Chapter 4 Valleigh
VALLEIGH
Arandom wave of warmth crawled over my skin.
I gasped when I glanced up from my phone to see Symphony and Iylah leaning against the wall outside my classroom.
School didn’t start for another hour, and the doors technically didn’t open for another half hour, yet there he was.
I didn’t understand how he could look so put together this early in the morning.
The jeans and t-shirt he wore gave rockstar vibes, but they fit him well enough to likely be custom-tailored.
Symphony stood to his full height. I gulped, feeling a little intimidated by his proximity. He nodded with a quick glance down at her. The outfit I picked out for her came together well. “Yeah, and I noticed something. I wanted to get your opinion on it.”
I was intrigued by his words, so I quickly got out my keys to unlock my classroom. After I used the switch on the wall to illuminate the room in fluorescent light, they followed me inside. I set my bag on my desk, then folded my arms over my chest so we could get this conversation started.
Symphony stood confidently in front of me with a gapped stance that made me feel things I shouldn’t.
I cleared my throat, deciding to focus on his face instead, but that was a grave mistake.
He looked like perfection, and I damn near wanted to gobble him up.
Glancing down at my desk, I distracted myself with the first object my eyes landed on, which happened to be some papers.
“Okay, so we were coloring, and I was asking Doodle Bop about the colors we were using.”
My head snapped up like a whip. “Doodle Bop?” I repeated, completely forgetting whatever else he said. What kind of name was that?
He nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I call my niecey pooh. Anyways, I don’t think she can see, Leigh. I don’t mean like she’s completely blind, but I think she might need some little baby glasses or sumn.”
My body froze as I digested his words. After a minute, I chuckled. “You know what? That actually makes a lot of sense. Like, how sometimes she bumps into objects or walls sometimes.”
He nodded, getting excited that he was on to something.
You couldn’t tell him he hadn’t solved the greatest mystery of our generation.
It was cute though, to see his heart on display.
He might’ve only recently met his niece, but he clearly cared about her.
I tried to suffocate the warmth seeping from my heartstrings, but it was damn near impossible. He impressed me.
“Right, and with the colors, it’s like she was just guessing the words she already knows, but not actually seeing the color on the page.
I wanted to get your opinion before I figure out how to get her what she needs.
” He glanced down at her. “Ain’t nothing stupid or dumb about my baby, and everybody is about to see it. ”
I needed him to shut up because seeing him so involved in Iylah’s development made me feel things I hadn’t experienced since the breakup with my ex-boyfriend, Tobias.
The last thing I needed before starting my day was to feel the heat of desire rising in me.
I glanced at my watch. “Okay, the nurse is probably in for the day. Let’s walk down there and see if we can get Iylah the help she needs. ”
He nodded and reached for her hand. “Aight, that’s cool with me. Thank you, Leigh.”
I smiled briefly. “No, thank you for even noticing that. I feel like I failed her a little because it never crossed my mind that she might need glasses.”
“It’s okay. I don’t blame you or nothing like that. I know you care about her too.”
I tucked my lips and motioned to the door.
My focus needed to be on Iylah and getting her the help she needed, not her fine ass uncle, who was watching me like he wanted to lock me in the janitor’s closet and have his way with me.
I jerked forward with feet as heavy as cement because I had half the mind to let him.
A week later . . .
I hummed along to the song blasting in my headphones.
I was on my hot-girl walk, hoping to lose a few pounds before summer arrived.
I truly believed summer bodies were made in the winter, so even though I wasn’t a gym girly, I was the girl who loved a good, scenic walk.
I would get out almost every day and walk for at least an hour.
That day, I was enjoying the beautiful views at Lake Whisper since the sun felt like it was on its warm setting.
There weren’t many people out, so I was planning to sit by the water once I was finished.
Before my brain could register what happened, I began falling toward the ground. I braced myself in preparation for the cement when arms cradled me close to keep me from breaking any bones. I heaved a breath as I was placed back on my feet. I spun around, only to become instantly irritated.
Symphony stood there with a charming smile. “I didn’t know you were going to be literally running into me,” I mumbled while folding my arms over my chest.
My eyes trickled down the grooves of his chiseled midsection, with one of the rivers of sweat leading into the waistband of his sweatpants.
Sym shifted his weight, and I couldn’t help but notice the bulge in his pants.
It had been rumored he had a horse dick for years, and if the outline I saw was any proof, the girls were not lying.
I wasn’t even sure I would know what to do with all of that.
“You see something you like, Leigh?”
“No,” I responded quickly.
He stepped closer to me. “I think you do.”
I rolled my eyes while taking a step back to create some distance. “You need to stop thinking then.”
Sym’s head dropped back when he released a hearty chuckle. “And what do you need to stop doing other than avoiding me?”
I tooted my lips and tilted my head to the side. “Boy, ain’t nobody been avoiding you. I’ve literally seen you every day this week.” I was totally avoiding him, and for good reason. It was clear Sym wanted me to cross lines I’d drawn very strategically for my protection.
