Page 4 of Krist and Moanie (D-Ville Projects #3)

Moanie

I was finally off a shift and moving toward something to eat and some sleep.

Twelve hours of nothing but raw, unfiltered trauma had me ready to crawl into my bed and never leave.

The world was so dark, and so many people actively made it darker.

Working in the trauma center gave me a sense of awareness I never knew existed.

Each situation and definitely the moment was different.

I absolutely hated it, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I loved being here for people in their darkest moments and helping them through…

I loved helping, but sometimes it took a toll.

It was two in the afternoon and all I wanted was to sleep, but I was hungry. I decided to get something from Pancake House, so during my rideshare I ordered my food. My plan was to grab my food and order another ride home.

What I didn’t expect when I walked in was to see him. He was standing at the far end of the counter, glaring down at his phone. He always looked so damn mean, even when he was rapping.

I didn’t walk over near him, but instead stood near the door after I let the lady know what I was picking up.

She assured me it would only be a few minutes, which I was grateful for because my feet were literally barking.

The sooner I came out of these shoes, the better my feet would feel and happier I’d be.

I was staring at my phone when I smelled him. How was I familiar with the scent of a man I’d only encountered closely one time?

“Damn. You ain’t speaking, sweetheart?” His voice was pure sex. He had to know his effect. There was no way he was oblivious to any reaction to him.

“Hello, Krist,” I greeted, tilting my head to the side and taking him in. He was in a black T-shirt and gray sweats. On his feet he wore a pair of slides and black socks. His hair was freshly braided in his signature ten into two. The man was sex.

“Damn, you saying that like I wronged you or something? You good with me, Honey Bun?”

I was taken aback by the nickname. “Who is Honey Bun and why wouldn’t I be good with you?”

“You and ’cause you acting like you didn’t see me.”

“I didn’t act like I didn’t see you. I saw you.”

He grinned. “Damn. You just got off work?” His eyes glossed my body before they found my eyes again.

“Yeah.”

“Where you work?” His eyes rounded the diner before he leaned back against the wall and gave me his undivided attention.

“Highland Regional. I’m a trauma resident.”

He nodded. I could tell he was about to say something, but the old woman behind the counter saying his name broke up the moment. Then, about five seconds later, she said mine.

“How long you been into that?” he asked as we both stepped to the side.

“What? The hospital?” I asked, setting my food down and sliding into the booth near the counter.

“Yeah. What, you eating here?” His disdain for my taking a seat in here evident.

“Um, no. I’m gonna wait for my ride in here.”

“What, shorty? Yeen got no car?” He looked around again then back at me. Why did it seem to bother him that I might not have a car?

“I do, but I worked a twelve-hour shift. I don’t trust myself to drive after those long ass shifts. I’m good though, boutta request a ride an?—”

“C’mon. Let’s go. How the fuck y’all be trusting random strangers with your safety?” He was truly bothered by my transportation choice.

“I don?—”

“C’mon.” He grabbed my food and book bag from the table and waited for me to stand.

I followed him out of the diner to his truck.

There, he opened my door, and I got in. He set my food and his on my lap before closing the door.

The door behind me opened a few seconds later and he set my backpack on the back seat.

Once he was inside, he started the car. “Same place I dropped you off at before?”

“Yeah.” His seats were comfortable.

“You gonna come eat with me or you too tired?” he asked, catching me totally off guard.

“When?”

“Right now.”

I just looked at him, sorta taken aback. When I looked good, this man dropped me off and went on about his night, but now I was twelve hours off a shift and he was tryna sit and eat. “I mean, I am tired, but it isn’t like I’m not about to go home and sit up and eat.”

He chuckled. Amusement was foreign to his always so serious face. “Bet.”

He drove for about twenty minutes, then we pulled into a park. We were no longer in South Diamond, but instead closer to Brunswick. When he found a park that would suffice, he backed into it, then I felt his eyes.

When I finally looked up, our eyes locked.

“Why you be looking so fucking irritated all the time?” he asked.

My facial expression had to show my confusion. “Me? Irritated. You’re definitely deflecting. You always look pissed off, no matter if it’s in a video, onstage, or in the middle of a diner.”

“So you be watching them videos of me?” He opened his bag to pull his food out.

My lips curled into a grin, realizing I had damn sure told on myself. “I mean I’ve seen a few,” I responded, eyes down on my plate and not the man I just knew was burning a hole into me.

He laughed. “Don’t front. I ain’t gonna judge you for stalking me, Honey Bun.”

I joined in on the laughter. “One, no need, because I’m not stalking you. And two, where the hell did you get this name from. because I promise you I ain’t never been called Honey Bun in my entire life?”

He stuffed his face, reaching for his drink before he decided to offer anything. “Shit, when I first seen you in there. Light sweat, blemish-free skin, and a sweetness. Honey Bun. It was the first thing that came to mind.”

I swooned, like internally lost my fucking mind, because what? He paid me that much attention… That much fucking attention. “Oh. And what if I don’t like it?”

“Too bad, ’cause I do.”

Our eyes locked again and that’s when I knew. I needed to get as far from Krist as I could if I wanted to keep my sanity. He was the type you got lost in because of who he was and not what he showed. I didn’t know shit about him, yet his eyes foretold stories without characters.

