“Oh, okay. What did you have in mind? And why today of all days?”
Shrugging, I ran my tongue across my lips and simpered.
“We’ve been disconnected lately. I don’t like that. Let me take you to lunch, and we can do some shopping, maybe take Junior to the park after,” I suggested.
“Okay. Just let me go get a shower in. Yoga can leave you sweaty and sticky too. I can be ready in about an hour. Is that okay?”
“Yeah. Take your time.” I took a couple of strides toward her, halting at her side.
When I leaned in to kiss her cheek, I studied the expression on her face. She instantly grew flushed.
“I’ll get his bag packed with everything. Think about where you want to eat,” I suggested.
I left her rattled; that much was obvious. I wanted to know why. So far, I was coming up clean when I tried to catch her slipping. She was either that good, or there really wasn’t anything going on and I was being paranoid as fuck. Treading down the hall to the kitchen, my ringing phone caught me midstride. Ohan was calling.
“Yo.” I picked up, stopping at the fridge for more orange juice.
“Some shit hit the fan.The Virginia Localwebsite just released a story. You should take a look at it,” Ohan relayed.
Once he hung up in my face, my curiosity got the best of me. I went to the website for the paper and scrolled until the headline for the breaking news portion flashed across the screen.
“Local girl believed to be kidnapped, alive and well,” I recited out loud.
What the fuck was this?The picture of Harbor front and center was what really drew my attention.
* * *
Chayaand I ordered appetizers and were seated in a secluded area of the restaurant she had chosen in a booth. We were so closed off from everyone else that you couldn’t even tell we were back there. She said she wanted privacy, and I didn’t think anything of it. But she also kept skimming the area like she was waiting on something to happen. Eyes on the menu, full breasts on display, she studied her menu pensively. I already ordered a bourbon, so I brought the glass to my lips.
“So how was yoga?” I asked, and she lifted her soft, brown orbs to meet mine.
“I am really getting into it. Can you tell?” she asked with excitement.
“Yeah, you look good,” I complimented. “I know that I have been busy, Chaya, and maybe even a little neglectful of you. I’m sorry.”
“Harold, you have nothing to apologize for. Your world was turned upside down when Harbor vanished. That took a toll on you, and you needed to get through it.”
“Well, the rest of the world is about to wonder exactly what happened to her too once this story breaks,” I grumbled.
I wanted to shield her from this. Harbor hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she was about to get bombarded with judgment and accusations. I wasn’t sure she was equipped to deal with this.
“Well, Harbor seems resilient. She was kidnapped and managed to snag a man during all of that. Not just any man either. I’ve read about Mr. Roth. He’s powerful, connected, and very successful. She found a diamond in the rough. And now the world will know, and they are going to want the full story.Do you think she will tell it?” Chaya’s eyes widened in sudden realization.
The conversation was beginning to agitate me. She was acting like a damn reporter fishing for something.
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her in months, so I don’t know how she feels. She cut me off.” My eyes lowered to the table and anger brewed, making my veins boil.
The thought of Harbor being tied to a mothafucka like Frequency Roth left me uneasy. I didn’t trust him, given who his father was. Kutlass Roth was cold and calculated, and it was pretty obvious that his son didn’t fall far from that tree.
“Why not reach out to her? You are her father,” Chaya urged, closing her menu.
“Why all the interest in me and Harbor’s relationship all of a sudden?”I pressed.
Thrown off by my inquiry, a frown creased the middle of her forehead, and she tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Acutely nervous, her guilty irises fell on the table.
“I was trying to help you,” she whispered.
I could tell by her somber expression that I’d hurt her feelings. Her eyes misted, and she picked her menu up again. From across the table, I examined her. Drawn back. Retreated. I reached for my glass to guzzle the rest of my drink. At the rate we were going, we might not even make it to the appetizers. After ordering and having more than enough alcohol, I managed to consume all my food while Chaya remained picking over hers. Using my napkin, I wiped my mouth and tossed it open on the table. I was ready to go.
