Page 43 of Trussed In Hope
“I’m saying you’re good for him. He’s good for you. Y’all are good for one another. You know how I feel about you. I don’t play about best friend. You definitely wouldn’t see me cosigning for somebody I don’t know.”
“So you’ve done your research?” I asked.
“I have. I talked to Elijah after the two of you went to do nasty things in the woods.” She winked.
I swallowed quickly so I wouldn’t spit coffee all over us. “Were we that obvious?”
“Listen, I just know what I’d be doing with that man if he were mine. I mean that respectfully, but it's not a secret that Hardison is fine. He looks like being out here with the horses and shit is what he does all day. Like, why is he that southern grown?”
The quiet sincerity in her voice made me pause. I wasn’t used to people seeing me like that, much less telling me so directly. My throat tightened, but I nodded.
I chuckled, understanding completely. Hardison had arms for days, solid and I loved rubbing them, holding on to them while he was inside me. Loving on me. Embracing me. His thighs held so much power that I never worried about putting my curves on him. He probably benched my weight. All two hundred and sixty pounds of me. It’s definitely a plus that he’s taller than me, making me feel small and dainty when I’ve always felt larger than life. It was a good thing, trust me. It took away the masculine energy that seemed to follow me even if I didn’t claim it. I’m girlie and Hardison had a way of absorbing the energy that came with my height. Yeah, he was beautiful in that way.
We drifted into easier conversation after that—stories about what she’s been up to. I didn’t miss the passion mark on her neck, and I wasn’t about to let that slide.
“Want to tell me who's been kissing all over your neck?” I squinted my eyes, waiting for her to talk herself out of this conversation.
“Uh… saw that, huh?”
“Mhm…” I waited.
“Callum.”
I chuckled because I had a feeling that it was him. “Hoooow?”
“We were talking last night, and one thing led to another, then we went on our own walk after I was finished talking with Elijah. Turns out that he’s a nice guy.”
“Well, yeah.” I snorted.
“He continued showing me how nice he can be inside his house.”
I shook my head, laughing. “So now what?” I asked her.
“What do you mean?” She looked genuinely confused by my question.
“Girl, what are y’all doing now? Was this just a hookup or what?”
“Yeah, I think. I mean, I don’t know him that well, and as of right now, I don’t have a reason to come back unless you move down here. Outside of that, he dropped me off and we haven’t discussed it.”
“But you have been texting him or talking to him?”
“We’ve texted…” and she blushed like a little ass school girl.
“So it has potential?”
“It has… only been a day. I’m not thinking of anything more right now.”
“I get that. Well, I’m happy that you had a good time while you were here.”
“Yeah, me too. We’ll have to do this again.”
We’d just started in on our second cups of coffee when a soft knock came at the front door. Tia raised an eyebrow at me.
“You expecting anyone?”
“No.” I stood, brushing my palms down my jeans before heading over.
When I pulled the door open, Raya stood there in a long wool sweater, her Hajib tucked under a knit hat, a glass baking dish balanced carefully in her hands. The scent hit me first—warm, sweet cinnamon and butter drifting up into the morning air.
