Page 7 of Shifting Hearts

“We haven’t been introduced yet,” she says, holding out her hand. “I’m Akasha.”

I take her hand in mine, feeling her silky skin for the first time. A frisson of awareness runs through me the moment our skin contacts hers.

“Korvin.”

She nods, looking at her feet. “I saw you at The Gin Room last night. Do you work there?”

“You could say that.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. I’m just going in search of some coffee.” She tries to pull her hand away, but I hold tight.

“I know a place that has the best coffee. If you don’t mind the company,” I add on.

“I would love someone who could show me around,” she says, a slight blush tinting her cheeks. “I’ve never been to the city before.”

Pride surges through me at the fact she has chosen to spend time with me, allowing me to be her guide. I get to not only spend time with her but show her all my favorite places and keep her safe.

“Let’s get you some coffee and then I’ll show you around the borough.”

****

I spend the entire day with Akasha.

The original plan was only to introduce myself to her but that went out the window quickly, and suddenly I found myself exploring the area I have been living in for the better part of ten years, experiencing everything like it’s the first time all over again.

After grabbing coffee, we walk the streets, looking in through shop fronts, eat steak burritos from a street vendor, and even visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. I keep waiting for her to complain that her feet hurt from all the walking, but more often she is the one dragging me behind her to see the next thing.

With every step we take, we talk. I can’t remember ever having spoken this much in my life but for some reason it simply flows between us. From where we grew up, childhood memories, favorite colors, and music, to everything in between. Neither of us turn the conversation to anything heavy, but we get to know one another throughout the day.

Her laughter is infectious, and I find myself smiling more often. Another thing I’m not used to. So much that my cheeks hurt from using the muscles.

“Will you look at the time!” she exclaims as she stares at the screen of her cell phone. “We’ll have to catch a cab back.”

I whistle loudly, holding my hand out to get us a ride. My heart thunders in my chest as we ride back to our building in silence, my large hand still wrapped around her smaller one. I want to say something, to tell her I would like to do this again, but I can’t find the words. I feel like after all the talking I’ve done today, I’ve simply run out of words.

She smiles at me after we step out of the car, and I pay.

“Thank you, Korvin. I really enjoyed today.”

“I’m happy to hear that. I haven’t had this much fun in ages,” I say with a grin I couldn’t hide even if I wanted to.

“Can I tell you something?” she asks shyly.

“Anything.”

“Since the moment I got to the city, to Brooklyn, I knew I was meant to be here.” I can hear she is trying to explain something but not telling me everything. “I feel like I’ve known you my entire life.”

Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “Sweet girl, that is the best thing I’ve heard in ages.”

“Really?” she asks, smiling up at me and I wink at her.

“Let’s get ready to go to work,” I say, cutting into the moment but knowing it needs to be done. For the first time today, my bear rumbles, unhappy with the fact I am haltingour progress. “If you want, I can always show you around more another time.”

“Oh, I would love to see the catacombs. I read they do a candlelight tour,” she says excitedly as we get onto the elevator.

“We’ll have to do that tomorrow night, when we’re off,” I say pressing the button for my floor.

She doesn’t select a different floor, and it hits me. We are living beside each other, that’s why I could smell her so clearly. She is my new neighbor. The apartment had been sitting vacant for over a year until just this week. Now I know who moved in.

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