Five
FIVE
MALIK
I stand in the shadow of my classroom, lights off and staring out the window as Soleil and Dahlia get into their car, smiles visible through the windshield, and drive off. My eyes stay locked on the white SUV as it turns left out of the parking lot and fades out of sight.
My body thrums with the need to rub the silky strands of her dark hair between my fingers. Her exotic eyes still call to me from underneath her dark lashes that felt like they were burning a hole into my skin as she watched from her spot against the wall. I may not have been looking at her the entire time she stood there, but I felt her. I smelled her. Or maybe it was her scent that still lingered in my nostrils from this morning. It was so potent I swear I could taste it.
A knock at my door has me swinging around. Damaris Chase stands there with a wide smile and eyes that sparkle. She is definitely gorgeous with her flawless brown skin, honey colored eyes and silky hair with golden strands amongst her ebony curls. But after seeing Soleil, the woman who will be mine, everyone lacks the luster she has.
“Hey Ms. Chase. How was your first day?” I slide my hands into the pockets of my chinos and step away from the window.
“Malik. The kids are all gone. There’s no need to call me Ms. Chase.” She smirks and leans against the door frame. “It was…not bad. You?”
“Pretty good. I have a good bunch of kids.” She bites her bottom lip and I want to punch myself in the balls for having slept with her after the end of the school year party.
I never should have gone there and normally wouldn’t have, but we both had way too much to drink and she looked fucking delicious in that tight white dress. But I’m afraid that since then, she has been persistent about reliving our night.
“So a few of us are going out for we made it through the first day drinks. Wanna join? Or…” she steps closer and smooths her hand over my shoulder. “You and I could have our own little celebration.”
I give her a tight smile and take a step back, carefully taking her wrist to stop her petting. “Thanks Damaris, but I’ll have to miss out. My brother and his girl are in town and we’re having a family dinner. Maybe another time.”
“What do you mean your brother is in town? Doesn’t he live here?” She looks annoyed as if I’m feeding her a bunch of lies.
“Cattywump Bay is his homebase, but his girlfriend lives in Texas while she’s finishing school. So he’s been splitting his time between the two cities.”
“Oh. Well, I could go with you.” This woman is not getting the hint.
I guess I’m going to be blunt. Nice, but blunt.
“Damaris, I really think you’re a beautiful woman, but we never should have slept together and I’m sorry for that. We’re co-workers and I crossed a line. I think it’s best if we remain friends who work together.”
Her flirty smile turns tight and I can tell she’s holding back emotion. “Yeah. Sure. Of course. Sorry to bother you. See you later.”
“No, Damaris–” she spins on her heel and quickly shuffles off before I have a chance to explain that isn’t what I meant.
I sigh and step over to my closet to gather my things. I’m sure this will be all over school tomorrow. Malik Dare who fucked his co-worker and blew her off. Technically I didn’t blow her off as I continued to speak with her. I just didn’t oblige her with her continual advances.
I reach my truck and hop in. The inside is scorching as I forgot to remote start the engine to cool it down. The heat is still sweltering and it will be at least another month before the temperature starts to dip. I love early Fall in the South. It’s perfect bike riding weather, so I know D, Henny and I will get as much riding as we can every weekend when we’re together.
Rolling up my sleeves as the air conditioner cools the stuffy cabin, I tap Dagen’s name on the screen of my infotainment system when my phone connects.
“Hey handsome. To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?” Dagen, Hendrix’s girl, answers sweetly.
“Hey my favorite sister. How much did you miss me?” I take a look in my rearview mirror before pulling out of my parking space and heading for the exit.
“Oh, I missed you terribly. The entire drive all I could think about was getting to hug you.”
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” I hear a voice boom in the background.
Hendrix may be my brother whom he loves and would fight for, but Dagen is the woman he’s in love with and would kill for.
I hear Dagen giggle right before his threatening voice blasts through my speaker. “If you are not Malik or Danté you’d better not let me find out who you are, because I will hunt you down and tear your spleen out of your ass.”
“Goddamn, Henny. Chill out. It’s me.” I can’t help the laugh that follows.
“Why are you calling Dagen?” he bites out.
