Page 29 of Dawning and Resurgence

“Then we’re done.” Kyon lifted from his desk and extended a hand to me, which I shook.

“I’ll reach out after I talk to Lynx.”

“Aight, and yo, I appreciate you, Ez. You’re a man of your word and I respect that.” He tossed his chin. “Suits aren’t usually upstanding, but you are. Have been since day one.”

“The most valuable thing a man has is his word. My father didn’t teach me much but he definitely taught me that.”

“Sounds like a good man.”

“He wasn’t.”

I left and ended up driving in the opposite direction of my house. Fifteen minutes later I pulled up next to a familiar Jetta. I parked with no intention of going to her door or even calling. I told myself I was just checking in after someone had attempted to break into her place earlier.

Two teens I had a good feeling wouldn’t try again. At least not anytime soon. My reason for being here was bullshit and had me laughing lightly under my breath until I noticed a light flicker on above the door I watched. I thought seriously about leaving. I had no business being here in the first place. There was also not a chance in hell she was coming outside.

I was wrong. A few seconds later the door cracked open and I had a very nice visual of a pair of familiar thighs—thick and brown—extended beneath a bright purple t-shirt. A t-shirt that stopped at the top of those same thighs.

I was turned on and angry.Who the fuck else might have the same visual at this very moment?My eyes swept left and right, realizing no one was out here. When I found my way back to her, the fuzzy slippers on her feet came to a dramatic halt and dark eyes narrowed on my car. Those fuzzy slippers moved once again, but at a much quicker pace until she reached the driver’s side of my vehicle. Nails tapped on the window and when I didn’t move right away, she tapped several more times until I let it down.

“Why are you sitting outside of my apartment like a stalker, Omari?”

A lot of people referenced me by my last name but I liked hearing her do it. I also liked the way she looked right now even if she was a bit annoyed and alarmed.

“I was nearby.”

“It’s after midnight.”

“Yet you’re outside, dressed in nothing.” I took in her attire and she balled her fists right before they landed at her hips, drawing my attention there.

“I’m at home. How I’m dressed doesn’t matter.”

“Your home is in there, Jhorie. In there it doesn’t matter, out here, in a neighborhood like the one we’re in, it does.”

“I can handle myself.”

“I have no doubt you can but for the moment, appease me and get in the car.” I hit the locks and she bent enough to peek through the window.

“In your car?”

“Is that a problem? You were just in this very vehicle a few hours ago.”

She gave me that look. One I was beginning to consider my favorite. The one that preceded our sparring sessions which I was also quite fond of. I decided tonight, considering her attire or lack thereof, wasn’t the best time to go toe to toe so I tried a different approach. “After the situation earlier I was concerned. I thought since I was nearby, I would drive by to make sure all was well.”

She relaxed and rounded the front of my car, sliding into the passenger seat seconds later.

“Thank you for thinking of me.”

She didn’t need to thank me or she would be thanking me all the gotdamn time considering how much time I spentthinkingof her.

“You’re welcome. Now why are you outside this late?”

“My charger died. Or at least I think it did. I couldn’t get it to work and I keep a spare in the car.”

I nodded. “Next time wear clothes.”

She smiled. “I have on clothes.”

“Barely,” I murmured.

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