Page 65 of Definitely Not a Thing

“Oh that? I was just stepping into tonight’s character.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah,” he grinned, grabbing my hand to lead me outside. “Come on baby.”

I didn’t offer any pushback as he directed me to the black-on-black Range Rover I really should’ve already clocked as his, from the moment I noticed it in the apartment lot.

He led me to the passenger side, opened the door for me, helped me in, all that, and a few moments later, we were on our way.

“So, I was thinking,” I said, eyeing him from the passenger seat – one hand on the wheel, the other on my leg, thumb tapping my thigh to the beat of the music.

He was very, very comfortable.

“Oh lord, here we go,” he groaned, making my eyes go wide.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m fucking with you – what’s up?” he asked, shooting me a grin.

I rolled my eyes.

“Anyway,” I said, crossing my arms. “I was thinking…what’s our storyline? Or rather… mine.”

“Huh?”

“What you said about stepping into character – so, I know we decided to just keep it honest about how long we’ve “been together”, which is fine. But, if I’m playing this role – stepping into character, like you said – I need a persona. I think that would make everything just kinda flow more naturally.”

“You could just… be yourself?”

I scoffed. “I’mmyselfevery day, and love her, real bad,” I assured him. “But why not make this fun, and be… somebody else?”

He nodded. “Okay… I think I get it. What’s your options?”

I shimmied in my seat, excited to have him indulging the idea. “Okay – option one, chaotic gold-digger baddie that’s clearly only with you for a come up. And you know that, right? But my pussy is just too good, you’re addicted to the drama, and I was down for you when you were in your suspended era.”

“Suspended era is nuts.”

“But accurate,” I said. “Is that the only thing you heard?”

“Nah – but option one isn’t gonna work. If my team at RSM gets even awhiffof that, Cole and Chloe will have your ass disappeared, and we don’t want that.”

My eyes went wide. “Definitely not. Okay – option two then. I’m a sweet angel baby, and we just fell in love at first sight, and can’t wait to drop this whole career woman thing to have a whole team of kids after you make your comeback from your suspended era.”

“Again with the sus?—”

“Actually never mind, I don’t think I could play that role all night without throwing up,” I interrupted. So, scratch option two. Optionthree, I’m a no-nonsense, donotmess with my man, ready to throw hands kinda bitch. Again with the wholeyou’re addicted to this pussyangle. And… I don’t know shit about basketball, but I’ll pretend for you… to support you through your suspended era.”

“Literallywhatis it with the “suspended era” thing, what is that??”

“Theerawhere your ass was not welcome on the field!”

“Field?!”

“Pitch, court, whatever!” I laughed. “You couldn’t play for a period of time, also known as an era.”

“Isn’t it a pretty specific period length?”

“Colloquially, no,” I answered with a smirk. “Anyway – I think we’ll go with option three.”