Chapter 4
four
. . .
“Where am I taking you?” Aurora asked as they exited the burger joint and went back to her sports car that could barely house his large frame. “Is there a condo you want to hide out in or…”
It wasn’t that she wanted him out of her space, it was the complete opposite. However, with the gravity of what had just occurred, Aurora didn’t want to seem pretentious or appear to be a ‘pick me’. She wasn’t either.
“Trying to get rid of me already?” Khalif rumbled, his eyes automatically finding the swing of her hips as she sauntered away in the slate blue off-the-shoulder satin dress that complemented her form.
His mind was loaded with questions, and if he had more time in her space, there would be answers and possible distractions.
“Figured you might need some time to process all of this. And my car isn’t big enough to be driving you all over town.”
Khalif smirked from the other side of the car and peered at her. “True. So you kicking it?”
Aurora laughed more so to herself.
“I need a laugh, too,” Khalif’s voice sounded off again.
Opening the car door, she began climbing in to fire up the engine. Once Khalif joined her inside, they were almost shoulder-to-shoulder again. “My grandmother says very often that kicking it gets you eighteen years of headache. And in her case, double that.”
“I’m a gentleman, though,” Khalif countered, turning slightly to look at her as she backed out of the space and pulled off. “Honestly, I’m just not trying to be alone. Left with my thoughts and devices. That shit’s dangerous.”
“Just company?”
“Just company. If you’re up to it, I’m not trying to hold you hostage.”
“Shouldn’t you know my name before you take me home? Aren’t there some rules of engagement or something?”
Khalif chuckled softly. “We did sit through a whole impromptu meal and didn’t even think of that.”
“You made it easy,” she thought, but saved her comment. The rules were the same inside the strip club and outside of it. Always maintain control.
Instead, she agreed. “Sure didn’t, so I’m your JoyRide until we establish that. Where am I headed to?”
“Ranchers Valley,” he responded, earning him a shocked expression. The smile he fought to contain felt out of place considering all that had transpired in the last day and a half. “What? You were expecting an oceanfront condo or LO penthouse?”
“I mean, it would fit the overall theme.”
“What’s the overall theme?”
“Pro baller, the lifestyle that a pro baller is expected to have. Bachelor pads, hidden places in the city… You know the theme.”
“Was that Johnny Walker’s theme?”
“Absolutely was. I’m sure I have brothers and sisters I know nothing about,” Aurora shared. “He was also a single man and never brought a woman around me, so there’s that.”
Khalif hummed. “Well, considering I’m supposed to be married right now, no bachelor lifestyle or attempting to hold on to one.”
Aurora hummed, saving her questions until they arrived at the destination he gave her step-by-step directions to.
Once parked outside of the ranch-style home twenty minutes out of the city, Khalif removed himself from her car and took a much-needed stretch.
He closed the door, not saying a word until he was at the driver’s side, his large hands pressed on top of the sleek, black-painted 1992 Honda NSX.
“Khalif Solomon Wright,” he spoke smoothly.
Aurora bit a smile and responded. “Aurora Nyla Wilson.”
“Aurora the Aura,” he muttered to himself with a dimpled smile. “Would you like to kick it with me? I don’t bite.”
“You might not. But I don’t go home with strange men,” she toyed but there were notes of seriousness. Occupational hazard. Khalif had her out of her zone and she had broken three of her five rules.
“Born June 4th at twelve-thirty in the morning. The oldest child of Henry and Marketta Wright. License number 10167824. Need my social to send to your girl or your grandmother for extra security, too? Blood type?”
“You’re not going to have me locked up in your room or trying to jump out of a window are you?”
He frowned slightly. “Who the hell? Nah. I give off creep vibes?”
“Mm mm, no. I just have to ask. Can’t be too careful, you know? I mean my grandmother and I are strong, but it’ll take about four of us to take you down.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Aurora. Never with me.” The safety, the certainty, and the honesty embedded in his eyes were what drew her out of the car.
“I have a pistol in my bag,” Aurora warned as she stepped out and looked up at him.
“You won’t need it, I promise.” Khalif held his hand out. “Trust me?”
“Oddly enough,” Aurora softly mused, trying to understand why she was content with being pulled this far into the deep end. She placed her hand in his. “Enough to go inside, not enough not to shoot you.”
Khalif led her inside the home he rarely spent time in.
His ex-fiancée preferred being closer to the city – wanting to be seen and marveled over as a future WAG.
He stepped off to the side and watched as Aurora walked into the home and marveled over the large windows and décor.
The view of Lake Crystal lured her out of her heels and to the back window.
“This is beautiful. Just like I remember,” she softly spoke.
Khalif strolled behind her and stood at a safe distance. Not too close, but whatever energy she had wouldn’t allow him to be any further than her arm's length away.
“We used to have a house up here. Right across the lake. I spent my summers and spring breaks here,” Aurora’s smile was soft, but her tone was weighted.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked, offering her the same safe space she offered him.
Aurora gave him her attention. “Only if you do the same.”
Khalif nipped his lip slightly and filled his lungs with air before slowly letting it go. “Aight, it’s a deal. Come on.”