8. DELE
Chapter 8
DELE
After class, I follow the usual routine—head to work. I keep my focus on my job and my upcoming exams. I also make sure to shut my phone off. I don’t need any more texts from Luke. It’s as if he refuses to be on the back-burner. Before dinner with Osei last night, I’d already received several texts from him:
Luke: The movers will be there around 2PM; Osei mentioned he will be home.
Luke: Osei will give you the address and the key to our place.
Luke: A stylist will stop by to measure you for your dress.
Luke: Text me the name of your lawyer.
We’d finished eating and cleaned up when Osei handed me the keys, address, and garage code to the building. I put them in my backpack, refusing to think about the implications, while reminding myself of what's at stake if I back out now.
To be honest, all I thought about was ways to back out, and not a single idea surfaced. It was like he’d magically blocked my mind from any creative thoughts.
I wrap up my notes, simultaneously wrestling with my thoughts to keep Luke Blythe out of them. As much as he keeps creeping in like an annoying fly buzzing around, I swat it away and think it’s gone. Two seconds later, it’s back, buzzing louder in my ear. I swat him harder this time.
My mind keeps comparing Luke to my mystery guy, and the more I try to kill the thought, the more my mind reveals the attraction. But he can’t be the mystery guy because the balcony guy kissed me with so much passion and had me dreaming of a possible fairytale. Luke Blythe, on the other hand, wouldn’t even look at me, let alone speak to me or shake my hand. Though he did yesterday, which shocked me.
Focus, Dele. On the legal documentation, work, and school—he won’t matter.
After work, I head to my study group. I talk and laugh with them, but I barely comprehend anything we discuss. I leave the group and head back to Osei’s place. A part of me refuses to believe that I’ll no longer live here.
Osei is watching a show when I open the door. He turns to me and starts to laugh.
“Why are you laughing?” I ask, baffled.
“For starters, Luke has been texting me all day asking your whereabouts, because you haven’t responded to any of his texts, even though I told him you were at work.”
“I shut my phone off.” That’s my only response. What’s Luke’s deal with this constant texting?
“Well, you seem to have found a way to drive him crazy. He’s not used to people not jumping at his every command.”
“I hope he’s not expecting me to ask how high every time he says jump,” I retort, and he laughs more.
“This is going to be quite entertaining for me to watch.” He gives me that annoying laugh that I detest, and he knows it, too.
“Not funny. He doesn’t like me, and the best thing for both of us is to be amicable and stay out of each other’s way. You know, the proverbial ‘stay in your lane.’” I snicker.
“Like I said, this will be a great show,” he mocks. I drop my backpack and head towards my room.
“He had all your stuff moved earlier today,” Osei shouts, stopping me in my tracks.
“Ugh!” I let out a muffled grunt. I forgot about that. I turn to Osei, who smirks at me. I move to grab my backpack, always prepared with a change of clothes. My ever flight mode.
“I just texted him that you’re here.”
“Why would you do that? Your brother is intense. I need a minute to think,” I snap at him.
“I had to, so he can stop blowing up my phone.” He shrugs.
“Fine. I have a change of clothes here, and I’ll spend the night. Tomorrow morning, I’ll decide what to do.”
“Okay with me. Let’s hope it’s okay with Luke,” he mocks.
“Why wouldn’t he be okay with it? I’m sure he doesn’t want me in his space. Doesn’t he have some socialite to bother tonight? Please, find him one.” I grumble. Osei chuckles and nods, but I don’t buy his skeptical nod. I head to my room to shower, only to discover that everything I use is gone.
It’s clear they moved it all, down to my bobby pins. I step back out to speak with Osei.
“I’m going to need to borrow a T-shirt and some soap.” I plead. He points to his room, telling me to go ahead and get whatever I need. I go in, pick the first oversized T-shirt I can find, grab his soap, then head to my room. I shower with my braids up, upset that my shower cap is gone. I change into Osei’s T-shirt and knee-length leggings from my backpack. I throw my dirty clothes into the wash, turn my phone on, and see all the messages from Luke. I ignore every single one. He can’t have both my days and my nights. I’m going to eat, sleep, and tomorrow, I’ll think about him.
I head out to speak with Osei and stop mid-stride when I see Luke. He turns to me, and his eyes rake in slow motion—from my braless T-shirt to my leggings and painted toenails. To my dismay, my nipples harden. Fuck! His eyes are drawn to the hardened nipples, clearly visible beneath the fabric. He needs to look away . His brow arches, and a mischievous grin tugs the corner of his lips.
“There you are. Sorry, I didn’t tell him to come over, he did that on his own,” Osei shouts behind Luke, whose eyes darken. I notice his immediate tense jaw. Our eyes do not leave each other. How am I going to live 1,095 days with this guy and not beg him to have his way with me, knowing he would never notice me, let alone feel an ounce of what I feel for him?
Osei isn’t reading the translucent emotions flowing between Luke and me. He shouts, “Dinner is here, let’s eat. Dele, I ordered from our number one place,” he excitedly states. I smile at Osei. Why couldn’t the universe make this easy for me and let me feel for Osei instead of Luke, the enigma?
Osei pulls my arm, and I follow him to the kitchen. My stomach growls loudly at the smell of grilled lamb and biryani rice. My mouth waters at the flavors. I grab a plate, and Luke is right behind me, so much so that I can feel his closeness and heat from his body, which causes me to fan myself with the T-shirt. I move with my arm against my chest to prevent my nipples from sticking out. They’re so hardened that it hurts.
“After dinner, we are leaving,” Luke announces. I should argue with him, telling him I want to stay here tonight, but my tongue is tied, and my lips are sealed. I simply nod. Might as well face the reality that he’s going to disturb my night.
