Page 6

LENNOX

I stirred awake to the sensation of soft lips brushing along the curve of my shoulder, trailing a line of warmth that pulled me out of sleep.

My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Omir.

His head was bent, his mouth leaving gentle kisses on my bare skin, as though he couldn’t resist the urge to touch me even while I slept.

The room was bathed in soft morning light, and for a moment, I allowed myself to sink into the tenderness of it.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he murmured, his voice low and full of sleep.

“Morning,” I replied, my voice hoarse from the night before.

He pulled back slightly, his gaze sweeping over my face as a smile spread across his lips. “You’re even more fine in the daylight.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “I’m sure I look a hot mess, so I doubt that.”

“I don’t,” he said firmly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “Stay right here. I got something for you.”

Before I could respond, he slipped out of bed and disappeared. I sat up slowly, pulling the sheet around me as the reality of the night before began to settle in. My body still hummed with the memory of his touch, but my mind was already racing ahead.

Moments later, Omir returned with a tray balanced in his hands, and the scent of coffee and fresh fruit filled the air.

He set it down on the bed beside me, revealing a spread that looked straight out of a magazine—fluffy omelets topped with charred peppers, toast, berries, and a steaming mug of coffee.

“You made this?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Fun fact. I like to cook,” he said, settling beside me on the bed. “And I figured you could use a little fuel after last night.”

The way he said it made my cheeks flush, and I quickly reached for the coffee to distract myself. “Thank you,” I said, taking a sip.

We ate in companionable silence at first, but it wasn’t long before he broke it. “About last night,” he began, his tone easy but curious. “Can I see you again?”

I froze for a moment, my fork hovering over my half-eaten omelet.

I had felt something deep last night, something I didn’t want to put into words.

Being with Omir was unlike anything I’d experienced before.

It wasn’t just the physical connection; it was the way he peeled back layers I didn’t even know were there.

But that was exactly why I needed to push it aside.

“Last night was fun,” I said, forcing a smile as I focused on my plate. “But that’s all it was.”

Omir didn’t respond right away, and when I glanced at him, I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Just fun?” he asked, his voice measured.

“Yes,” I said firmly, setting down my fork. “I have a lot going on right now—my career, my goals. Right now, I’m vice president of the company I work for. The goal is to be the president. The first black woman president. I don’t have time for anything more.”

His jaw tightened for a moment, but then he nodded, leaning back against the headboard. “I get it,” he said, though there was something in his tone that made me wonder if he really did.

“I should get going. What’s your address?” I asked, setting the tray aside and swinging my legs over the edge of the bed to request my Uber.

He told me, watched me as I slipped back into the clothes I’d worn the night before, the fabric feeling heavier now than it had then. I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn’t dare meet them.

“Lennox,” he said softly as I adjusted my blazer. I turned to face him, trying to keep my expression neutral. “Last night was more than just fun,” he said, his voice steady. “Shit, at least for me it was.”

My chest tightened, but I forced myself to hold his gaze. “It can’t be more than that,” I said quietly. “I’m not in a place where I can. . . I can’t give you what you need.”

He nodded again, this time with a small, almost resigned smile. I hesitated for a moment, guilt gnawing at the edges of my resolve. But then he stood and crossed the room, his movements unhurried. “Let me walk you out,” he said, his tone polite but distant.

I followed him, the air between us thick with unspoken words. When we reached the door, he turned to me, his expression unreadable. Before I could fully step past him, he reached out, his hand lightly brushing my arm.

“Lennox,” he said, his voice lower now, almost a whisper.

I turned back, and in an instant, his lips were on mine.

The kiss was intense, raw, and full of all the things we hadn’t said.

It stole the air from my lungs, leaving me reeling and questioning everything I thought I’d decided.

When he pulled back, his gaze locked with mine, daring me to say something.

“Take care of yourself,” he said simply, his voice steady but tinged with something I couldn’t quite place.

I nodded, swallowing hard before stepping out the door. As I slid into the backseat of the Uber, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way Omir kissed me. It was like he was trying to leave a mark, to make sure I didn’t forget him as easily as I wanted to.

I leaned my head back against the seat, closing my eyes for a moment before pulling my phone out of my purse. If there was anyone who could help me make sense of the swirl of emotions in my chest, it was Sherelle.

She picked up on the second ring. “Girl, I know you didn’t call me before my alarm went off.”

“Relle,” I said, ignoring her groggy tone, “you were right.”

There was a pause, followed by the sound of rustling sheets. “Hold up. Let me sit up. What was I right about this time?”

“Omir,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Oh, this is gonna be good,” she said, and I could hear the grin in her voice. “Start from the beginning.”

I sighed, glancing out the window as the city blurred past. “We spent the night together.”

A loud, dramatic gasp filled my ear. “Lennox! You did not just casually drop that on me like it’s nothing!”

“I mean, technically, I just did,” I said, smirking despite myself.

“Don’t try to deflect. Spill the tea, girl. Was the dick everything you imagined? Because I know you were imagining it last night.”

“Sherelle!” I hissed, glancing at the driver to make sure he wasn’t paying attention.

“What? You’re the one who stayed at the man’s place. Don’t act all shy now,” she teased. “So? Details.”

I bit my lip, trying to figure out how much to tell her. “It was. . . deliriously amazing,” I admitted. “Like the best. Nothing better. But that’s not the point.”

“Oh, there’s a point now?” she asked, her tone dripping with amusement.

“I’m serious, Sherelle. He’s… different. He’s thoughtful and charming and?—”

“And fine as hell.” She interjected.

“Yes, that too,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But I can’t do this. I told him it was a one-time thing.”

“What?” she demanded, her tone shifting from playful to serious. “Why are you so quick to shut it down?”

“Because I have a plan,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “A career. Goals. I can’t let some. . . ridiculously attractive jazz club owner throw me off course.”

“Lennox,” she said, her voice softer now, “sometimes the best things in life happen when you’re not planning for them. Maybe Omir is one of those things.”

“I don’t have time for distractions,” I argued. “And what if this is just a game to him? I know you mentioned me before last night. I know you. So, what if this was him just ‘getting me’ and there’s others lined up?”

“And yet, he spent the night with you ,” she pointed out. “Doesn’t that tell you something?”

I sighed, rubbing my temple as the driver made a turn. “It doesn’t matter. I told him it was just fun, and he agreed. That’s that.”

Sherelle let out a long sigh. “You’re gonna die alone, you know that?”

“Fuck off.”

“Lenny, don’t come crying to me when you realize you let a good thing slip through your number crunching fingers.”

“I’m not going to cry,” I said firmly. “I’m going to focus on my work, like I always do.”

“Right,” she said, clearly unconvinced. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re making a mistake. But I love you anyway.”

“Love you too,” I said, smiling despite myself. “Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.”

“Anytime.” She snickered. “Now go home and get some rest. You know you need it.”

I chuckled and hung up, leaning back against the seat again as I let her words sink in. The city morning sun flickered against the window, but all I could think about was Omir and the way it made me feel—alive, unguarded, and completely unprepared.

Maybe Sherelle was right. Maybe I was running from something that deserved a chance. But for now, all I wanted to do was get home, shower, shut the world out, and pretend my heart wasn’t already questioning the choice I’d made.