Chapter 3
“Bet.”
Zakai’s single word is firm and steady, which doesn’t require further explanation, causing me to nod in approval.
Being blindsided by Kelvin has my emotions swirling like a flock of birds circling the perimeter of the sky without direction.
Knowing that Kelvin not only let travel become an excuse for his distance but also the existence of a wife has me praying that the last six months would somehow evaporate from my psyche.
I pride myself on having an ironclad moral compass in all things, yet this situation has shame flowing through my body.
Nothing could have prepared me for the events I found myself a part of.
Despite the sweet and fruity contents of the drink, I hope it will numb me the more I partake, as the urge to release the devastation I’m feeling settles within me.
The short time frame of my relationship doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been duped into being the other woman.
Warm yet soft lips touch the side of my face, causing a surge of awareness to ripple through my body.
My eyes bulge before I meet the intense stare Zakai gives me.
His hooded eyes are without apology, causing my heart rate to increase.
“Wha—you kissed me?” My brain sputters from the reality of Zakai’s actions because I’m not sure if it truly happened.
“I know it was out of nowhere, but I wanted to kiss you. For the rest of the night, I want to focus on us and put everything else aside. You trust me?”
“I-I—” My brain is short-circuiting as I fight to comprehend the words leaving Zakai’s mouth.
“You no longer have to fill the space of your mind with something you couldn’t have foreseen coming. Do I need to escort you to the bathroom so you can use the wall as a landing place for your anger, or nah?”
The sly smirk on Zakai’s face has my chest expanding with warmth, and butterflies swarm in my stomach.
It provides something far more meaningful than the liquid I’ve consumed.
His smooth and deep hazelnut skin makes me crave something sugary yet mouthwatering and decadent.
The merriment and spark within his orbs allow me to genuinely smile for the first time since Kelvin’s betrayal.
“I’m not sure that I could do Katherine Heigel justice if I reenacted her meltdown in the bathroom where you’re the only one able to witness it.”
Zakai’s brows pinch together, and a sea of wrinkles dances across his forehead before he responds.
“Who and what?”
Laughter tumbles out of my mouth as a light feeling warms me at the questions, because it didn’t occur to me that Zakai wouldn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.
“I’m guessing you’ve never watched 27 Dresses, huh?”
“Twenty-what and who?”
My laughter continues when Zakai gives me a blank stare before drinking from the glass containing brown liquid I hadn’t taken note of before now.
“So, I see now I’m gonna have to expose you to something worth remembering before our time ends tonight.” The frown on his lips and the tightness around his eyes have me wanting to giggle like a schoolgirl. “Whatever. How about we change the topic? What brought you to this bar tonight?”
“Work. Hopefully, no one comes looking for me because I’m supposed to be in there pretending to care about the fake appreciation my employer keeps subjecting my department to,” he says, pointing toward the area where loud music plays.
Oh, I wonder what made him leave what seems to be a lively event.
Intrigue fills me, forcing me to probe further about the mysterious man whose appeal goes beyond his outward appearance.
“Wow. What kind of big brother deserts his little sister at the event he begged her to accompany him?” A petite woman with the same shade of skin tone as Zakai asks after hitting him on the back of his head.
A smirk forms, and I swallow the humor begging for clearance from my mouth when Zakai frowns.
My gaze bounces from him and the woman whose beauty radiates from her like the sun’s rays.
The short pixie cut, perfectly arched brows, and high cheekbones contour her face, and all I can do is stare while sipping from my glass without uttering a word.
“Had your little ass not forced me to come, I wouldn’t have left you while you became the line dance instructor for the rhythmless and hopeful,” Zakai says, shrugging.
“Hm. We’ll see if I push you to do something more than c—”
“Don’t act like you had more pressing things to do tonight. Besides, my absence gave you an opportunity to find one of my lame coworkers to occupy your time.”
Why did he cut her off? God, can you send an immediate sign if I need to take my ass home right now? I can’t afford another shot to my ego tonight.
“Excuse my manners. I’m Asia,” the petite bombshell says with her gaze on me, cutting into my wayward thoughts and bringing my attention back to the present.
The warmth flowing through my body in a more defined way alerts me that the alcohol flowing through my bloodstream is taking shape. Blinking slowly, I lick my drying lips to give me a chance to formulate an appropriate response.
“Caziya,” I say without providing anything else when my brain momentarily short-circuits, and a grin upturns Asia’s lips.
“You are working this dress, mama. No wonder my big brother hasn’t returned to the party,” Asia says.
“Th-thanks. Uh, how about I stop distracting your brother so you two can continue with your night? I have a headache, so maybe I should just head to my room.” My syrupy words sound foreign to my ears, yet I’m attempting a form of politeness I’m unable to feel.
Waving over the bartender, I prepare to settle my tab so I can escape this scene like Brandy in Cinderella with a fast-approaching deadline.
“Hold tight, Ziya. I’m coming with you,” Zakai says before taking the black folder containing my bill that the bartender handed out for me.
Did he just give me a nickname and take my bill?
My wide eyes bounce from the smiling bartender to Zakai, who pulls his sister off to the side while talking low enough for me not to overhear their conversation.
Ten minutes later, Zakai and I enter the elevator ascending to my room, and my nerves make my hands tremble as I try to play it off by running my hands over the lower part of my dress.
