Page 144 of Invisible Bars

NAJI

With steam trailing behind me and a towel clinging to my damp skin, I stepped out of the bathroom. My eyes went wide, and Imanio froze—like we’d both just walked in on a secret neither one of us was supposed to see.

“Grapefruit gravy! Hot damn lemon legs!” I blurted, voice cracking as the outburst punched its way through my throat.

Imanio stood in the doorway, hands full of bags—some plastic, some brown paper, some even gift-wrapped like he’d gone on a mission. His eyes flicked from my wet curls down to the towel and back up. He looked as if he couldn’t decide whether to look away out of respect or keep looking out of something heavier, something darker.

“Oh,” Imanio said, voice low and completely void of remorse. I wasn’t trying to sneak a peek, but… you good?”

I nodded, water still dripping down my collarbone.

I gripped the towel tighter; cheeks flaming and heart pounding in places I didn’t want to admit.

“Yes. But you… you could’ve knocked.”

He held up the bags. “Hands full. You want pads or not?”

That’s when I noticed the giant pack of Always Maxi poking out of the side of a bag.

When Imanio handed them to me, he made it seem like the most casual thing in the world—no awkwardness, no dramatic sigh, no, “I risked my life in the feminine hygiene aisle for you” speech. Just… quiet understanding.

“Oh—um—y-yeah. Sorry. T-Thank you,” I stammered, voice hiccupping as a tic escaped in the form of a small, unexpected “Toilet paper’s overrated!”

Imanio smirked, a little smug but not in a cocky way—more like he was proud of himself for doing something right.

“Since I ain’t really been with a woman, I called Dess and she told me that during y’all cycle, sometimes y’all have crazy cravings. I assumed yo’ stomach got multiple personalities, so I grabbed everything. Healthy… unhealthy. Sour. Sweet. Salty.”

I chuckled at his thoughtfulness.

“T-Thank you, but… you could’ve just askedmeinstead. Although… Dess was right.”

“You’re right. I should have. Noted… for next time.”

Next time?

I stared at him, momentarily caught off guard by the implication.

This marriage… it’s real.There will be other cycles…other cravings… other next times.

Imanio reached inside the AT&T bag and pulled out a box.

“Oh, I got you this, too.”

He handed me the clean white box, the Apple logo gleaming on top like a tiny crown. My heart did something weird—fluttered and dropped at the same time.

“You… you b-bought me anewphone?”

“Yeah. I thought you wanted a phone… to feelnormalagain.”

“I do, but… I thought you’d just get my old phone turned back on. This had to cost a lot.”

“Naji,” he said, eyes cutting into mine with calm seriousness.“I never worry about money… ever. I could buy the whole damnAT&T company if I wanted to. I got it because, from the look of your old phone, it was time for an upgrade. And we do iPhones in this house… no Androids.”

I gave him a crooked little smirk.

“Wh-Why? So you canFaceTimeme?”

“One reason,” he replied casually.