Page 150 of Steps

“Yeah, Toya lives with me now, so you won’t beable to return the bracelet to her at the house. Why don’t you stop by my jobtomorrow?” He pauses a few seconds, listening. “Cool. See you.”

Varen ends the call and drops my phone on the bed.“There. Done.”

I scoff. “Are you serious?”

He shrugs. “It’s cool. He fixed your bracelet andwants to return it. What’s the problem?”

“What’s the problem?” I brush over my curls. “Youpretty much just marked your territory.”

“Come on,” he mutters, sitting at the side of thebed. “I wanted him to get the message loud and clear.”

“Which is?” I angle my head and wait.

“That you’re mine.” He leans over and kissesme. “And I’m yours.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re something else, you knowthat?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, and so are you.”

Since he’s leaving work late, Varen lets me drivehis car to school on Tuesday, and I pick him up that evening.

He plants a sweet kiss on my lips when he gets inthe passenger side. I smell wood on his clothes as always.

“Want to take it from here?” I offer, gesturing toswitch places behind the wheel.

“Nah, I like you driving my car.” He sticks hishand in his pocket and pulls out my bracelet.

Joy bubbles in my heart. I reach over my righthand for him to put it on for me.

“Looks just like new.” I smile as I regard mybracelet. “You were nice to him, weren’t you?”

“Actually, I yanked it from him and told Augustnever to call, text, or try to see you again.”

My head flies up. “Varen.”

He chuckles. “Kidding. I thanked him as politelyas possible for fixing your bracelet.”

I suck my teeth in wonder and drive out of thehome depot parking lot.

Varen sighs and leans back against the headrest asif weighed down.

“How was your day?” I ask.

He glances at me. “Long. How was yours?”

“Hard. My brain hurts from all the classes. Ican’t wait for it to be over, but then there’s college.”

We laugh together.

Varen touches my thigh. “Hey, you’ll get throughit. Hang in there.”

“Hmm. You too, babe.” I glance at him briefly toflash a sweet smile.

We stop at the grocery store on the way home andpurchase something for dinner.

While Varen showers, I cook rice and stew chickenand veggies.

He gushes when he steps out of the bathroom, hairdamp and looking like a Calvin Klein model in his sweatpants and tee. “Mm.Smells good, babe.”

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