“I’m alive.”
“That’s it?”
I sat up and rubbed my forehead. “Roman out here.”
There was a pause.
Then Charlee screamed so loud I had to pull the phone from my ear.
“Roman Blake?”
“Yes, Roman Blake!” I snapped. “Why you hollering?”
“Oh my God. Melissa, that is a sign.”
“That is not a sign. That is bad luck.”
She started laughing. “Girl, stop lying. You like that man.”
“I do not.”
“You do too. Every time his name come up, your attitude get worse.”
“That don’t mean nothing.”
“It mean you want him.”
I sucked my teeth. “Bye, Charlee.”
“Mhm. Whatever. Just don’t do nothing I wouldn’t do.”
“You would do everything.”
“And with no regrets,” she said proudly.
That made me laugh in spite of myself.
After I got off the phone with her, I took a shower and tried to shake the whole thing off. I told myself if I happened to see Roman again, I was going to keep it cute, keep it brief, and go on about my business. So I thought.
The next morning…
I had on a little two-piece cover-up set over my bathing suit, my shades on, and a cup of coffee in my hand when I stepped outside. I was locking my door when I looked up and there he was, standing on his balcony across from me in some gray shorts and nothing else.
Lord.
I froze for half a second before catching myself.
Roman looked over and grinned like he had been waiting on me to come outside.
“Mornin’, Melissa.”
I adjusted my shades. “You ain’t got nothing else to do besides be in my face?”
He chuckled and leaned on the railing. “Damn, you always this pleasant in the morning?”
“I was, till I seen you.”
That only made his smile wider.
