Page 17 of The One He Desires

The mocha-skinned woman with a purple-and-black curly mohawk smiles, and I return her pleasantry.

“Brue land.” The words tumble out of my mouth, and I can die right here as I don’t sound any better than Milan. “I’m sorry. I’ll take a blue Long Island, please.”

“Make that two.” Zuri chimes in from my right side as intense heat fills the left side of my face.

A shiver surges through my body when a warm and calloused hand lands on top of mine when I get ready to pay for our drinks. My eyes unconsciously flutter to a close when his voice penetrates my ears.

“I got it.”

My breaths become labored when Sincere’s mouth moves to my left ear, and everything but the racing of my heart gets lost in the translation of what he says.

“I enjoyed your show. Do me a favor, though: Reserve your next one for my eyes only.”

It takes me nanoseconds to register Sincere’s lips on the outside of my ear before the heat from his body flees like his presence.

“Uh, bestie, is there something you need to tell me?”

My eyes slowly peel open, and I turn to my right to see Zuri as curiosity shines in her eyes. I nod, grab my drink from the bartender, and motion to Zuri for us to leave the bar because there’s no way I can speak knowing Sincere is in the vicinity. I move without focus or recognition of the bodies we pass as I search for somewhere to talk to Zuri without being overheard. A minute or so later, we’re at an empty table seemingly in the back of the hall as music echoes around the room, serving as the perfect distraction for everyone but Zuri and me.

“Spill it because you haven’t been to my office with an impromptu session in ages. Who is Mr. Tall, Chocolate, and Delicious?”

I don’t know why, but a giggle slips from my mouth at Zuri’s description of Sincere. It’s an accurate assessment of the man who has been invading my life. I wonder if I’ve been set up, because prior to Jamarion’s cookout, I had never seen Sincere, and now I’m being inundated with his presence.

“He’s Jamarion’s cousin,” I whisper as I turn to look left and right like I’m being watched by an unknown adversary.

“Hm. I would have never guessed. How did you meet him?”

I take a healthy drink of my Long Island before giving her a brief recap of the cookout and the unexpected visit to my boutique. Intrigue fills me as I give myself permission to turn to where Sincere is, and my breath stalls when his heavy gaze connects with mine. I thought I was in a hidden location, but the truth is, the dance hall doesn’t have barriers or walls, as the space is wide open. Despite our distance, Sincere can see me, even though he’s unable to hear what I’m saying.

“If a man like that ever finds me, I’ll be just as lost as you are. But focus, Journee.”

I nod and disconnect my gaze from Sincere and back to Zuri as she takes slow sips of her drink with mischief in her eyes.

“Here’s the thing: I’m not sure if I’m mentally and emotionally ready to date. That man is an attorney, and I own a little boutique. What could I possibly have to offer him but some coochie and a cantankerous three-year-old?”

My self-esteem isn’t low, and I don’t suffer from insecurity. But getting cheated on by a man who was supposed to love me occasionally causes my relationship PTSD to rear its ugly head. BN didn’t hesitate to walk away from my child or me without so much as an explanation, so I can’t help but admit that it’s messed with me a little bit.

“From the deep pinch of your eyes and frown on your lips, you must have gone left. What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing. Overthinking as usual. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“I don’t plan to unless you want me to slap some sense into you again for talking crazy. From what you’ve said and what I saw a little bit ago, that man is attracted to you. He also doesn’t mind you having said cantankerous three-year-old since he met her first. Stop overcomplicating something that hasn’t even been put into motion.”

Before I can reply to Zuri, the man at the DJ booth speaks into the microphone, which forces everyone to pay attention.

“Aye, I don’t like the vibes in this room. Fellas, do me a favor and find you one of these fine-ass women in here to groove with. I don’t want to see a single woman by herself for this next song.” The record scratches several times as the intro for an R&B song spins.

When I see Sincere stand from his seat at the bar and head toward me with another one of the men with him at his left side, my heart rate increases.

Oh shit! Oh shit! He’s coming over here.

I swallow the lump in my throat as Sincere moves in my direction, and I pray my outward countenance doesn’t show my inner panic. The first song plays a few seconds before the DJ scratches the record and moves to another one. I guess he’s giving all of the men time to find a partner. Sincere reaches me faster than my brain can process as he extends his hand.

“Can I have this dance?” His question is steady, confident, and I bite my lip before I place my hand in his without giving him a verbal response.

Electric volts surge up my arm as Sincere leads me to the dance floor. I register that Zuri and his friend occupy the space next to us a second later. But I don’t have time to focus on them, as Sincere pulls me into his arms just as Lauryn Hill’s sultry voice echoes through the room. I exhale and get lost in the lyrics of “Nothing Even Matters” as Sincere effortlessly guides us around the floor. The background fades as I get lost in how steady Sincere’s heartbeat is and how well I fit against him.

“Thank you,” Sincere whispers as a light, feather-like kiss lands on the top of my head.