Page 30 of Save Room for Us

“Cool.” I climbed out of the car, rounded it, then opened the door for her.

Using my hand to climb out, she sniffled once to her feet. “I still love you, so even if you cut me off, you’ll be back, because she won’t love and care about you the way I do.”

“Good night, love.” I kissed her forehead and rounded the front of my whip to get back in. “Go inside,” I told her since she was still standing there.

She hesitated for a moment before trudging toward the entrance of her apartment building and entering.

I tried to put the shit to Milan as simply and politely as I could, so I hoped she understood as much as she fucking claimed to.

Walking behind the curtain in the hospital division of the warehouse, I looked Taj over.

“He’s doing great. He just needs to do shoulder exercises,” Anastazia let me know.

“Man, I tried, but that shit hurt!” Taj exclaimed. “Maybe you can help me like you did the first time.” He smiled at her.

“Nigga, you know how to do the shit yaself. Stop making her do extra work,” I said, making Anastazia giggle.

“Aight.” Taj nodded as Anastazia began to step out. “Wait, if I need you, I can just use this button, right?” He grinned.

“Yes, Taj.” She nodded, leaving out.

“Calm down, nigga. It’s not gon’ happen.” Jutting my chin out, I said, “Do them exercises.”

Taj sucked his teeth and nodded as I stepped out and located Anastazia at the sink, washing her hands.

“He is too cute.” She beamed.

“You known for having bad taste, so I can see why you’d say that,” I joked, causing her to chortle as she dried her hands.

“Cedric is a maniac, or coward as you say, but ugly? No.”

“See. Bad taste.”

She giggled, saying, “Whatever, Asif.”

“You hungry?” I questioned, watching her move around the room, putting shit away.

She wore scrubs, and for some reason, it had the same effect on me as some fucking lingerie. Her bottoms hugged her ass and hips subtly but enough to get my dick hard. When she removed her top to expose the tank top she wore under, I had to adjust my sweats while she had her back to me. It didn’t help a nigga at all that her nipples were hard in this cold ass room.

“No, I brought my lunch. This gig pays very well, but I still need to conserve because I don’t know what will happen. In case I go away, I wanna make sure my family has more than enough to take care of Sophie.” She pulled her insulated lunch bag out. “But thank you for the offer, Asif.”

As she talked, I just watched her, admiring not only her but the way she thought. I’d never in my life met someone so selfless, not since my stepmother. A lot of women would go without in favor of their kids, but Lisara and now Anastazia were on a different fucking level. They went beyond going without. The shit was more like a sacrifice. And coming from a nigga with a mother who didn’t give two fucks about me, it was hard not to find Anastazia’s mindset commendable.

“Aight. I will just kick it with you while you eat then.” I made my way over to the table she was seated at off to the side, pulling out a chair and descending into it.

Laughing, she quizzed, “Shouldn’t you go pick you up something? I probably should’ve brought more food, huh? You stayed here all night for me, and I didn’t even think to makeyou something to eat.” Her face was full of distress, making me chuckle a bit.

“Nah, you good, baby.”

“No, I’m not good. I’m gonna make you something and bring it next time, I promise. I’ve been so wrapped up in all this shit I have going on I haven’t taken time to stop and show you how thankful I am for all that you’ve done for me.”

“Aye, you straight. I’m a big boy. If I want some food, I can get in my whip and go buy the shit. I just wanna kick it with you while you eat yo’ lunch.” I put my elbows on top of the table. “I do want whatever you plan to bring me next time though.”

“Okay.” She smiled, starting to remove the top from her Tupperware. “So you like me, huh?” She squinted her eyes after putting some cornbread into her mouth.

“Very much.”

“Don’t you think I’m too old and damaged for you?”

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