Page 7 of Mark My Words

“You don’t look so bad yourself. How did you know it was me?”

Entering the grand hall of the Marriott Hotel, the two men slipped to the side, out of the way to make room for the guests who filtered in behind them.

“Just because you went off to the army, then to college and forgot about us don’t mean I could forget about your tall ass.” Cleveland chuckled. “You’re the only guy I know who’s over six feet tall with them broad-ass shoulders and those thick-ass hands.”

Malik dropped his eyes to his hands and stretched his fingers. “My hands aren’t that thick.”

“They’re big as hell,” Cleveland countered. He laughed as Malik’s mouth turned into another broad smile.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were checking me out.” Malik peered at Cleveland. “Something you want to tell me?”

“Please. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I’ve got my eye on one person and one person only. And she damn sure doesn’t come with a strong masculine jawline, an iron chest, or those thick-ass knuckles you call hands like you have there.”

“Hey, I’ve seen some beautiful women with strong jawlines.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Who are you supposed to be tonight, anyway?”

Malik didn’t respond, instead giving Cleveland a minute to check out his mask thoroughly.

“Wait, don’t tell me.” Cleveland scrutinized Malik. “Beast?”

Another full smile lifted Malik’s mouth.

“As in Beauty and the Beast?” Cleveland asked for good measure.

“And here I thought you would never guess.”

Cleveland nodded slowly in appreciation as he took in the whiskers that stretched from the mask’s nose and the faux brown hair that made up the mask’s costume.

“Well done.”

“And you’re…” Malik slipped his hands inside his pockets. “Zorro?”

Cleveland popped his collar and twirled on his ballroom shoes. “You know it!”

The men guffawed, and Malik nodded.

“Nice. What have I missed since I’ve been gone?”

Cleveland cocked his head to the side and smirked.

“You mean besides Destiny?” Cleveland snapped his fingers. “No, you mean, is she off the market like you are?”

“I’m not off the market.”

Cleveland frowned. “That’s not what every major new station is airing.”

Malik sighed. “It’s a long story, okay?”

“Well, if you came here to get back in Destiny’s good graces—”

“Destiny broke up with me. Why would I need to get in her good graces as if I did something wrong?”

Cleveland’s gaze scanned the room, and Malik stared at him.

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