Page 36 of Let Me

I glance down at my outfit.I didn’t think there was anything special about black leggings, but apparently she does.I paired them with an army green tank with a ruffled neckline and black gladiator sandals.

I say, “Oh, these old things.They’re yoga pants.I just wanted to be comfortable.”

“Comfortable and pretty,” she says.

“Thanks, girl.Hey, where is everybody?”

“Moriah and Tab went to the ladies’ room.The others went scavenging for books already.None of the fellas are here yet.”

“Oh.Okay.How long have you been here?”

She rolls her wrist as if she’s looking at a watch but there’s nothing on her arm.

This girl…

“Been here ‘bout fifteen minutes,” she says.She rolls her head like she’s trying to stretch her neck.“Hey, did you see the moon last night?It was a full crescent.Very demure.Very ethereal.I felt so connected.”

“Connected to what, Luna?”

“The universe!If you really stop and pay attention, you can feel the stardust on your skin.”

“Ok, cool.I’ll let you handle that.”

I ease away fromMother Earthto head over to the shelves.It’s been a while since I’ve cracked open a book and since Judah brought it up, I actually miss it.The black romance section is where I drift.I see books by Brenda Jackson, Rochelle Alers, and Kennedy Ryan among other greats.The black romance section is poppin’!The covers are fire.Judging by covers alone, I’m taking all these babies home.

“Boo!”

Startled, I jump only to see Judah peep around the corner, catching me by surprise.A smile brightens my face like a ray of sunshine peering through the clouds.I know I look eager, but I can’t help it.He brings the giddiness out of me.

“Hey!”I say, elated to see him, as if I didn’t see him yesterday.And my goodness—didhe get finer since yesterday?He has on a black baseball cap turned to the back.Looks like a different person with it on.He’s usually business casual.Today, he has on jeans, a black shirt and a pair of black Nikes.And he smells divine.He smells so good, I’m tempted to ask him what cologne he put on.Then there’s that million-dollar smile.His teeth are white like snow.His smile embraces me.Comforts me.Holds me.It makes everything about him shine, especially that buttery brown skin and the black hair that contrasts with it, yet complements it so perfectly.So many times I’ve wanted to touch his beard to determine its texture.And then there are his lips.

“What do you think you’re doing?I told you I was buying and picking out your book.”

“Um…I recall you saidbuying—not picking one out.Plus, you weren’t here, so I went ahead and started looking.”

“I was here.I saw you when you came in.”

“You did?”

“Un huh.”

“I didn’t see you.Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I was too busy watching and admiring.”

“Watching and admiring what, exactly?”

An easy, slow smile touches his lips.“The woman I spent the day with yesterday.The woman I couldn’t get off my mind all last night—that I stayed up tossing and turning for, counting down the hours, minutes, seconds until I could see her again.”

My cheeks warmed at his admission.“Hmm…she must be something.”

“She is.If I look tired, it’s your fault.”

“I’m sorry.I’ll try not to be so memorable this time.”

“Too late.That face of yours is branded into my memory.”

He turns to the book section that I’m looking at and says, “Ah.Romance.I should’ve known.”

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