Page 42 of Between the Lines

“I’m definitely deflecting.” I laughed, watching the balls scatter across the table before landing in their intended places. “I don’t…I don’t really know how to answer the question.”

“Try yes or no.” Alec shrugged. “It seems simple as hell to me. Do you want to get back with her or not?”

I shook my head. “It’snotthat simple though. Not with the way we broke up.”

“Which was what?” he asked. “’Cause the way you explained it to me…it seemed like neither of youactuallywanted to be apart. It sounded like maybe just some space was needed.”

I grunted.

Really, that was what I thought too—just a need for space, some time apart, room to breathe and really think about the shit. Think about what we meant to each other, how we could make it work. How we could move back into a healthy energy around the relationship.

The suggestion turned into something so much bigger than I really intended though.

“I don’t think we had the maturity to understand that,” I admitted, planting myself against the wall behind me. “Emotions were high, we were both upset…the environment just wasn’t right for us to land atthatplace.”

“You don’t think y’all have changed?” Alec asked. “It’s been what, a year? A lot can change in a year.”

“Yeah, buthasit?” I shrugged. “I don’t know. And really…I wouldn’t even know how to broach the topic with her. We’re finally getting back to a decent place as friends, we’refor realcool with each other again. I don’t know if I want to mess that up if she’s not…there.”

“But you want her to be there?”

“Damn, you are relentless, aren’t you?” I chuckled. “Why are you so concerned with this?”

His eyes were wide for a moment before he could wipe his expression into something neutral and shake his head. “No reason.”

“Nah, nah.” I shook my head. “There’s a reason. What’s up?”

He groaned. “It’s nothing.”

“Stop playing with me, bruh.”

“Fine, damn.” He laughed. “I’m trying to get you and Elodie on the same page so there’s no ambiguity about me and her—which is where this shit started.”

I nodded. “I mean…yeah, there was speculation about y’all. But why is that…why is it a problem?”

“Because—I don’t need Vanessa having any kind of girl code at the back of her mind when I pull that trigger.”

Myeyes went wide. “Hold up—Vanessa, as in our co-star Vanessa?”

“Yeah.”

“As in top-selling rapper-turned-actressVanity?”

“Yeah.”

“Wrong BitchVanity?”

“Bruh—why do you sound so shocked that I’d want her?” Alec asked, frowning. “She’s bad as hell.”

“Absolutely.” I nodded my agreement. “Which is exactly why I’m surprised—I thought you’d go for more like…I don’t know. More of agood girltype.”

He sucked his teeth. “Man, not you too—why does everybody think I’m supposed to want some wholesome chick?”

“Maybe because that’s been your whole image?”

“But that’s notme,” he argued. “I mean, am I agang shittype of dude—absolutely not.” He laughed. “But I’m also not trying to lean into the whole corny, preppy, Mr. Black America shit the world wants to push on me either. I want to just…be.And I want women like Vanessa.Real bad.”

I chuckled. “I see. Well…Ellie and Vanessa are cool, so I’m sure they’ve probably talked about this. I don’t think you’ll have to worry about Vanessa thinking she’s stepping on Ellie’s toes by entertaining you. But…that means you got no excuses not to shoot your shot.”

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