. It felt like a sign. Permission. I swallowed, sitting forward and grabbing my phone from my lap. “Just do it,” I muttered under my breath. Before I could overthink it—I pressed call.
The phone rang twice. My heart started picking up, beating a little harder. I almost expected it to go to voicemail, so when the line clicked and her voice came through soft and smooth—I froze.
“Hello?”
“…Gianna?”
