FOUR
The sight of Davia sparks an unexpected fire. I have no explanation for it, and she probably considers me a weirdo because I can’t stop grinning. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad.” She creases her forehead. “You live here?”
“Nah, I wanted to purchase one of the apartments.”
“And did you?” she inquires.
I stick my hands into my pants pockets, replying, “It didn’t work out.”
“Sorry to hear.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.” I glance over her again, admiring how her black tights show off her sexy hips. “You bummed you won’t see me around here?”
She sputters a cute laugh, and it thrills me that I’m the cause. “I don’t live here, sir. I was visiting my mom. She’s moving out.”
“Ah.” I nod. “So what you up to now?”
“Heading home to relax,” she answers while motioning to her white 2023 Mazda 3 hatchback.
“Same.” I squint at her. “Want to relax with me?”
“Uh-uh.” She slowly turns her head from side to side. “Kross, I’m in a relationship .”
“That’s not what I asked, shorty. And you don’t need to keep stressing it. I respect boundaries.”
Eyes glistening in the sunlight, she stares at me quietly as if contemplating. Man, she’s gorgeous. I’ve never felt so drawn to anyone. “Well, I have to decline.”
“Understood. You enjoy the rest of your day.”
“You too.” Treating me to another smile, she hops in behind the wheel and drives off.
Considering her situation, I have no business anticipating another encounter. Yet, like tides refusing to still, it feels impossible to alleviate the strong waves of longing.
“Hey, son.” Mama G welcomes me into the kitchen with an embrace and a kiss on my cheek. “Congrats on your club opening. Cai said you had a packed house both nights.”
“Sure did,” I smile at her. “I’m feeling blessed.”
She cradles my face like a loving grandmother would. “You deserve your blessings.”
“You got a special night for us?” Falcon asks at the end of the table, scratching his short, salt-and-pepper goatee. “Me and the fellas want to enjoy ourselves.”
“Your old head has no business in a nightclub,” Cairo shades his uncle as he sits across from a giggling Iree. “Aren’t you pushing sixty?”
“Boy, if you don’t chill with that. I’m fifty-two.”
“Exactly,” Cairo taunts.
Falcon points his fork at him. “You better watch it before I knock you—”
“Hush!” Mama G warns. “None of that in here.”
I laugh as I sit beside Cairo, a spot his warm family gave me years ago after taking me off the streets. “It’s cool, Unc. Tuesdays is your night at Krossfire . Slow jams. You’ll enjoy yourself.”
“My man.” His broad grin puts his gold tooth on display. “Hear that, Mama. I’m bout to show out.”
She fans him off as she settles at the head of the table. “Say grace.”
Falcon makes it a quick prayer so we can finally eat the delicious Sunday dinner.
“What was that with you and Davia?” Iree brings up after a forkful.
“Yo, I barely got into this good food,” I mope.
“Who’s Davia?” Mama G questions eagerly.
“My co-worker,” Iree informs her before I explain.
“The woman who had Kross preoccupied all night,” Cairo adds, chuckling. “He barely paid us any mind. I don’t blame you, bro. She’s a baddie.”
“She has a man,” Iree stresses too damn loud. “Don’t start nothing and make things awkward.”
“She’s in a relationship?” Mama G repeats, giving me a scolding look.
Falcon laughs while shaking his head. “Mr. Steal your girl.”
“Son, don’t you put yourself in no mess,” Mama G warns. “You know better.”
“Yes, ma’am, and I wasn’t trying to make a move on Davia,” I defend myself. “We were only talking. She’s a cool chick. We could be friends.”
“Men and women can’t be friends,” Falcon argues with a full mouth. “They always end up smashing.”
“Geez, Falc,” Mama G groans at her only living son.
“It’s true, Mama. I never had a female friend I didn’t smash. And if she said we didn’t, she lied .” His dirty laugh makes us sigh in discomfort.
“That’s cause you’re a ho, Uncle,” Cairo rasps. “Everyone in our neighborhood knows about you. I have female friends. Nothing’s happened with them.”
“Nothing yet,” Falcon counters. “Cause you still hung up on that girl.”
Silence follows the comment, and we stare at Cairo as he mean-mugs his uncle. That’s still a sore spot. Understandably, he doesn’t want to mention an ex he loved who took off without an explanation, only to hear she’s with someone new a week later.
Jaw clenching, he dips his head to his plate and pushes around the food.
Mama G harrumphs. “All right, enough of that.”
“Did I lie?” Falcon whispers, resulting in a warning huff from his mom. “Okay. My bad.”
For Cairo’s sake, I switch the subject back to the club. After all, I know how hard it is to forget a woman who left her mark on you, even after only seeing her twice.