Page 92 of When a Soul Cries

“You following me?” she asked.

I looked around the bar before pointing at myself. “Me?”

“Yes, you.”

“Woman, how the hell am I following you when I was here first?”

“Then go back to wherever the hell you were sitting.”

I leaned closer.

“Nah.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Nah?”

“Nah. See, I've been thinking about this little attitude since the gas station. Now God done brought you back into my life.”

She nearly choked on her drink.

“God ain't got shit to do with this.”

“Don't block my blessing, Zari.”

She slapped a hand over her mouth, but I caught it.

That little laugh.

Quick as hell, but I heard it.

I pointed at her. “Aha.”

Her smile disappeared. “What?”

“You laughed.”

“No, I didn't.”

“Yes, the fuck you did.”

“You hearing shit.”

“Nah. You like me.”

“I don't even know you.”

“That's fixable.”

She shook her head, but the corner of her mouth twitched.

And just like that, I knew I had her.

Not *had* her.

But I had cracked something.

A little something.

Enough.