Page 17 of Caught Stealing Your Heart
“So, you’ve never been in love?”
“I haven’t, but I want to. Growing up in a household filled with love, watching how my father and mother are together, it’s always been something I’ve wanted but was never mature enough to have. Being in the industry and getting there at such a young age didn’t help me make the best decisions as you can see. I’ve been caught up in more than a handful of situations, so I’m trying to better myself.”
“Can I be honest?”
“Of course.”
“From the way you’ve treated me this past week, it feels like you’ve loved someone before. You know what to say and do. Whoever the woman is you end up deciding to take seriously, she’ll be blessed to have you.”
I meant every word. Banks was doing things in a week it took Brandon months to do. It was obvious he was all in for our arrangement, which made me feel much better about the decision to go through with it.
Banks smiled and admitted, “You make this shit easy for me, and I’m simply trying to uphold my part of the contract. Like I told you before, we gotta do things as if we’re in areal relationship. I didn’t come to you about this to half step, Leilani.”
“And I appreciate that. I was skeptical at first, but you continue to ease my mind, so thank you.”
“I got you.”
And I believed it.
And that scared me.
Was it possible to fall for someone in a week? Or was I not used to the type of treatment he was giving me?
Whatever it was, it was already scaring the hell out of me, but I wouldn’t give in to it. Banks was giving it his all, and I promised to do the same. We were in it together.
My phone started ringingwhile I was getting ready to go get Leilani. I had it on ‘Do Not Disturb,’ so whoever it was called back-to-back. I expelled an irritated sigh as I checked to see who it was. Of course, it was Paisley, so I tried to hide my annoyance before answering.
“What’s good, Pai?”
“Hey, Banks. What are you up to? Are you okay?”
“I’m good, about to go pick Leilani up and go to the cages. What are you doing? I thought you were having dinner with your friends tonight.”
“I am, but something told me to call and check on you. What’s wrong? You only go to the cages when something is on your mind,” Paisley stated.
I pulled my shirt over my head and debated on whether I wanted to talk about it or leave it in my mind. Paisley was good about respecting when I didn’t want to talk, and I wasn’t quite ready to talk to anyone about it.
“I’ll talk to you about it when I’m ready, okay?
Paisley was silent for a moment. “Okay, Banks. Don’t make me be the one to call you again. You know our sibling senses be on point on my end. I do have a question before you go.”
“I’m listening.”
“How is it that you can be around Leilani when you’re like this but no one else?”
All I could do was chuckle. That was a question I was asking myself and still searching the answer for. I didn’t understand it any more than Paisley did. I believed it was another reason I was sinking deeper into my thoughts.
“When you figure it out for me, let me know,” I replied.
“Ah. I got you. Well, I love you. Be careful and tell Leilani I said hi.”
“I got you. I love you too.”
I ended the call and gathered my things before heading out to my black-on-black ScatPack. It was rare that I drove myself anywhere, but I needed the time alone. The hum of the engine soothed me as I pulled out and turned up Daniel Ceasar. The lyrics of “Do You Like Me” hit differently as thoughts of Leilani plagued my mind.
The emotions I felt for her were beginning to make me feel crazy. I couldn’t understand how I was starting to fall for her in such a short amount of time. While the feelings should’ve pushed me away, they were drawing me closer to her.
Whenever I wasn’t around her, we were talking or texting. I’d find myself scrolling through her profile, rewatching the same lives of her over and over just to hear her voice.
