Page 55 of Refuel

“Girl, ask your momma if I can still pull a man. Even though I don’t want them.”

Fifteen minutes later, Kamden walked into the living room wearing fresh clothes.

“Cicely, why are you talking to her about dating? The only man who should be on her mind is me,” Kamden said, kissing the side of my forehead. I rolled my eyes and noticed Cicely smirking at me.

“I’m glad you two found each other,” Cicely said.

Kamden reached over and entwined our palms.

“Ready to head out?” Kamden questioned.

I nodded in answer, waving bye to Cicely. Kamden told me he was close with his mom, and I hoped she accepted me. If she didn’t, I wondered if Kamden would continue seeing me. Kamden held the door open for me as we exited his condo and walked to his car.

“What’s going on in your head?” Kamden asked.

“Nothing.”

He swung me around and pushed me up against his car, pressing his body against mine.

“What’s your favorite color?” Kamden asked.

“What?”

“What’s your favorite color?” he questioned.

“Baby blue.”

“What pisses you off? Makes you happy, turns you on?” Kamden asked.

“Where is this coming from?” I questioned, folding my arms.

“You have insecurities, Ari. I can see it in your eyes. I know you portray this strong woman who takes no shit. But you’re afraid of not being loved,” Kamden said.

I chuckled and looked away at his comment. He thought he was fixing something broken in me.

“I don’t need fixing, Kamden. I’m not some scared, insecure person.”

“You sure about that?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“So, why are you letting that chick get into your head?” he replied.

“I’m—” I started to say and stopped, avoiding his eyes. Was I insecure about being with him? Was this what Freddie felt like when we were dating?

“I get it, Kamden. Maybe I went a little overboard, but I have a feeling they’ll keep trying to do something to break this up. Whatever this is,” I told him, standing on tippy toes to kiss his lips.

“Josie and any other girl can say what they want. I know who I want to sleep with at night and wake up next to in the morning,” Kamden said, stepping back to open the door.

“Who would that be?”

“A spoiled woman named Arianna Pierce,” Kamden joked.

We both laughed at his comment as I slid inside the car, and we drove off toward his mom’s house.

“Black,” Kamden spoke, startling me from my thoughts.

“Black what?” I replied.

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