Page 20 of Love Letters from a Libra
“We don’t talk enough about the shit we wish we could unlearn,” she commented.
“We’d be quieter if we did,” I said.
Zanaa looked at me. “That’s real.”
I wasn’t trying to impress her. I just wanted to know her. Conversation slowed.
“Hey, want to watch a movie?”
“Yeah, let’s see what’s on.”
I grabbed the remote. I scrolled and landed on a nature doc narrated by a British voice. Zanaa laughed, actually clapping her hands when she saw the title: “The Deepest Ocean: Creatures from the Abyss.” Within minutes, we were deep into clowning the sea creatures on screen. A translucent blob floated across the screen.
She pointed at it. “That’s Gloria. Late to every family reunion, but immediately packs to-go plates for all her grandkids.”
I damn near choked laughing. “Ah damn, Gloria.”
“No, I swear my ex looks like the anglerfish.” Zanaa laughed.
I raised my brows. “Wow,” I commented.
“I’m just saying.” She smirked.
Zanaa had her leg tucked under her, stealing glances that turned into full-blown laughter. The kind that took over the room.
At some point, I pulled her closer. It was natural. By the end of the episode, I had snuck a few kisses in and she curled upagainst me, head on my shoulder. We didn’t say anything. We let the credits roll and the quiet settle.
“I could fall asleep like this,” she said.
I didn’t move. I allowed her to fall asleep, and I dozed off not long after.
Libra Daily Horoscope– Your body keeps more secrets than your journal. Let someone read you through silence and safe hands, not words.
My brain took longerthan it should’ve to register that this wasn’t my bedroom. The light was softer, filtered, and actually blocked the sun, unlike my flimsy dollar-store curtains. I was wearing a dark gray T-shirt that wasn’t mine, and it was soft as if it had been washed a hundred times, and for a second, I froze. I had to mentally backtrack on what happened last night, but then I remembered nothing happened other than kissing.
Jules’s apartment, right.
I pushed myself up on my elbows. The unfamiliar mattress was firm underneath me. Jazz was coming from somewhere in the other room. It reminded me of my dad’s music, the kind of music that felt like it lived in the walls for years.
I saw Jules in the kitchen through the bedroom door, barefoot, locs hanging around his shoulders. He was wearing sweatpants and a simple white T-shirt. Seeing him this way, not guarded, in a domestic setting, made my chest tighten in a way I wasn’t ready to examine.
I realized he was making tea when I heard the kettle whistle. I took a moment to look around his bedroom, which had minimal furniture and clean lines, yet wasn’t sterile. Books were stacked on his nightstand, not as a display but actually being read. There was a single plant by the window that looked as though it had been meticulously cared for. There was no clutter or photos that I could see, but somehow, it didn’t feel impersonal. As I shifted, the bed creaked.
Jules peeked into the room. “You’re awake. I made tea. Unless you prefer coffee?”
“Tea is fine,” I said, my morning voice still rough. I was suddenly aware of my hair, probably doing its own thing, my bare face with no makeup, and wearing nothing but his T-shirt and my panties. I remembered waking up on the couch now in the middle of the night, still fully clothed but uncomfortable, and he offered me a T-shirt to sleep in before disappearing back to the couch. It was such a simple thing, but I loved how he didn’t assume and didn’t push.
He brought two mugs to the nightstand beside me. One smelled like maybe lemongrass, and the other, chamomile, my favorite. He remembered.
“Are you okay?” he asked, not hovering and giving me space to be while he was still present.
“Too okay, which feels suspicious,” I answered, wrapping my hands around the warm mug.
He laughed. “Being okay is suspicious now?” Jules asked.
I sipped the tea, which was strong, exactly how I liked it. “Yes, in my experience.”
Something in his expression shifted, as if he understood. “Do you want breakfast? I can make eggs, or there’s a bakery down the street with some decent pastries.”
