6. Legacy
Legacy
P ERFECT DISTRACTION: How are you feeling?
ME: I’m better. Thanks for checking.
PERFECT DISTRACTION: Still staying away from the elevators?
ME: You already know.
PERFECT DISTRACTION: Take care, beautiful.
I was not playing when I told Legend that I would not be back on those elevators.
At lunchtime, I walked down all twelve flights of stairs in my high heels and hiked it to my car.
My calves would be popping if nothing else.
Of course, my ass was already sitting up high like a donkey, but the walking couldn’t hurt.
Once I changed out of my heels and into a pair of gym shoes that I kept in the trunk for my yoga workouts, I stuffed my heels into a plastic bag and returned to the building. I walked into one of the cafés, ordered lunch, and headed outside to sit at a table.
The weather was a balmy seventy-two degrees, and I was enjoying it. I managed to snag one of the rare tables by the concrete waterfalls in the outdoor courtyard.
“May I sit with you?” Legend asked after I had been sitting for five minutes, eating my sub sandwich.
“I don’t own these seats.”
He smiled that beautiful smile at me and cocked his head. “Is that mouth always so fly, ma?”
“Do you always speak hood when you’re not around your office mates?”
Legend turned his lips down and shrugged. “I do speak one way here at the office and in a more relaxed and comfortable tone when I’m at home around family and friends. Don’t you?”
“I do. But you were just so refined the night that we met. You were almost guarded for the lack of a better word.”
“I had a lot on my mind that night that I was dealing with.”
“Is that why you blew me off?”
“If that’s what you call it.”
“That’s exactly what it was.”
“No, love. I just wasn’t in the mood for games. I wasn’t in the right headspace to entertain a woman either.”
“Then why didn’t you send me on my way for good?”
“Because you had trouble on your mind. And I saw real trouble lurking around that you weren’t prepared for.”
I sipped my tea and pulled it from my lips as I nodded. “Right. The motorcycle club.”
“They’re not the type you want to play with, sweetheart. They’re the real deal.”
“Oh, I believe you.”
“Good. I just wanted to make sure that you got to a safe place to sleep that shit off, and I prayed that you would be of a sober and more reasonable mind the next morning. I didn’t expect the attitude though.”
“I was embarrassed, Legend.”
A gorgeous smile curved his lips upward.
“What’s so funny?”
“Not funny. That’s the first time that you’ve spoken my name. I love the way that it sounds, coming off your lips.”
I balled my sub sandwich paper up and shoved it into my empty potato chip bag. I walked my trash to the nearest can, tossed it, and returned.
“Listen, I appreciate you being there for me earlier and having my back through that terrifying experience. But I’m not sure what you’re doing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Joining me for lunch. Telling me that you like the way that I speak your name.”
“What’s the problem, ma?”
“It feels like you’re looking for something from me.”
“Why did you approach me at the bar?”
“I told you that I was looking for a rebound, a distraction to get over my man.”
“Tell me something, Legacy. Are you still with him?”
“Hell no.”
“Were you still with him the night you went to the hotel with me?”
“No. Well, not technically. I went home the next morning, packed my things, and moved in with my sister until I got my own place.”
“How many times have you and he hooked up since that night?”
“Zero. He won’t come near me. Thanks to my sister’s boyfriend, he’s afraid even to think my name. Where is all this coming from?”
“You were all over a nigga that night, and you didn’t even know me. You were ready to throw it at me, but now you act like you barely want to speak to me.”
“I was drunk.”
He started singing Jamie Foxx’s “Blame It.”
“It wasn’t just that, but I was also devastated.”
“About?”
“I had just busted my boyfriend cheating on me, with my girls as witnesses. He made a fool out of me for all the times I took up for him.”
“So that wasn’t the first time he cheated?”
“No. Mostly, I would discover it through girls sliding in my DMs, telling me about him. He would deny it until they would send me the receipts—texts between him and them, pictures they took with him in intimate positions, him asleep in their bed when he claimed he was with his boys or at the studio, and even one girl’s paperwork showing that she’d had an abortion.
When he denied it was his, she showed me the text messages and the payment receipt with the last four digits being the same ones on his card. ”
“Damn. I’m sorry you went through all of that. Why did you stay?”
