Page 68 of Trust Issues
“I will, I will. I’m gonna get a glass of wine first and dance with my bestie.” She did the electric slide into the kitchen and I followed suit because, well…we’re old. “You just want me out so you can lick Max’s balls in peace. I know you.”
“I don’t lick his balls, thank you very much. I’m a fucking lady. I hum on them.” I winked at her and poured myself a glass of tequila and pineapple juice.
I garnished it with a pink Starburst.
Don’t judge me.
A knock on the door put a halt in my laugh session with Naima. I knew it couldn’t have been Max because he didn’t come equipped with manners. When I opened the door, I smiled. I was right. It wasn’t Max. It was Owen.
“It sounds like y’all having a party in here. Why didn’t I get an invite?” He walked in and gave me a hug.
“Because we’re not having a party. Naima is getting buzzed before she sees her girlfriend and I’m getting ready to make dinner for your brother.”
“Damn, Kyle. Max got you making dinner? When’s the wedding?”
“Owen, don’t play with me. Why does everyone think me and Max are a match made in heaven?” I went back to my tequila because it missed me terribly. I could tell.
“Because you are,” both Naima and Owen said simultaneously.
“We’re testing this relationship out. Nobody needs to make any plans.” I put my hands on my hips and stared into my cabinet trying to decide what I wanted to season my steak with.
“Yeah okay. Whatever helps you sleep at night, Kyle. Now, did I hear you say Naima was going over hergirlfriend’shouse?” Owen rubbed his palms together and stared at Naima like that creepy guy you find in every club willing to buy you drinks even after you pretend that your best friend is your date.
“Yes. You can wipe that grin off your face, Owen,” Naima laughed before bringing her wine glass to her full lips.
“When did this happen?” He quizzed.
“None of your business,” Naima sang. She finished her glass of wine in about three big gulps then she gave me a hug and headed over to the door. “Have fun humming on Max’s balls tonight, Kyle.”
“Something I could have lived forever without hearing.” Owen shook his head at me and followed Naima, “Yo, wait up, Naima. Can I just come have dinner with y’all or?”
“No, Owen, stop being so gross.”
“I have questions,” he countered.
“Google works. Bye, Kyle.”
“Bye girl. Owen, leave her alone and stop being such a typical trashy man.” I waved my hand at him to get out and he held his hands up in surrender. I knew he’d still bother Naima all the way down to the lobby though.
Once I was alone, I really got down to cooking. For some reason, I wanted Max to be floored when he walked through the door and smelled dinner. God, did that mean I wanted to impress him?
What was I going to do next? Put on lipstick and lingerie?
Actually, it wasn’t a horrible idea.
See? He had my brain all fucked up.
The nitpicking Kyle in the back of my mind told me to run away quickly before things got too deep. Before I got hurt. Before I told him something I could never take back even if it was only three little words. Sometimes the smaller the words, the bigger the impact. I didn’t know if I was willing to risk it.
I thought off and on about different ways to put distance between Max and me until I heard his key in the door. My heart sped up and my stomach turned into a giant mass of knots. My lips betrayed me instantly and curved upward.
“Kyle, you in here?” He paused then said, “Oh, you’re definitely in here, I smell food.” I heard the smile in his voice before he rounded the corner. Barkley was on his heels when he walked into the kitchen and had the nerve to whine when Max didn’t stop to pick him up.
Hold your horses, Barks. Mama wants her time too.
“Hey, I smelled food and figured you were in here. You didn’t kill any villagers to get this steak did you?” He lifted his thick brow at me and I feigned an attitude.
“I normally cook the village idiot but you were at work, so I went to the grocery store to get steak instead.”
