Page 24 of Another Constant

“Do you need me to pick up anything?”

“No. I think I have everything I need.” I called myself moving out of his immediate space, but he never moved his hand from my side.

“Good. Send me your address.”

That I did have to move to do. My phone was on the other side of my desk. Once I had it, I keyed in my password and navigated to our messages. I sent him my address, then began to pack up. A little small talk later, he and his adorable niece walked me and my puppies to my car. He stood behind me while I settled them in. Coincidentally his car was parked right next to mine. We left the parking lot at the same time, him in his truck behind me.

* * *

“So what I’m hearing is you’re fucking the mechanic tonight?” Caya’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“No, we’re just having dinner. Getting to know one another.”

“Bitch, you said that but all I heard was free oil changes and tire rotations for life. Can’t be the only thing he’s rotating.” She was way too giddy. That was her personality though.

“Caya.”

“What? Fuck that man for all the helpless bitches in the world. We get got err’ time we walk in a fucking tire or mechanic shop.”

I couldn’t stop laughing at her stupid ass because she was so serious.

I wasn’t gonna say this was just dinner again because then the question would be if I was convincing her or myself. I was taken aback when he kissed me that day, but even more so tonight. He kissed me with authority, even after asking if he could. His energy wasn’t asking for shit though. He wasn’t the type of man to ask anything, I could tell that much by his eyes. Asking but already knowing the answer wasn’t asking, it was foretelling in my eyes.

“Um hello, earth to Harlem.” I had gotten caught up in my thoughts.

“My bad, what did you say?”

“I said you better let him wax that ass. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go deal with your nephew. Apparently Bluey went off and he’s still not trying to go to sleep. Get some for both of us. Love you.”

She hung up before I could say anything else to her. I closed my eyes momentarily. Then I moved to the pots on the stove, checking the temperature. Everything was still warm. My eyes nervously jumped to the Alexa on my wall. It let me know he’d be here soon, sending slight tremors through my body. Shit, he made me nervous. Why? I didn’t know. Shit, maybe because he was straight forward and beat around no bush. His demeanor and countenance reminded me so much of OA.

Once again I checked on the puppies, nervous energy sending me from room to room before I heard my doorbell and my phone lit up on the counter.

He was here.

I checked myself in the mirror, of course, before going to the door. I was dressed comfortably, another thing I overthought when I got out of the shower after cooking. A gray fitted T-shirt and a pair of black leggings.

I opened the door and there he stood. I had taken him in earlier, but right now was different. Right now I was stuck on the fact that this man was standing at my door holding a damn cake plate.Did he make me a cake?

“You baked?” I asked, stepping to the side to let him in. He didn’t pass me when he was in though. Instead, he stopped in front of me and hugged me. Not one of those friendly hugs either. He then kissed my forehead before moving across the threshold.

“Yesterday. Figured I wouldn’t show up to your door empty handed.”

“Well, aren't you sweet?” I grinned.

“Nah, I’m not.”

I laughed.

“It smells good here.”

“Then what do you call showing up to my door with cake?” I closed the door then moved around him to the kitchen.

“Being raised right. Where do you want me to sit this?”

“Right there is fine.” I pointed over to the island. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“What do you have?”

---