Page 3 of Love You Like That

Ezra nodded. “I figured. You got that thoughtful look.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Like you overthink shit, but ya gut already knows the answer.”

I laughed softly. “Wow. You analyze every stranger this fast?”

“Only the ones I might write about later.” That made my cheeks warm, and I looked ahead at the sidewalk, trying not to let my smile give me away. “So, back to you comin' to the lounge three times.”

“The first time was by accident. The second? Not so much.”

“And the third?”

I bit my lip. “Let’s just say I was hoping you’d show up again.”

He didn’t respond right away. Just looked at me with his good eye catching the light in a way that made my stomach flutter. “I respect the honesty,” he nodded.

“I don’t have time for bullshit.” That made him laugh, low and rough like it came from deep in his chest. I liked the sound way too much. “So what do you do when you’re not interrupting girls’ nights and spitting soul-wrecking poems?” I asked, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.

He scratched his beard. “I write. Paint.”

“Paint?”

“Murals. Not as much anymore, though.”

“Damn,” I said, eyebrows raised. “You just… got all the talents, huh?”

He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “Just tryna stay sane.”

I nodded. I got that. More than I cared to admit.

We walked in silence for a few steps. The kind of silence that wasn’t awkward. It just was. Crickets sang somewhere close and the air still held onto the heat from earlier, warm against my skin. My dress clung to me a little, but not in a way I minded. I felt alive. I felt good.

“What you do?” Ezra asked, tilting his head toward me.

“Nursing. Pediatric track.”

He raised his eyebrows. “So you a baby-saver.”

I laughed. “I guess you could say that. Still got a little ways to go.”

“That’s dope,” he said, and I could tell he meant it. “Takes a strong person to go into that field.”

I shrugged. “Takes a tired person too and a lot of caffeine.”

“You ain’t gettin’ much sleep?”

I looked at him, surprised at the question. Most guys would’ve followed up with something about nurses in tight scrubs or long hours. Not Ezra. He looked like he genuinely wanted to know so I answered honestly. “Some,” I said quietly. “Not enough.”

“You gotta protect ya energy, Yavanni.”

The way he said my name slowed time. “I try to.” We finally reached the corner and I could see my girls waiting by my Lexus parked down the block. I wasn’t ready to reach it, though. “Can I ask you something?” I said, stopping at the crosswalk.

He turned to face me fully. “Anything.”

“What happened to your eye?”

He didn’t flinch or look away. He just took a breath. “Long story. One I might tell ya… if this ain’t the last time we walk together.”

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