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She left me with a smile. I picked up the vase, carried it to her office, and then headed to clock in. Before I did so, however, I took a moment to call Callum. His thank-you deserved to be heard, not read through a text message.
“Hey, beautiful.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Mr. Ellis, you are something else.”
“What did I do?”
“You know what you did.” I giggled. “Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful and my favorite. Nobody has sent me flowers in forever, let alone ‘just because.’ You trying to make me feel special or something?”
“You are special to me, Pasha. I don’t know what it is... but you’ve got it. You’ve got me. I just wanna see you smile.”
I blushed. “Well, mission accomplished.”
He chuckled. “Have a good shift. A driver will be there to take you home when you get off.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, baby.”
We disconnected the call. I rested my back against the wall, a huge smile on my face. As hard as I’d been trying to fight it, I had to accept that I liked this man. Maybe I didn’t want to. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I did.
The Next Evening
I stood in front of my full-length mirror, turning from side to side, making sure that I looked okay. Callum told me to dress comfortably but still wouldn’t indulge me in just what we were doing. I wasn’t sure if I was too comfortable in the black cargo joggers, orange halter-styled body suit, and white canvas shoes.
“How long are we going to play this narrative?” Blake asked.
She, Avyn, and I were in my apartment as I got ready to go out with Callum. I think they loved being able to come here as much as I loved having a place of my own to come to. It felt like old times, back when I lived with my parents. They were always at my house.
I frowned as I stepped out of my closet. “What narrative?”
“That you’re not dating the man you’re dating?”
I sighed. “I’ve told y’all—”
“I know what you’ve told us. ‘He’s just a friend.’ I call this bullshit. That man has been very, very intentional, okay? He’s given you control of the narrative. He’s been building your confidence. He shows initiative, courtesy, and respect. You better snatch him up, Pasha.”
“Y’all find it so hard to believe that maybe he just wants to be friends. I mean, I don’t take him for shy. He wouldn’t have any problems telling me he was into me if he really was.”
“You better learn to read between the lines, girl.” She rolled off my bed and stood before walking to the closet door. “I have to go to work, but please, send me pictures.”
“I will.”
She headed for the front door but called over her shoulder, “And take a shot for me!”
I nodded my head. “I will!”
Avyn appeared in the doorway with a bowl of Ramen. She stood against the wall with one leg crossed over the other, munching on the noodles. She shook her head at me.
“How many times are you going to look over yourself? You look fine, girl. Everything is sitting up, right and tight. The body is giving honey. Mr. Ellis is going to love you.” She snapped her fingers.
I gave her a side eye. “I’m not about to play with you. Are you sure I look okay?”
She rolled he eyes. “Pasha, please don’t make me smack you.”
“I’m sorry! He refused to tell me what we were doing. All he said was to dress comfortably. I don’t know if this is a good level of comfortable for me.”
“Even if it isn’t, you look cute. Didn’t Beyoncé tell you that pretty hurts?”
