Page 28 of For the Lover in You
"Damn, I didn't realize how short you were. You can barely see in the microwave."
I sucked my teeth and folded my arms.
"I know. I don't get why the microwave is so high. The first thing I planned to do is buy a steeping stool so that I could reach the microwave and the top shelf in the cabinets. I even placed a note on the refrigerator as a reminder," I said, pointing to the fridge. "I want a pink one with white polka dots to match the aesthetic of the apartment. I saw one at the store the other day when I went to buy some house stuff."
He laughed, triggering my laughter. Tremaine mentioning my height didn't offend me. I was used to people commenting on my height. I playfully slapped his shoulder.
"It isn't that funny."
"Nah, it's cute. The only person I know who needs a step stool is my mama. She swears by it."
"Your mama's short?"
He nodded. "Yep, she's about your height and super skinny."
"And you mean to tell me she pushed out a giant? I feel sorry for her."
Tremaine's mouth dropped, causing me to laugh. He tried to fight his laughter but couldn't and was soon laughing just as loudly as I was.
"Ha! You got jokes!"
"Nah, that's payback for calling me short."
"I wasn't trying to tease you. Shit, I prefer short women. They have the tendency to be mightier. Plus, I think they're sexy."
The room went quiet, and the only thing I could hear was the word sexy echoing in my head. Here I was, short and mighty. I couldn't help but wonder if Trey thought I was sexy. Yet I found it hard to believe that a man like him would even look at a woman like me. He probably saw me as one of his little sisters. I looked toward the microwave to divert the conversation.
"You got this fixed?"
"Oh yeah, so your plate came off track. You probably couldn't see, but I got it back on track. It should spin now. You got some food to test it?"
I grabbed my takeout box and placed the food inside to warm. We stood in silence as we watched the plate spin.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Houston. I made something so simple, so hard. Before, when it came to handy stuff, my ex-husband didn't let me bother with it. My job was to cook, clean, and take care of KJ."
"You'd be surprised at how many people, men and women, don't know how to fix stuff. My dad did a lot of the work around the house, and I learned from him. My sister didn't lift a finger, so I'm still summoned to fix all the stuff, no matter how big or small."
I smiled. "It sounds like you're a good son and brother."
He shrugged. "I guess."
Tremaine tried to hide his smile, but I could tell he cherished the title of being a good son and brother.
The microwave dinged. Tremaine reached for the food and set it on the counter. The kitchen was filled with the smell of pancakes and sausage. My stomach growled. I hadn't realized I was still hungry until that moment. Trey must've heard it because he chuckled.
"Eat. I'm going to head out. Thank you for joining me for lunch. Also, thank you for making it a full week."
"No, thank you. I know you're tired of me thanking you, but truly, I feel as if I have to every chance I get because you've done so much."
He smiled. "You're welcome."
"Let me walk you out."
He followed behind as I made my way out of the door. I opened the door for him, and he stepped over the threshold. He smiled as he turned to face me.
"You have a good weekend, Mr. Houston," I said, extending my hand.
Tremaine placed his hand in mine. He softly rubbed the top of my hand with his thumb, peering into my eyes.
