Page 26 of After Him, There Was You
“Tarana, I know what I said, and I meant it. I love you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. If you’re not ready to express the same yet, then I understand.”
“No, Zane, I love you too. I think I always have.”
“You think?”
“No, I know I have.” Tearing her eyes from me, she looked down at her watch.
Because of her scheduled conference, I knew I was on borrowed time. Thanking her for lunch, I gave her a hug and a kiss before walking her to her car, stealing another kiss, and then returning back into the house with a new level of peace only her presence could give me.
Chapter 13: Miss
Independent - Zeke
Upstairs
“Hey,” I dryly greeted, answering my phone.
“Hey. How are you doing?” she questioned. Her voice provided me with more comfort than I had felt in days, and I was sure it wasn’t even intentional on her end.
“I’m maintaining. It hurts like hell though.”
“I can only imagine,” she stated before pausing like she didn’t know what to say to me. I couldn’t blame her because what do you say to someone who just lost a parent?
There was only a certain number of condolences someone could offer before the sentiment became an unwanted nuisance to hear.
“Do you have good taste?” Eva asked, throwing me for a loop.
“I’m interested in you, aren’t I?”
“Enough said,” she noted, making me laugh because I could hear the humor in her voice. “I think you could use a breather. If you’re up to it, I’m going furniture shopping because I’m tired of looking at my current living room set. I could use some company and another tasteful eye.”
Eva was a strong woman, and although I didn’t know her in the way I wanted to, I knew her well enough to know she didn’t need the opinion of anyone regarding what she liked and wanted to do.
She was the kind of woman who didn’t need confirmation, and aside from her physical beauty, it was one of the many things I found attractive as hell about her. However, her effort to get me out of the house was noted and appreciated.
“I think I can help you out. I know the perfect place too.”
“No, we are not going to your furniture store,” she reasoned, making me laugh. I hadn’t even released a hee-hee since my mama passed, and there she was making me laugh from her naturally dramatic ways. “The last thing I want or need you to do is to try to finesse me into a discounted furniture set.”
“Why can’t I do nice things for you? Most women want a man who has the means and heart to give them things.”
“You should know I am not like most women. I have my own, and I don’t need a man to do anything for me.”
“What I heard you say is that you aren’t used to a man who is in a position to do for you, so you don’t know how to accept it. Just like you expect for me to know you’re not like any other woman, you need to know I’m not like any other man.”
“All men say that at the beginning and then their actions always prove they are just like every other male who sang the same tune.”
“Be ready for my actions to prove me right. What time would you like for me to come get you so we can look for your furniture?”
“I’m heading out of the office in another two hours, and I’ll come and get you then.”
“Send me your driver’s record so I can make sure I’ll be safe with you.”
“Zeke, get off of my phone,” she teased through laughter. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way. Be sure to look presentable.”
