Page 37 of Ex- Factor
And then she was gone again, back through the sliding door.
I turned back to Cassius and Jonas.
“Did you all see that? Hear how she takes care of me?”
They both nodded.
“I don’t want to lose her,” I said quietly.
Cassius clinked his bottle against mine. “Then don’t.”
I nodded, staring after her through the glass like maybe she’d turn around and catch me still looking.
Chapter Twenty-One- Eshe
I knew he didn’t want to do anything for his birthday. He’d said it three times.
“I don’t need gifts, Eshe. It’s just another day. Don’t make it a thing.” Cassius told me it had something to do with his parents. I left that alone. I’d let him bring those issues to me when he felt comfortable.
But some days aren’t meant to be regular days. Some people aren’t either.
I made it a thing.
My phone notification went off. I checked it. It was Angel saying Silas was on the way up. She told him she needed him to pick up Ekon from her cousin because we knew he would without question.
The hotel room was quiet, lit only by the flicker of a candle and the soft glow of a lamp shaded in gold. I’d spent all morning moving slowly through my nerves because of what I had to say, booking the dinner, setting out the clothes I knew he liked best on me, rehearsing what I was going to say and immediately forgetting it.
He knocked on the door just after seven. I opened it and he was leaning against the frame in a T-shirt and gym shorts, Nike slides on his feet. He smelled like his cologne and wind. Itold him to dress casual and meet me at the Westin off Bayshore. He didn’t ask why.
He frowned. Then took me in, eyes rolling down my frame. I was wearing a silk red robe and nothing else. Lust flashed in his eyes, then confusion.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were tired from work?”
“I made Angel lie to you. Happy birthday, goofy. I know you didn’t think I was going to at least show up for your birthday?”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room.
Silas stepped through the door and just stood there for a second, blinking hard like he couldn’t comprehend what was going on. His eyes swept across the table set for two, the wine chilling in a bucket, the way the curtains billowed from the balcony like some unseen force was helping set the romantic mood.
“You did all this?” he asked, his voice already quiet.
I nodded. “You said you didn’t want anything. But I couldn’t do nothing. At least I could offer a change of scenery.”
He stepped closer, his hand brushed my side, resting there like he was grounding himself. “I don’t deserve this.”
“You do,” I whispered. “You do and more. Now go wash up so we can eat.”
The chef came while he was in the bathroom. She had brown skin, full lips, lashes so long they blinked in slow motion. She wore all black and gold hoops, a fitted black blouse and skirt, and she was smiling like she knew exactly who she was and how good her food tasted.
Silas froze mid-step when he walked out and saw her.
He blinked. “Wait…”
She was plating the lobster mac.
Silas turned to me, grinning. “You didn’t.”
I sipped my wine, shrugged. He had been talking about hiring her for a private party for a while, then he’d try and reassure me that I shouldn’t be jealous.
