Chapter Five
The afternoon rush at Langston Iron had finally begun to thin when Raw finished wiping down a cable station. He glanced toward the front entrance out of habit.
A familiar figure stepped through the doors.
Derrick Roberson.
Navy suit. Crisp white shirt. No tie. He carried himself with the same quiet confidence Raw remembered, the kind that never demanded attention but always seemed to receive it.
Derrick spotted him almost immediately.
A smile spread across his face.
"Trainer."
Raw folded his arms.
"Councilman."
Derrick laughed as they met halfway across the lobby.
"You still calling me that?"
"You earned it."
"And you're still pretending this place would survive without you."
Raw shook his head.
"I've got enough people reminding me I'm replaceable."
"I doubt that."
For a moment, neither spoke.
It had been months since they'd seen each other, but the silence felt familiar rather than awkward.
"You've disappeared," Raw finally said.
"I've been campaigning."
"I noticed."
Derrick glanced toward the weight floor.
"I've noticed you've been busy too."
"You planning on working out today or just showing off the suit?"
"I came to renew my membership before you accused me of quitting."
"I would've."
"I know."
Raw grinned.
"I still expect to see you more than once every few months."
"I'll do better."
"You always say that."
"I mean it this time."
Raw laughed.
"I'll believe it when I see it."
Derrick leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.
"So...when are you not working?"
Raw studied him for a second.
"Trying to steal me away from the gym?"
"I'm asking a simple question."
"You've never asked simple questions."
Derrick smiled.
"Tomorrow evening."
Raw considered it.
"I can make tomorrow evening."
"Good."
"I didn't say yes."
"You didn't have to."
Raw shook his head, unable to hide a grin.
"You're confident."
"I've learned confidence usually saves time."
The front desk called Derrick's name to finish renewing his membership.
He took a step backward.
"Tomorrow."
"I'll text you."
"I'll hold you to it."
Raw watched him disappear toward the counter before returning to the floor, realizing the gym suddenly felt a little less ordinary.
His phone buzzed as he was finishing paperwork.
Malik: Dinner tomorrow?
Raw smiled to himself.
Raw: You buying?
The reply came almost instantly.
Malik: Obviously.
Raw: Seven?
Malik: Works for me.
That was it.
No explanation.
No business talk.
Just dinner.
Before heading home, Raw made one more stop.
Cora's apartment smelled like fried chicken before he even knocked.
Brian opened the door with an enthusiastic smile.
"Ramon!"
"There he is."
Brian pulled him inside.
Cora looked up from the kitchen.
"I was wondering how long it'd take you to remember where we live."
"I've been working."
"So has everybody else."
She pointed toward the table.
"Sit."
Raw didn't argue.
Brian talked excitedly about the upcoming charity basketball event, explaining which friends were participating and how many volunteers they were expecting. Raw listened more than he spoke, occasionally asking a question or teasing Brian about already planning what he'd eat afterward.
Cora watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction.
"You don't have to stay long," she said.
"I know."
"But you should come by more often."
Raw nodded.
"I will."
He meant it.
After dinner, he hugged Brian, kissed Cora on the cheek, and headed back toward the parking lot.
The city lights were beginning to glow by the time he reached his condo.
His phone vibrated just as he unlocked the door.
Derrick:Looking forward to tomorrow.
Raw looked at the message for a moment before smiling.
He typed a reply.
Raw:Me too.
He slipped the phone into his pocket and closed the door behind him.
Tomorrow suddenly felt closer than twenty four hours away.