Page 33 of On Me: Crew's Story

"Well, it's not like you hide your personality at all, Crew. I still think I’ve read you pretty well thus far."

Crew laughed, flashing that perfect ass smile of his.

"That's the thing, Ms. Lawyer. Most people feel like they can read you, like a synopsis of a book. One paragraph, and they think they know what you are about. Fuck out of here. I have way too many layers for anyone to do that, even you."

He walked out of the room ahead of me.

"So, what do we do now?"

"We eat and lay our asses down for the night."

"Oh no, I can't eat anything."

"Why not? Do I need to take you back into the room?"

"No, no, I feel okay. It's just that I don't eat this late. It's after ten o'clock, and my last meal is usually around six. I have to watch my figure, you know."

Crew looked from the tip of my toes all the way up to the baby hairs curled up on my edges.

“Trust, you can afford to go one night off your little diet plan. I snack all through the night, and I haven't gained three hundred pounds yet."

"That's funny. I wouldn't take you for a snacker."

"Why, because I’m a tall, slim nigga?" He chuckled. "Listen, tall niggas can eat. I may not be the fattest at the buffet, but thesemuscles need oxygen too. I'm sure when you were getting that fancy law degree, you had to take a science class once or twice, so you know that whole spill."

"Yeah, I did.” I twisted my lips to the side.

“But I guess I could eat. What were you thinking about making?"

"I don't know. I'm just going to get in here and find something.”

“Okay, well do your thing.”

I followed him into the kitchen, where he raided his fridge.

"Do you like eggs and waffles and shit?"

"I mean, I do, but breakfast at this time of night, Crew?”

"Yeah, fuck it. It's 8:00 a.m. somewhere. Cooking breakfast food is quick and easy. Call my spot, The Nigga House. You want yours light, fluffy, or dark?"

I laughed.

"I'll take it however you make them."

“Bet, my name Larry for the next thirty minutes.”

“You are silly, but I'm excited Larry!”

Crew winked his eye at me.

He got in the kitchen and started whipping up waffles, eggs, and bacon in his air fryer. He was moving through the kitchen like he was in here a lot, and that was interesting as hell because I couldn't cook for shit. I got deliveries in my condo building so much that the managers sent out a letter asking us to meet drivers outside of the building to slow down traffic. Even a meal as simple as the one Crew is making is a little too advanced for me.

Once he was done, he fixed our plates, and I started digging in like I hadn't eaten in days. I felt guilty for eating this late, but I am also happy I did, because this food hit the spot.

I ate until I couldn't take another bite, and Crew finished just before me. He disappeared into a closet off the main hallway and came back with a large black comforter and a couple of pillows in his hands.

I got up to thank him and reached for the stuff, but he shook his head.