“Not the way I’ve wanted to see you though. What I have in mind doesn’t include school pick-ups and drop-offs for a four-year-old.”
“I’m not fucking you,” I blurted out in case he was under the impression that I put out easily. Most men ceased to exist again once you let them know your legs were closed for business.
Sym sucked his teeth. “Girl, wasn’t nobody thinking about fucking you.
” He frowned and gave me a side eye as if he was disappointed in me.
“I mean, at least not yet. I was talking about taking you to dinner or something casual.” He shook his head as he backed away.
“But I can see you don’t want to be bothered, so I’ma just stay out yo’ way. ”
I watched the muscles in his back flex as he turned and began to walk away. I felt bad for assuming his only intentions were to get inside my pants. There was also the fact that I kind of liked it when he was around. Before I could stop it, I was calling out, “Wait!”
I knew the nigga was smiling hard, even though he wasn’t facing me. He was probably thinking, ‘got her’, with his arrogant ass. He wiped the smile off when he faced me to give me an annoyed expression instead. “What, Leigh?” he asked as if he had an attitude.
“Nothing, since you wanna act stank.” I rolled my neck at him like I also had an attitude.
“Girl . . .”
I shrieked and took off running when he sprinted toward me. Sym was faster and taller than me, so one of my steps equaled two of his. He caught up to me in no time and wrapped his arms around my waist. I was up in the air and pressed against his sweaty chest before I could stop it from happening.
“Stop! Get off of me!” I pleaded with a laugh.
“Nah, ’cause you gon’ stop playing with me.
I fuck with your vibe, and I want to be around it more.
Is that such a fucking crime, Leigh?” His voice was no longer playful, instead it was soft and vulnerable.
When he placed me on my feet, I made the mistake of melting into his frame.
His warm breath on my cheek comforted me in a way I wasn’t expecting.
“Hm? Is it a crime?” he asked me for a second time.
His voice was lower and detonating every one of my defense mechanisms.
I shook my head, slightly turning to look up at him. “No, it’s not a crime, Symphony. I just need you to know I’m not one of your little groupies I’ve seen you parading around the internet with. If you’re looking for a fling, I’m not it.”
He released his arms, allowing me the space to turn and look at him.
“Let me find out you be watching me,” he murmured with a cheeky grin.
I rolled my eyes, ready to walk away from him, but he chuckled, and his next words froze me in place.
“Okay, okay, I hear you. I’m just playing, but what if I’m looking for a forever? Could you be that?”
I shrugged very nonchalantly. “Maybe if you mean well.”
That seemed to be all he needed to hear as he tossed his arm over my shoulder and began walking us back down the path. I settled into step beside him while trying to calm my racing heart. I was really casually walking along Lake Whisper with Symphony fucking Sinclaire. Was this real life?
“What are you doing out here anyway? Where’s your Doodle Bop?” I asked in a teasing manner, shattering the comfortable silence between us.
I could feel the heat of his eyes on me.
“See, I knew you thought the name was cute, with your hating ass.” He pointed toward the playground in the distance.
“I wanted to get a workout in while my Doodle Bop played with the other crumb snatchers.” He paused for a quick second.
“I swear, it’s like she’s had an entire personality shift since she got her little glasses. ”
I couldn’t help but smile because it was true. I had noticed a difference in Iylah this week, now that she could see clearly. She talked more, and when we sat down to work on her colors, she was finally retaining the information.
“I know. She looks so freaking cute.”
“Right. I’m obsessed with her baby glasses.”
We fell into another comfortable silence until I remembered something else he’d said. “Maybe I was hating because I want a cute nickname from Unca Sym too.”
“Oh, really? And what might that be?” His smile was so satisfying. I tucked my lips and looked away before I got myself in trouble.
I shrugged while dipping lower, so his arm fell off my shoulder. “I don’t know. That’s for you to think about.”
Before he could respond, I reached for the sweat towel in the waistband of his pants, wound it up, and smacked him dead in the chest with it. He hissed in shock while I took off running. The only things that could be heard were my laughs and his grunts as he chased me.
I didn’t know why I enjoyed it, but there was something so exhilarating about Sym chasing me. The reward was being lifted in his arms for a second time and pressed against a solid chest that felt too much like home.
“If I invite you somewhere, would you come?” His breath on my earlobe weakened me.
“Maybe,” I teased, using every grain of willpower I had left.
“What if I got on my knees and begged?”
I shrugged. “I might consider it.” This man dropped to his knees and placed his hands palm to palm. I looked around in horror. “Oh my goodness. Please get up. You’re embarrassing me.” I palmed my face in shame.
I moved to stand in front of him to block him from the people walking by.
He took it as an opportunity to wrap his arms around my waist. He nuzzled his face in my midsection like he was trying to get comfortable for a nap.
I started to laugh because when I took a step back, he tightened his grip on me and groaned.
“Symphonyyy!”
“Say you’ll come.”
I giggled with a sigh. Glancing down at his handsome face, I knew I was about to be his next victim. “Fine. I’ll come.”