Page 51 of Zimyra

“You do the same.”

He closes the door and I start the car with my heart pounding. I haven’t felt this level of excitement ever. Is this what it feels like to date? My goodness. How does the heart contain this kind of exhilaration?

CHAPTER 15

I’m usually the first toarrive at brunch whenever we’re able to have it, but today, I walk in seeing Nykendy and Alyssa already here, sitting at the round table with the pretty white tablecloth. There are yellow tulips in a clear vase at the center of the table.

“Hey, Myra,” Alyssa says.

Nykendy also speaks.

“Hey, y’all. What’s up?”

“Nothing. We were just sitting here chatting until you got here.”

I sit down and place my purse in the chair next to me. The waitress comes over to ask me what I want to drink. I order the same drink Alyssa and Nykendy are sipping – a mimosa.

“So, what’s going on y’all?” I ask.

“Nothing much,” Alyssa says.

“I’m more interested in what’s going on with you, girl,” Nykendy says.

I try my best not to smile when I say, “Please don’t bring up Axel.”

“Why not?” Nykendy asks. “He’s handsome and I can tell he’s into you.”

“Wait—did you say Axel?” Alyssa asks.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I heard Zander on the phone talking about anAxellast night. Who is this person?”

“He’s—” I began, then paused. “You heard Zander talking to who about Axel?”

“I thought he was talking to Jeremiah, but I could be wrong.”

All I can do is shake my head. “Jeez. The men in this family…”

Alyssa says, “Somebody needs to fill me in.”

“I’ll do it,” Nykendy volunteers. “So,Axelcame into the coffee bar the other day, and—”

“Okay—let me stop y’all right there before this goes any further,” I say. “Alyssa, Axel is a colleague of mine, and he’s hardly even that. He works maintenance at Atlantic Properties.”

“That’s it?” Nykendy asks.

“Yes,” I say, hiding a smirk. “That’s it.”

“Your face says otherwise,” Alyssa comments.

Just then, my phone vibrates. I check it real quick and see a message from Axel:

I need some time with you today.

I smile big and when I look up, I see two pairs of eyes holding me hostage.

“What?” I ask, all smiles.

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