Page 35 of Delirium 2

When we got upstairs to the bathroom and she undressed, I handed her the loofa. She didn’t take it. Softly, I smiled and got to talking more about how beneficial cleaning herself could be. Just casual conversation about the beauty behind it. After she was showered, I lotioned her up really good and found a cute silk gown for her to wear. I had her sit at the bathroom vanity where I did a whole skincare routine on her. I did the same thing for myself. Regardless of my upbringing and the lack of resources, I took damn good care of myself with products I got from Dollar Tree. However, First Lady had all of the best shit. La Roche Posay, Tatcha, and shit like that. All high end products I couldn’t wait to add to my own collection.

Once I finished her skincare, I put her bonnet on, and got her to the bedroom. I moved at a steady pace but I was excited as hell about getting back on the phone with Exodus. So excited that I thought about skipping my own nighttime routine, afraid that once I finished he’d probably be sleep. Because I was a gangsta and didn’t give a fuck about no nigga, I showered and took my time getting myself together. Whole time, I laughed to myself because a bitches heart raced, hoping like hell I wouldn’t miss him.

Once I was dressed in my little short pajama set, I quickly got on the phone to call him. He picked up on the second ring, almost as if he’d been waiting for my call.

“Damn. Bout time. I thought you forgot about me,” he said, as soon as he answered.

I blushed. Never baby.

Instead of showing my true feelings, I sucked my teeth and said, “Almost. I had to remember to call you.”

“Yeah, okay,” he doubted. “How’d it go? She take the rag?”

Rag.

I had First Lady using a sponge and a loofa. I ordered her an African net off TikTok yesterday. She was too much of a classy lady to be using rags. Rags were for bitches like me.

“Nope. She didn’t. But I got a feeling she will be bathing herself soon.”

“I’m happy as hell God sent me you,” He said after a couple of seconds.

With dipped brows, I said, “God sent me to you? Or did you just⁠—”

“Nah, call it what it is. God sent me you. Regardless of how we came together, that’s what happened. He sent me an angel. For sure.”

He sent him to me too.

He sent us to each other.

I didn’t say that though. I just swallowed, thinking about how right he was. It gave me chills.

“I’m not an angel,” I said through a laugh.

“You’re an angel to me. For me. For us,” he seriously said before switching the subject. “Fuck you eat for dinner? Hot dogs and pork n’ beans?”

I laughed again and sucked my teeth. “You got me fucked up. I don’t know why you think I eat struggle meals just because I like my sausage pancake corn dogs. Speaking of… I will be ordering me some tomorrow so⁠—”

“I promise if I see that shit in the freezer when I get over there, I’m getting rid of it. You really like wasting money. Damn.”

Exodus and I stayed on the phone for hours. Two hours and fourteen minutes to be exact. We talked about a lot. From life to goals and childhood dreams. We talked about history, religion, and the mystery of life too. And he dropped a few gems I couldn’t help but to soak up. It was so refreshing. I hadn’t talked on the phone like that since the start of Vellz and I. However, the conversation was so different. It was mature. It was real. It was filled with not only laughs and heartfelt moments, but undeniable chemistry too.

I really, really, liked Exodus.

And instead of enjoying that feeling, I was terrified.

8

EXODUS

The ringing of my phone snatched me out of my sleep. With lazy eyes, I felt around the bed, looking for it until I found it under the pillow next to me. Squinting, I looked up at the time. Eleven. Fuck? I overslept. Shaking my head, I shifted my attention to the contact name. Calvin. Clearing my throat, I tapped the phone icon to answer it.

“Yo?” I answered, sounding groggier than I would have liked.

Again, I shook my head.

Only reason I got a late start was because last night, I was on the phone with Sereia for hours. Way past my bedtime. Time seemed to flow without me realizing it. Shit moved so smooth that when she yawned one too many times, drawing my attention, I was hesitant about getting off. I fucked with her. I fucked with her heavy because shit, I didn’t sit on the phone for hours. I’d never done that. Not even as a young nigga. I was on the move. Spent fifteen, twenty minutes tops on the phone. Jada used to hate that shit too. Especially in the beginning. She was one of those females who wanted to cake up on the phone all day. I had shit to do. Still had shit to do but the shit I had to do didn’t seem to matter with Sereia in the equation.

“Good morning, Exodus. I catch you at a bad time?” Calvin asked.