Page 6 of Verse Two
“Seein’ you makes my shit smile,” he said, not missing a beat.
I reached for my glass again, ready to bury my face behind it. Brick wasn’t with that plan, though, because he grabbed it and set it behind his on the bar.
“Quit hidin’ from me, girl. We’re better than that.”
I rolled my eyes. “I wasn’t hiding. How is your dad doing?”
The small smile that graced Brick’s face made me smile.
“Pops is straight. I was able to retire him a couple of years ago, so he really be on planes and shit, livin’ his best life.”
I smirked. “Has he settled down yet?” Brick’s mom passed away when we were in first grade. It happened before I had evenmet him, and as long as I’d known his father, he’d had all the single mothers of our classmates fighting over him.
Matching my expression, Brick kissed his teeth. “What you think?”
Laughing, I replied, “You’re right. I knew better.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but the bartender interrupted him. Extending a receipt toward us, she said, “Here’s your check. We’re closing early due to the snowstorm.”
Brick and I reached for it at the same time, and my hand brushed against his accidentally. The contact made my breath hitch, and I shivered. He must have felt something, too, because he froze for a moment then cleared his throat.
“You know you ain’t payin’ a bill around me, Doll. Don’t even play like that,” he said, grabbing the slip of paper from the lady. He pulled a thin black wallet out of his pocket, retrieved a few twenty-dollar bills, then handed them back to the bartender.
She frowned. “The bill is only twenty-seven dollars.”
“The rest is for you. Enjoy your evening, and be safe in the storm.” He winked at her.
She blushed before walking away, and I rolled my eyes.
Sexy ass.
Once she was gone, he turned to me.
“I got a confession to make,” he said, making me raise my brows.
“Oh yeah?”
He nodded. “Before I approached you, I was sitting behind you at the gate. I knew it was you as soon as I heard your laugh, and I eavesdropped on your phone conversation a lil bit.”
I laughed. “A little bit?”
“Yeah.” He smirked. “I heard you say you were walkin’ home before the storm came.”
Checking my watch, I nodded. “Yeah, the storm isn’t supposed to happen for another forty-five minutes or so. I onlylive a block away, and I would rather be snowed in at home than at the airport. Uh . . .”
I bit my lip as I contemplated my next words. I knew I wanted to invite him to come with me, but . . . I didn’t want to soundthirsty. I still didn’t know if he had a woman at home, either. If he did, and I made a move as bold as inviting him to spend two days with me, I knew I’d be ready to run away and bury myself in my embarrassment once he turned me down.
Then again, hedidsay I looked good. What taken man would compliment another woman like that?
You know what . . .
“You can come with me if you want.” I blurted it out quickly, and I was way louder than I intended to be. His smirk grew, and I felt my entire face heat up.He was laughing at my desperate ass.
“I mean, you don’t have to. I wasn’t trying to be weird or anything. I was just saying that, because you don’t live?—”
“Why the hell would you think you’re bein’ weird, Doll? I was smilin’ ’cause I was about to invite you to spend these two days with me. I wasn’t supposed to leave New York until tomorrow, and I have a bad habit of not checking out of hotels. I’m staying at theLuxe Mirage Palace, and it’s prolly closer than your crib.So how ’boutyoucome withme.”
I couldn’t even hide my smile at this point. “But you only have it for one more night.”