“You beautiful, even after twelve hours of work.”

A small smile sealed itself onto my lips. “Thank you, even though I know you just bigging me up.”

“Nah I’m not. How many days a week you work that shift? Shit gotta be tiresome.”

“Sunday through Wednesday. Off Thursday through Saturday. Honestly, you get used to it.”

He nodded. “What made you wanna be a doctor?”

“Isn’t it obvious? God complex and the innate need to always wanna be doing something?” I joked and he laughed. “But nah. I just like helping people. Seeing and being there with them at their worst then helping them get better.”

“True fucking angel, huh?”

“Nah. Not even. Have you always wanted to rap?” I maneuvered so my back was to the door and I was somewhat facing him.

“Shit, hell nah. I never had dreams or anything like that. I had to grow up fast, shit. Never had the chance to hold my head in the clouds. I guess I just homed in on what I was good at. Words just come to me in a way I can’t explain. They make themselves make sense.”

I nodded. “That’s talent. Not everyone has that.”

He waved me off. “It’s something, I guess. A way to get by.”

I just looked at him at first while he ate.

I got what he was saying, but I didn’t agree.

It wasn’t just something. He had real talent, unlike a lot of these niggas with no presence and a mic in their hands.

“I disagree. I think you have raw talent, and I like it. Your voice, your talent, and most of all, how you carry. But that’s just me, what do I know? ”

“A lot, apparently.” He licked his lips and that one lick sent fire down my spine. Bitch wasn’t you just tired?

“It’s time for me to get you home, baby girl.

You look like you about to pass out.” Krist’s voice made me open my eyes and look at him.

He and I had finished eating hours ago then spent the rest of the time talking.

We talked about everything, from my childhood to his.

He told me about his mother and I instantly felt bad for him, but he didn’t like sympathy.

Of course I told him about my brother and his eyes actually told me that he thought beyond the DP and Bedford rivalry.

He was human even though I could tell in his eyes he’d lived a life he’d never utter.

I stretched. “Yeah, probably. I’m going in at three.”

“In the morning?” His face screwed up as he started the car and pulled away from the spot.

“Yeah. I switched my day off this week to go with Alley the other night.”

He nodded. “Then when I’ma see you again?”

I fixed my seating position and put my seatbelt on. “When do you want to?”

His eyes were on me before he pulled off much faster than necessary. “Don’t look at me like that and be asking me shit, Moanie.” The expression on his face was so serious, yet I knew what was up.

“Then how do you want me to look at you?”

He sucked his teeth and a tension-filled chuckle escaped his lips. “Good question, but when you free?”

“When you need me to be free, Krist?” Of course I was being difficult.

He shook his head and reached into my lap for my phone. When he had it in his hand, he held it up. He stopped at the exit of the parking lot and threw the truck in park. “Unlock it.”

“There’s no password on it.”

He cut his eyes in my direction. “Why yeen got no password on this phone?”

“Because I’m grown and I don’t have shit to hide.”

He chuckled and kept swiping through my phone. Then his phone rang through his console and my number popped up on the screen. “Bet. Answer this unlocked motherfucker when I call too.” Then he dropped my phone in my lap and pulled out of the parking lot.

He pulled up in front of my building ’bout thirty minutes later.

Then, when I thought he was about to let me out to go on like he did last time, I was so wrong.

He double parked and hopped out, rounding his truck to me.

His first stop was to the back seat to grab my backpack.

When he had it, he opened my door. He reached for my hand, helping me down before pulling my body against him.

Shit, why did he have to smell so good? So intoxicating.

Then he dipped his head and we kissed. Totally unexpected but craved. His lips invading my space like that felt so fucking necessary. Shit.

A few seconds after we parted, he let me go and backed up, creating space. “Niggas gotta remember where they at with you.” He then handed me my backpack. “Answer yo’ line, Honey Bun.”

The entire elevator ride up to my apartment I giggled. I absolutely hated the Honey Bun name, but the fact that I had gone from stalking this man’s social presence to being tongued down in front of my building? I’d definitely say that was a significant plus.

When I got in, I immediately moved to take a shower.

The entire time I thought about Krist. Today was unexpected, but I relished it.

I liked his presence, because not only was he easy to talk to, he listened.

The entire time we talked, I could tell he heard me and retained my words.

I learned a lot about him, things I didn’t expect.

The fact that he had a bachelor’s in business communication was one of those things.

When I asked why he hadn’t gone into something liberal or anything like that, he said he didn’t need anybody to teach him how to use words.

There was a lot more to him than what met the eye, and though he was branded DP, he was so much more. I liked that… a lot.

When I finally made it to my bed, my body wanted to rest, but my mind didn’t. My mind was on everything but sleep. I set my alarm for one-thirty and was about to drop my phone when it vibrated in my hands.

I was quick to open the notification section. It was a text… from him.

Krist: Tomorrow I got a studio session at 8. I’ll pick you up and we’ll slide through?

I screamed internally, about to lose my shit. This could not be happening.

Me: Yes.

Krist: Aight, good night, Honey Bun.

Me: Night, Krist.

I shouldn’t have been smiling so damn hard, but I couldn’t help it, so I closed my eyes and fell asleep with a big, dumb ass smile on my face.