Page 30 of Continuum

“Yeah, Jayla and I broke up before I moved to Chicago. We’re friends on social media and I think she’s still married with kids. I don’t know. I don’t keep up with her.”

“Oh…” I picked up my fork and stabbed at the last bite of my waffle. With a small nod, I added, “Good for her.”

“Yeah, it is.”

I put my fork back down. “I could’ve sworn you two were together before you left. That was why you missed our last study session. You were with her. You said it was complicated.”

“Well,”—he took a gulp of water— “breaking up can be complicated.”

“Interesting…”

I wasted all that damn time! I could’ve shot my shot a long time ago!

When I noticed how he was looking at me, I continued. “I guess I just thought you and Jayla lived happily ever after.”

He snickered. “Nah, that’s not the type of woman I need in my life.”

“And what type of woman is she?”

“Jayla was someone who couldn’t see me for me. She saw what almost everyone else sees.”

“And what type do you need?” I wondered.

His arm slipped along the back of the booth and where his hand rested allowed his fingers to brush my shoulder. “I need a—”

“K! My man!” a vaguely familiar voice shouted, startling me. My head swung around just as Eli made it to the table. The two racially ambiguous women beside him, the women from the bar, were glaring at me. “And the lovely…Ashley?”

“Aisha,” I corrected him.

He snapped his fingers. “That’s right! I’m sorry, Aisha.”

“What’s up?” Kwame greeted with a hint of suspicion. “Everything cool?”

Eli brushed his hand through his hair. “Yeah, of course. I was going to order room service for Kami and Kim, but then when you said you were on your way here, I thought we’d join you.” His eyes darted to me. “I didn’t know you were hanging withyour friend, Aisha.”

Kwame’s hand rested firmly on my shoulder. “I’m spending as much time with Aisha as she will allow.”

There was a protective edge in his voice that caught my attention. I didn’t even have to see his face to know he was serious. As I watched Eli’s eyes widen and his head tilt slightly, I realized what was going on.

“Kami was interested in hearing about your time at HU since I told her you graduated from there,” Eli hinted, eyes widening again. “You don’t mind if we join you, do you?”

“Well actually,” Kwame started, squeezing my shoulder gently. “We’re about to head out.”

Feeling him nudge me with his hip, I scooted out of the booth and stood. I felt Kim and Kami’s glare as he slid out behind me and placed his hand at the small of my back. I watched Eli’s confusion as he stood behind me, intimately close.

“The waiter is over there”—Kwame pointed to the far corner of the restaurant— “I’m going to pay the bill and then we can head out,” he told me, his head swooping in close to mine.

I nodded. “Sounds good,” I whispered.

“K, can I holla at you for a minute?” Eli wondered, as he started walking with him to pay the bill.

“You and Kwame… you aren’t a thing, are you?” Kim asked bluntly, flipping her extensions over her shoulder. Her heavily made-up face couldn’t even feign concern as she eyed me warily.

“Because we have tickets to the Super Casanova concert,” Kami explained. “The four of us. As in a double date.”

“Oh, really? I haven’t heard anything about that,” I told Kami before shifting my eyes to Kim. I ignored her question for a couple reasons, but most of all, because I had no idea how to answer it.

“Eli got the tickets and they’re for tonight so, I don’t know what you have planned for your day, but we have plans tonight. The four of us.” Kim’s haughty tone was bordering blatant disrespect.

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