“Stupid. I thought that I could change him and that he needed to get some things out of his system before he settled down. So that’s why I’m not interested in a relationship right now.
I have no room in my life to be someone’s anything other than a friend.
Maybe in a different lifetime or after a few months of getting my head together.
It’s scary thinking about being involved with someone at the office. Things could go drastically wrong.”
“How?”
“I’m the jealous girlfriend type.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Word? You’re the girl that sings about busting windows out of cars and slashing tires?”
My mouth dropped in surprise, and my eyes widened. “Hell no. Clearly, that’s not me, because my ex deserved that and so much more.”
“Then how are you jealous?”
“I’m the girl who’s going to ask you who was in your car, who’s that girl calling your number, and where were you when you claimed you were at the gym. I’m the one who might even send her friends into your DMs to see how you’ll react.”
“The only females that you’ll ever see in my car are my mom and my sister.
They’re also the same females who will be calling my phone, unless it’s my work phone, and it’s a client or constituent.
If I weren’t at the gym, you’d already know that I wasn’t going because I’m the one who’s going to share my location and let my woman know where I’m heading.
Any woman in my DMs is about to get ignored or blocked.
But if you’ve got to do all that to a man, he’s not your man, beautiful. ”
“You’re right, but I still only need a friend right now.”
“I could always use a friend, baby girl.”
He licked his lips and smiled. “Or a perfect distraction.”
My body hummed with need.
“I need to head out. I’ve got a few site inspections today.”
“What is it that you do anyway?”
“I’m an architect.”
“That’s cool. Well, I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
“You definitely will. Let me know if you need someone to hike those stairs with you during lunch, friend. ”
I laughed and watched him walk away, just as my phone rang.
“Hey, Nobi.”
“Hey, Lacy. How’s my favorite sister?”
“I’m your only sister,” I replied and laughed.
“Maybe, but if you weren’t, you’d still be my favorite.”
I laughed and replied, “Ditto. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call in the middle of the day?”
“I was on my lunch break and ran into an old friend of yours.”
“Yeah. Who?”
“Regal. He had two black eyes, a busted lip, and his front teeth were missing. Not to mention that he was walking with crutches.”
“Damn, what happened to him?” I asked, only slightly concerned, but not enough to call him.
“Girl, you know what happened to him. Bam happened.”
“You think your future baby daddy did that?”
“I know he did, no matter what he says.”
“You know he would have your ass, talking over this phone like this.”
We both giggled, knowing how Bam felt about discussing anything over the phone.
“He would, but it is what it is. As soon as that nigga recognized me, his ho ass ran in the complete opposite direction. Legacy, I literally mean ran.”
We both chuckled again. “It’s nice to know that Bam still got those hands. Tell him baby sister said thanks.”
“Will do. In the meantime, have you given that guy you told me about any more consideration?”
“Funny you should mention him. He just walked away from me. He’s heading to some meetings now.”
“Why won’t you give that man the time of day?
He’s a good man. He stayed overnight with you in a hotel, an expensive one at that, and he didn’t try any funny business.
He could have walked away, but he didn’t.
He made sure you were safe until it was time for him to go.
Then he paid for an extended checkout. You know how much that type of shit hit your pockets for at The Regency? ”
“I don’t, and I don’t care. I don’t get with men for their money.”
“Well, let’s talk about the fact that he decided he would sit on an elevator with you, playing games and doing relaxation techniques to make sure that your mind was good.”
“What about it?”
“A man doesn’t do that type of shit unless he’s a good man. Give that man a chance, and please don’t use that weak ass excuse that you don’t date men at your workplace. That shit’s tired and old.”
“I know, Nobi. I really do like him. He’s thoughtful and compassionate.”
“And that’s why you’re going to give him the time of day. Let that man pursue you. You deserve it, sis.”
A small smile came to my lips. “I like the sound of being pursued.”
“Good. Now hang up the phone with me and text that to him.”
She hung up before I could say another word.
I paused briefly before I sent my text.
ME: Thanks for checking up on me today, friend. It meant more to me than you know.
PERFECT DISTRACTION: I look forward to making you feel like that more each day.
ME: The art of pursuit between friends can be very attractive.
PERFECT DISTRACTION: Get ready. I’m chasing that ass.
I tucked my phone inside my purse and headed back inside. It was an amazing day all around.