Page 4 of In Another Time

So I’ll hold on to you like my last breath,

Knowing that without you,

I’d fade.

Because you’re not just air.

You’re my air.

And no man can survive without that.”

I sat there, completely transfixed. I didn’t notice the wine glass in front of me or the growing applause around me when he finished. All I could feel was the way his words lingered in the air, like a tangible presence that wrapped around me and refused to let go.

“Earth to Lennox,” Sherelle said, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

“What?” I blinked, suddenly aware of my surroundings again.

“You were staring,” she said, grinning mischievously.

“I was not,” I said, sitting up straighter.

“Oh, you so were. Don’t even try to deny it.”

Before I could respond, Omir stepped down from the stage and began mingling with the crowd, moving from table to table with an easy charm. When he reached ours, I felt my pulse quicken.

“Good evening, ladies,” he said, flashing a warm smile. All thirty-two pearly white and straight. A set of full lips blessed by the Lord himself.

“Hey, Omir,” Sherelle said casually. Of course, she already knew him. “This is my workaholic friend, Lennox. I had to drag her out tonight.”

“Nice to meet you, Lennox,” Omir said, his eyes locking onto mine.

“Likewise,” I managed to say, though my voice sounded quieter than usual.

“Smart friend,” he said, glancing at Sherelle. “We all need a break sometimes.” Omir smiled, a slow, knowing smile that sent a shiver down my spine. “Enjoy the night.”

As Omir moved on to the next table, Sherelle turned to me with a wide grin plastered across her face. “Girl, tell me you didn’t feel that.”

“Feel what?” I said, feigning ignorance as I reached for my glass of wine.

“Don’t play with me, Lenny. The way he looked at you?”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “Okay, he’s handsome. He’s fine. I’ll give you that. But I don’t see what the big deal is. How do you even know him?”

Sherelle leaned back in her chair, swirling her drink lazily. “Omir and I go way back. We grew up in the same neighborhood. He used to hustle until he turned his life around, but he was always into jazz music. I used to think it was weird, but whatever. When I heard he was opening this place, I knew it would be special.”

“Sounds like he’s got a lot going for himself,” I said, trying to sound disinterested, but my eyes betrayed me. They flickered toward Omir as he worked the room, moving with an effortless confidence that seemed to pull everyone in his orbit.

He laughed at something a woman at the next table said, the deep timbre of his voice cutting through the soft jazz. His smilewas infectious, his energy magnetic. I hated to admit it, but there was something about him that was. . . intriguing.

Sherelle didn’t miss a thing. “You’re staring again,” she teased.

“I am not staring,” I said, snapping my gaze back to her.

“Oh, please. I see you sneaking looks. And trust me, he notices too. Do you see the way he keeps glancing back at you?”

I scoffed. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” Sherelle said, her grin widening. “Because he just looked over here again.”

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