I reach into the center console, searching for my glasses to shield my eyes from the glaring sun. “Because I missed my little sister and to ask her if she'd like me to get some dessert for tonight. Damn.”
“Oh,” he says, his voice calmer. “Well you could’ve asked me and I would have told you what to get.”
“I could have, but then I’d miss out on hearing you get your panties all twisted up.” I hear him growl and imagine his face turning bright red. “I’m leaving school and heading for your place. Can you ask Day what I should–”
I lose my words when I pass by the little ice cream store and see Soleil and Dahlia sitting outside on a small bistro table. I scan the street for an open spot and come screeching to a halt when I find one.
“Never mind. Send me the kind of ice cream you guys like and I’ll pick up a bunch of stuff. Gotta go.” I hear him protest but don’t wait to find out what, exactly.
I turn off the engine and jump out of my truck, rushing for the ice cream shop before they leave. As I draw near, I hear their laughter and slow my steps. I look down at my feet, trying to act as if I don’t see them even though I keep my eyes glued to Soleil from underneath my sunglasses.
“Mr. Dare!” Dahlia shouts and I lift my head just as Soleil turns around.
“Are you following me, Ms. Dahlia?” I joke and she laughs, her eyes closing and her head falling back. “Hello Soleil. Nice seeing you again.”
She licks the remnants of her ice cream off her lips and I die a little inside. To be the one to taste her lips, know what they feel like, would be the sweetest treat.
“Yes. Quite a surprise. Are you here for an after school celebration, too?” She smiles wide and her cheeks tinge a soft pink.
I tilt my head back and forth. “Kind of. My brother and his girlfriend are in town for the week, so we’re having family dinner. I’m in charge of dessert, so…” I hold my arms out to the side as if to say here I am .
“That’s wonderful. It sounds like the perfect way to start the week.”
“Hey Mommy. ‘Member when we had family dinners with Nana and Poppa and Daddy? I miss those.” The bright and bubbly Dahlia’s face falls as she takes a sad lick of her ice cream.
Soleil reaches over and touches her hand, passing her daughter a comforting smile.
“I know my little dove. We’ll go visit soon.”
I clear my throat and ask, “Are your nana and poppa far away?” I don’t ask about her father having learned that he passed first thing this morning.
“Just a couple hours,” Soleil replies. “But it’s farther than the. blocks away like we used to live.”
“So are you two new to Cattywump Bay?” I don’t want this conversation to end. I need to soak up every bit of information as she’s willing to give me.
“Just about three months. We thought it would be a nice change, and my best friend only lives about thirty minutes away. Plus,” she looks at Dahlia with excitement in her eyes. “Isn’t it great living so close to the beach?”
Dahlia’s head pops up and the happy girl I met this morning returns with an emphatic nod. “It’s the best. Mr. Dare,” she turns to me. “You should come to the beach with us. It’s so much fun and we build sand castles, and look for shells, and bring a picnic. Have you ever been to the beach?”
I laugh and Soleil mouths sorry . I wave her off and tell this curious little girl, “I have. In fact, I live really close to the beach. Just about a block away.”
“Wow! Really? Can we go to your house?”
“Dahlia Rose. I’m sorry. She doesn’t know boundaries.” Soleil passes her a side eye and Dahlia only lifts her head higher and squares her shoulders.
I place my hand on Soleil’s shoulder and a jolt of electricity runs up my arm, landing at the base of my neck with a spark. It’s a feeling so new but somehow it feels so right. Like it’s exactly what my life has been longing for.
“It’s okay. Don’t worry. Most of my students ask the same thing when they find out I live so close.” Her eyes tremble –yes, her eyes– and she swallows something thick. I feel like I’ve made her uncomfortable and remove my hand. “Well, I better get some ice cream and head over to my brother’s house. I’ll see you tomorrow Dahlia.”
Ice cream drips from the sides of her mouth and she mumbles, “I’ll make sure to bring brownies.”
I laugh and tap her little nose before dipping my chin and saying goodbye to Soleil.
The rest of the evening I feel like I walk around in a daze. Not even Kinsley with all of her wild comments can pull me from it. There is only one person who could clear my mind, yet she’s the one causing the chaos.