Page 65 of The Need to Know

“Stranger, huh?” I teased.

“I’m out picking up dry-cleaning. I oughta pull up on you since you can’t come see nobody,” Ezekiel responded.

If he was threatening to come over, I wasn’t complaining. “Don’t remind me. I’m thinking of not opening the store tomorrow and just sleeping in for two days.”

“That busy, huh?”

“Even worse when you’re alone,” I said. “Which reminds me, did anything happen with Paisley last night?”

There was music playing in the background on Ezekiel’s end, classic Keyshia Cole. He turned her down and gave me his total focus. “Uh, nah, she was straight the last time I saw her. We got her a car home and everything was smooth. Why?”

I sighed, thinking perhaps I was overreacting. “She called in sick today, and I know that happens, but she didn’t sound sick. I was just wondering if maybe something went on last night. Was it a good night?”

“Hell yeah. Paisley came through and shut BLVCKJVCK down. She was only supposed to do three hours but she hung around for a minute taking pictures and hanging out. It was real cool. Want me to call her to see what’s up?”

Ezekiel was sweet to offer, real sweet, but on the off chance Pay was just under the weather, I decided not to push. “Nah, thank you, though.”

Hard knocking greeted my front door, succinct and determined.

“Someone’s here, it’s probably her now,” I said as I stood up and faced my entryway.

“And you out here worrying for nothing,” Ezekiel said. “Maybe she was hungover or something. We did share a joint, could’ve just been tired.”

“Now I’m jealous I didn’t come out,” I said as I crossed over to the door just as the person knocking sounded off again.

I undid the chain lock and unlocked the latch on the knob before going and grasping it and pulling it open.

“See, we could’ve chilled in the Spade Suite if you wanted to relax. Work on that flavor of wine that’s been…”

Ezekiel’s words faded into the background as I nearly lost grip of my phone. Paisley wasn’t at the door.

Corey was.

I hadn’t seen him this close in what felt like forever, standing before him now caught me off guard.

He was the same as I remembered. A few inches taller than me, light brown skin that complemented his dark brows and moustache and goatee, dark eyes that never held any sense of light in them. Sometimes, one look into his eyes was enough to startle me to the bone. Just like I was left standing in front of him suddenly trembling.

Corey Reece wasn’t my first love, but what we had was something enough to shake me to the core emotionally.

“Nas? Nas? What’s up?” Ezekiel was in my ear, trying to get ahold of me.

I pulled myself together, blinking and cursing myself for wearing a flimsy black tank top and my red varsity shorts. And then I smacked some sense into myself for having the nerve to shame myself for being comfortable in my own home.

Corey noticed what I was wearing right away. His hooded eyes ran up and down my frame as he licked his lips and bobbed his head, liking what he saw. Almost as if he could still remember how my body felt next to his.

“Long time, no see,” he said. He did himself a favor and invited himself in.

My feet were rooted to my place in front of the door, unable to move.

“You got company?” Ezekiel was asking on his end.

Ezekiel.

“No,” I got out.

Corey perked a brow, eyeing my phone and becoming curious. “Ain’t you gon’ greet me? I know you missed me.”

While I liked going to the gym to stay in shape and chase that addictive runner’s high, Corey was on the thicker side. I never minded or cared, finding his size only a bonus to his looks. No matter if he worked out or not, Corey was definitely stronger than me. There’d been plenty of times before when he hadn’t hesitated to pick me up and carry me on his shoulder off to some bedroom or corner.