Page 90 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

I returned the Spider-Man figure to Malik and placed it carefully in his hand.

“Thank you for letting me hold him.”

Malik looked down at the toy, then at me.

“I enjoyed spending time with you.”

He smiled.

“I hope I can come back.”

His hand lifted from the armrest. I held mine up, and he pressed his palm against it. The high five was soft, but it warmed me through and through. I rose and turned to Amelia.

“Thank you for having me.”

“You’re welcome, Elijah.”

“Thank you for the cobbler.”

“I’ll pack some for you.”

Frankie looked at me. “I warned you.”

“I’m not refusing it.”

“You’ll get a container next time,” Amelia said. “Today was an evaluation.”

“Mama.”

“What? He passed.”

I laughed as Frankie walked me to the door. She stopped beside me in the foyer, close enough that her perfume reached me beneath the lingering scent of peach and cinnamon.

“Well?” she asked quietly.

“Well, what?”

“What did you think?”

“Your mother is intimidating.”

“She likes you.”

“I know.”

Frankie pressed her lips together. “And Malik?”

I slid one arm around her waist.

“He’s intelligent, funny, observant, and far more patient with my lack of superhero knowledge than he needed to be.”

Her eyes shone.

“You liked him.”

“Very much.”

Relief moved across her face, and I touched her cheek.