“Remember, the only thing happening tonight is me giving you something other than destruction to replay when you think about today in the future.” Zakai’s statement causes me to look beside me to see his penetrating eyes already focused on me.
“So, how do you see the night going once we get to my room?” I ask with my brows hiking slightly.
“Like it did when I was a kid, and my mother halfway entertained me about having a girlfriend at seven. With our clothes on and maybe holding hands.”
A slight grin upturns my face because that’s definitely not the answer I was anticipating when I asked the question.
The elevator dings, alerting me that we’ve reached my floor, and I exit when Zakai’s hand extends outward for me to lead the way.
With every step toward my assigned room, my heart drums like a banjo, and I’m mentally coaching my feet to walk straight so I don’t trip on the carpet in this hallway.
Upon reaching the designated door, I hold my phone out so I can scan the electronic key, and a sigh escapes my lips as the lights flash green. I enter the room a second later.
The living room-like setup instantly eases the tightness in my shoulders because seeing a bed first would tempt me to beg this stranger to fuck my pain away. The heat hitting my back has me turning to look over my shoulder as Zakai’s lips upturn into a disarming smile.
“How about we sit on the couch and talk?” Taking my hand, Zakai doesn’t wait for my reply before leading me to the couch as we sit.
Breathe, Caziya. This is the distraction you requested from this man. You can do this. Talking is harmless.
“How did a beautifully sexy woman like you get caught up with that goofy nigga? I mean, watching the exchange between you and ole boy not long ago had me reaching this conclusion: The radiant beauty of the woman you are could never be appreciated by a man who couldn’t express himself beyond the weak carnal attraction he spewed from his lips.
Sex is temporary, and simple men use it to put a bandage on the fact that they’re incapable of penetrating a woman’s heart with a soul tie she doesn’t pray God eradicates from her psyche. ”
My breath hitches from Zakai’s husky yet steady, confident words, hitting me like a dagger in my chest.
“Shouldn’t we be finding ways to help me forget about that?” I say, fighting the urge to squirm from the intense stare down between us.
“I’ve learned to be me in all ways, and letting you know that in no uncertain terms that you deserve more isn’t random.”
“Hm. I hear you. I just want more than deep revelations on the heels of learning I was forced to be a mistress.”
Zakai nods, and I sigh heavily before my eyes land on his thick, suckable lips when they start moving.
“On a scale of one to ten, how much do you enjoy avocado toast?”
A burst of laughter escapes my mouth upon hearing the unexpected question that effectively shifts my mind from salacious thoughts to something simple and easy to answer.
Okay, Zakai. Let’s do this.
“Hm. I think it’s a ten, but only after you sprinkle some everything bagel seasoning on it. I also like to have a fried egg on top to set it off,” I say, smirking.
Zakai stares at me for a second before his face blanches, a frown forms, and he scrubs his face with his hand, leaving me wondering what he’s thinking.
“Dang. I’m gonna have to deduct a point because you’re one of those people,” he says dejectedly.
“One of what people?” I sit back against the couch before crossing my arms over my chest and crossing my legs.
“The group of folks who aspire to eat that fruit that really doesn’t fit the mold of fruit and needs an embellishment to be enjoyable.”
Laughing at his pitiful expression, I settle into the comfortable discussion with Zakai that wasn’t on my bingo card for today.
For a woman who wakes up with thoughts of seeing her man and having her back become one with the mattress, only to discover that she’s a side chick I can get with this impromptu course correction.
“You didn’t tell me that we’d be keeping score for this encounter or that I needed to consider my responses before providing them.”
“We’re building a conversational foundation.” Shrugging, Zakai rests his arm over the back of the couch and crosses his left leg over his right, looking even more sexy than before.
For countless seconds, all I can do is stare at Zakai while wondering where he’s been hiding all my life, or if he dropped down from the long line in Heaven, or whatever Denzel said in that movie about angels.
“So, tell me about Zakai,” I say after an unknown time while disconnecting my eyes from him to look at my feet to take off my heels.
“Let’s see. Lasagna is my favorite food, and most people struggle to make a good one. I’m partial because my grandmother made the best lasagna, and I haven’t had any as good as hers since she passed away. I enjoy relaxing, and all that means is that when I’m not at work, I love being at home.”
“Lasagna, huh? You don’t look like the type of man who plays it safe at home, especially since you’re in this room occupying me and my thoughts.”
“What do you have against lasagna, Ms. Avocado Toast?”
Giggles escape my mouth when his words register, and his lip curls like he’s either offended or disgusted. A yawn cuts off my humor as fatigue enters my body from either the effects of the alcohol I’ve consumed or the events of the evening.
“Take your shoes off and scoot closer,” Zakai says and taps his shoulder, causing me to bite my bottom lip before I shrug and do as he suggests.
The minute my head hits his shoulder, a feeling of safety, security, and comfort surges through my body like an electric blanket. Without permission, another yawn escapes my mouth, and I close my eyes, trying to internally shake off the sleepiness warring with my desire to continue talking.
“You’re a mystery that I’m hoping I’ll have the opportunity to figure out in time.
You’re a priceless piece of silver that only a capable man such as myself is capable of refining with fire.
You’re . . .” Zakai’s words start trailing off when my mind relaxes as my brain shuts down, and I succumb to the sleep pulling me into dreamland.