Page 71 of The Need to Know

“Is work really your first love?”

He was quick to bob his head. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Sounds…serious.”

“I just love the hustle, I guess,” Ezekiel reasoned. “Nothing satisfies me more than seeing a plan come together. Then seeing people at our clubs having a good time and happy.” He hung his head, shaking it a little helplessly. “Pops and my mom, they want me to do the whole family gig, but my head not there. Plus, I never really met someone where the vibe was right.”

“ ‘Vibe.’ ” I mocked with an eye roll.

Ezekiel held his hand out, laughing a little. “Chill, I know some women aren’t fans of that term.”

“Because it sounds childish, like something teenagers would say. After a certain age, we’re not looking for ‘vibes,’ just something worth it and the comfort of knowing we’re not wasting our time.”

“Time is a valuable commodity,” Ezekiel seemed to agree. “I guess that’s another thing. I never really felt like I had time to juggle building BLVCKJVCK and a solid relationship. My focus always been the brand and making money.”

Even if we didn’t agree on the same things, I liked talking to Ezekiel. It was easy. He was easy. I respected that he was upfront and didn’t attempt to bullshit me like a lot of men.

“What about you?” Ezekiel pressed. “You more into passion above anything.”

It was potentially my fatal flaw. I was led by my heart and not by my wallet. I felt too much, but lately, I was becoming less ashamed of this fact. There was nothing wrong with being a lover. Or wanting to be loved properly and wholeheartedly.

“I guess I am,” I admitted with a small shrug of my own.

Ezekiel’s hot hand came down on my knee. He squeezed it gently before looking into my eyes. “Nothing wrong with being passionate.”

His hand was only on my knee, but it sent a fierce shock into my entire system. That and the way he was looking at me? I fought the urge to squirm, letting him know just the effect he was having on me.

This man had a way with words like no other.

Ezekiel’s cell phone buzzed and he was back in his phone, freeing me from being under his scrutiny.

We were able to watch two episodes of American Dad before the food arrived. I had a dining room, along with a table in my kitchen, but I decided to veg out right in front of the TV. I camped out cross-legged on the floor and because Ezekiel was in slacks and tall, he remained on the couch. My coffee table was covered in our takeout containers and the case of beer. The sight and smell of the Thai spices was enough to make me forget Ezekiel all together. I was so hungry for my favorite dish.

My curiosity was the only thing holding me back as I watched Ezekiel take his first bite of his shrimp Pad Thai. His brows furrowed and he kept chewing, humming out a pleasant sound of agreement.

“Oh, this fire,” he said.

Yes.

“I know, right? They give you a lime and I usually avoid it, but sometimes I squeeze it into the noodles,” I said.

I dug into my chicken Pad Thai and rocked back and forth as I chewed on the savory goodness.

I held my container out and Ezekiel passed me his. Just like that, so easy, so simple, so…us.

We didn’t finish everything, after eating some of the Pad Thai, and then trying the dumplings and spring rolls, and chasing it down with beer, we were stuffed and ready for a movie. I stayed on the floor, too comfortable, and Ezekiel soon came down beside me. He stretched his long legs out before him under the coffee table and draped his arms across the couch cushions as he leaned back.

“You sure about a movie?” I didn’t want to hog all of his time.

“Yeah, Cease can hold down the fort for a few,” Ezekiel assured. “I’m just taking a break before I go back in on that Pad Thai.”

I felt a sense of pride as a cocky smile spread wide across my face. “Yeah, you better like it.” I grabbed my remote and began browsing the movies on Amazon Prime. “What are you in the mood for?”

“It’s whatever. What do you like most?”

My taste was not for the faint of heart, it seemed like. “Here lately, it’s really gritty and a lot of crime. You’ve seen Baby Driver, right?”

“Yeah.”