Page 60 of Carnal

After I walk Lunchbox and make sure his food and water bowls are replenished, I lock up the house and go out to my truck.

ME:

On my way.

ESSENCE:

Ok. I can’t wait to see you.

ME:

Me either, baby.

I arrive at Ebony’s house in ten minutes flat due to how fast I was driving. I have to learn to drive the speed limit now that I’m with Essence; she hates when I speed.

Smoothing my hands over my shirt, I make sure there are no wrinkles before I step onto the porch and ring the doorbell.

I’ve spent six months watching Essence, spent so much time obsessing over her and fantasizing about her, but for some reason I’m nervous right now.

Ebony opens the door a minute later, and I’m shocked by how much she looks like her sister with her curls out and no makeup on.

“Hi,” she says, looking me up and down. I hope she’s not still mad about last night.

I clear my throat. “Hi. I’m here to pick up Essence. We have a date tonight.”

She looks me over again then smiles suggestively. “I know. Come in. She should be out soon.”

I step into the living room of Ebony’s home and look around as if I haven’t already been in every single corner of this house when she and Essence weren’t here.

“You can have a seat in the living room,” Ebony says as she walks down the hall that leads to the bedrooms. “I’ll go let Essence know that you’re here.”

She gives me one last once over before turning around and leaving my view. I let out a breath and take a seat on the plush couch. A framed picture of Ebony with her husband and son at Disney World sits on a small end table to my right. I pick it up gently and look at it, imagining Essence and I taking our own children there one day.

“Are you Leo’s daddy?” a little voice asks from behind me.

Startled, I turn and find Matthew standing behind me. He’s wearing Bluey pajamas and holding the firefighter Dalmatian close to his chest.

I put the picture back in its place and crouch down until I’m at eye level with him.

“Yes, I am,” I say with a smile. “You remember me?”

He nods and smiles back. Damn, he looks so much like his aunt.

“I miss Leo. He was my friend,” he says sadly.

Something in my heart fractures at his words. I clear my throat and nod in acknowledgment.

“I know, buddy, me too. But even though he’s not here anymore, he’s always watching us.”

Right after I say it, I inwardly cringe. Matthew is so young and I’m not sure how much he knows about death or if he knows about it at all, but then he points to the ceiling and asks, “Up there?”

Unshed tears burn my eyes and emotion clogs my throat, and all I’m able to do is nod in answer.

“Matthew, you’re supposed to be asleep,” Ebony chastises. She quickly scoops him up and gives me an apologetic smile.

I stand and wave a dismissive hand with a chuckle, but when Essence steps from behind her sister, I swear the earth stops turning.

I feel like I can’t breathe or speak or move.