Osei talks nonstop during dinner, making jokes that I normally would laugh out loud at, but I just chuckle. Luke, on the other hand, seems fine, laughing with his brother without a care for the intense air flowing between us. Though his eyes never leave mine each time he laughs or responds to Osei.
After dinner, Osei says he will clean up, and I go to my room to put on the spare sports bra and grab my backpack. “I put my clothes in the dryer; I’ll pick them up tomorrow,” I say to Osei.
“I’ll send someone to pick them up tomorrow,” Luke says. What’s his deal?
“I’ll bring them over tomorrow afternoon. Remember, we are meeting with your lawyer?” I nod, though I’d forgotten about that too. This guy is already sucking the not so common sense out of me.
“Good, let’s go,” Luke says in a low growl. Now I wish Jace hadn’t decided to sleep again, causing me to leave it at the hospital parking lot and hitch a ride home with Jax.
I follow him out and mumble a thank you when he opens the passenger door for me. I make sure our bodies don’t touch in any way as I get into the Range Rover. The luxury smell and feel hit me as I tuck my backpack in front of me. I’m quiet on the drive to his place. In ten minutes, he pulls into a garage. I didn’t know he lived this close to Osei. Which means I can walk back to Osei’s place. I smile inwardly as the silver lining is revealed to me.
As we step out of the car, I follow him with a racing heart and an overwhelmed mind. I clutch tightly to my backpack, like a security blanket. The elevator ride is quiet, but the silence between us crackles with tension. My thoughts are a jumbled mess as I try to resist the urge to reach for his hand. He smells familiar, comforting, and his proximity is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I shift my backpack from one arm to the other, trying to distract myself from his alluring presence. But it's no use. His energy keeps pulling me in like a moth to a flame. I mentally scold myself for letting my irrational subconscious take control. Shut it down, now! I yell at my inner mind as I desperately try to regain control of my emotions.
The elevator door dings and opens at the exact moment, almost as if I had some magical power, but I know it’s pure coincidence. I follow him until he stops and opens the door. I exhale a slow and heavy breath, one I didn’t know I was holding in, at the confirmation that behind the door is my new home for the foreseeable 1,095 days. I lace my fingers as I take guarded steps into the unit, and I’m blown away by the large open space. The floor-to-ceiling window shows a beautiful view of the city, with Lake Michigan sitting serene, kissed by the night sky.
The off-white leather sectional with a chaise on one end is my style. The beige carpet with beige and black throw pillows complements the matching coffee tables. The dark wood flooring is certainly a preference I would have chosen. The curtains are also a hint of beige and black. Like Osei’s place, four bar stools with a granite counter and dark wood make up the luxurious kitchen. A peek at the appliances from afar spells high-end. I should be excited because I love to cook, but I also need to remember that I need to stay in my lane. There’s a pivotal reason why I’m here, and he might have girlfriends coming around.
The dining area sits openly between the living room and the kitchen. I must say, the entertainment design, adorned with a large fireplace in the living room, is sumptuous and covers the whole area. I catch a glimpse of a dinette that looks more inviting to me. My breath catches as I feel Luke’s breath so close to me.
“I had them move your stuff into the bedroom next to mine. Feel free to look around, and if there’s anything you don’t like, let me know, and we can change it,” he says, then turns toward a long hallway.
“Okay, thank you. Where is my room?” I ask. He leads the way, and I follow him, admiring the simple and bold décor in the hallway. When he opens the door, I’m marveled at the size of the room and the simple yet elegant décor. I notice a chaise in the corner, and I am doing a happy girl dance inside. I’ve always wanted one. The sage blanket draped over the chaise looks soft. I can see myself enjoying every minute in that chaise. Maybe the 1,095 days won’t be torturous after all . Just maybe.
“Thank you. This is really nice,” I state, without looking at him. I can feel him a few steps behind me. The heat radiating from him has my body responding in ways I’ve never experienced. My nipples are hard again. Oh Lordy, this isn’t good.
“Glad you like it. I had the men put all your stuff away in the drawers and closet. If you don’t like it, just tell Paula how you want it changed,” he urges. My mind blows with the thought of men touching my underwear.
“My underwear too?” I blurt out. I can’t believe he had strange men packing up my undergarments. They are personal. I only ever splurge on two things: underwear and shoes. By splurge, I mean the final sale on the semi-luxury items that I like.
“Paula took care of that. She was with the movers at Osei’s and here as well.” I breathe in relief. Paula and I will get along well. I’ve met her the few times she comes over to clean Osei’s place.
“Thank you.” He nods.
“Good night,” I say to him.
“We'll talk in the morning,” he states, like it's an order, not a request.
“I have to be at work by seven and meeting with Osei and my lawyer at four. Can we talk after?” I turn to him and notice a frown that’s quickly hidden.
“Sure, goodnight.” He leaves, and I let out a breath, dropping my backpack. I step into the oversized closet; it smells like fresh linen. All my clothes barely fill one side of the large closet.
My shoes look fancy on the shelves. The reality is, none of my shoes are high-end, and I didn't pay full price for them.
I open the drawers, and my panties are arranged by color and fabric. The next drawer holds my bras, also arranged in the same format, by color and fabric. I check out the large shower with multiple showerheads and white marble tiles and the soak tub next to it. I'm definitely going to use that. The grand mirror with bright light that I can adjust is nice. I pull open the drawers and find my toiletries. I return to the bedroom to lock the bedroom door, then go back to the closet. I remove Osei's T-shirt and my bra, then pull on one of my nightwear pieces. I also replace the items in my backpack once I'm done. I bounced onto the bed like a kid. I get under the soft sheet; a charger is next to me, and I plug in my phone. Lights out. It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.