Page 28 of Rah

“I don’t even know why that’s surprising me. I should have expected you to have been a good-girl.”

“I ended up having my kids in high school.” Then she locked eyes with me before saying, “So, I have a little bad in me too.”

I held her gaze, daring her to look away, to deny how hard she was making my dick with those glossed lips and short blonde hair.

The bartender interrupted us by sitting my cutlery and napkins in front of me.

“You know I gotta be real with you… I’m seriously attracted to you, Solae. And I don’t mean just your looks. You’re beautiful, yeah, but it’s more than that.”

Her smile wavered just a little, like she didn’t know if she should look at me or look away. “Priest…” The rest of that sentence escaped her, like she didn’t know what to say.

“I know you got a man. And I respect that. I ain’t here to cause no problems in your life. But I’m not gon’ lie and act like I don’t feel this energy between us.”

She looked down at her plate, pushing a piece of toast around before saying softly, “It’s there… but my relationship matters to me.”

I nodded, biting back the urge to say more. “And I respect that. I just wanted you to know that if that nigga ever fucks up, I’m ready to pick up the pieces and never fumble the ball.”

Her eyes met mine again, and for a second, it felt like the whole restaurant got quieter.

“I hear you,” she finally said.

I softly squeezed her thigh. “Good. Now tell me more about this band. I definitely assumed you were on the dance team or something. Never the band.”

We kept the conversation going, and every time she laughed, smiled, or even ran her fingers through her short cut, I fell for her all over again. She had this way of tilting her head back and closing her eyes, like she was letting herself forget the world for a second.

I tried to stay platonic and respect her boundaries, but I couldn’t.

I leaned in while she was mid-sip of her second mimosa. “You know you trouble, right?”

She blushed. “How so?”

“You got a man, and I’m still sitting here wondering what you taste like.”

Her eyes bucked as she swallowed down the champagne and pineapple juice.

She shook her head while wearing a blush. “You need to stop it.”

But I caught the way her knee brushed mine under the counter.

By the time we paid and stepped outside, I knew, no matter what, I had to have her.

The December air smacked us both in the face. I walked her to her car. She stopped by the driver’s side, and for a second, it was just quiet. The city noise was there, but it faded in the background.

I stepped closer and my hand brushed hers. “Tell me you don’t feel this.”

She hesitated a bit, but admitted, “I do… but I love my man. I don’t have a reason to cheat.”

I nodded slowly. “I respect that. And it tells me that when I do get you, you’ll be just as loyal to me.”

Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink against the cold.

“Can I at least get your number? Since you don’t work at the bank anymore, I can’t pop up on you.”

She opened her mouth, about to answer, but her phone rang. She glanced at it and frowned. “It’s my kids’ school. I have to take this.”

I stayed quiet as she answered the phone. “Hello?....What happened?… Is he okay?… I’m on my way right now.”

She ended the call, already fumbling for her keys. “I have to go, Priest. My son hurt himself at school.”