Chapter 1 #2
Summer shot a disbelieving look my way, then walked to Ryder who was parked outside at the curb. I nodded at him before locking the door, then I returned to my office. Just as I suspected, my phone was on my desk. I must’ve placed it there when I went to pack up my things.
After setting a reminder to talk to Keith, I checked my texts, expecting a message from Robyn.
She said she’d hit me up during her study break, that was hours ago.
Since starting her prep course, she’d had less time to hang out.
I missed being around her, hugging her, and hearing her laugh.
She should’ve been here tonight, unwinding after a brutal week of class and studying.
Instead, she was home, cramming for her upcoming test.
I knew it was probably too late to call, but I couldn't resist. The phone rang in my ear as I double checked that all doors were locked.
“Goldie,” was my greeting to her.
“Hey,” Robyn rasped.
“You sleep? I thought you were studying?”
“Nadir, it’s three in the morning. Of course, I was sleeping.”
I chuckled. “My bad. When did you finish studying”
“I finished studying around midnight, but I'm glad you called.”
An instant smile spread across my face at her admission. “Why is that?”
“I was having a weird dream.”
My eyebrows met. “Tell me more.”
“Nothing interesting. Just me exploring the Bordeaux region, tasting wines, visiting vineyards, touching their grapes,” she said with a chuckle.
“What’s the weird part?”
She paused. “I was there with you.”
“Again, what’s the weird part?”
“Nothing, never mind. I had one too many glasses of wine tonight.”
“What were you drinking?” I went with her subject change, although I was curious to hear more about her dream.
“I had a vintage Chateau Lanessan. It's Bordeaux.”
“Bordeaux, that's old world, right?”
“That’s correct.” The excitement in her voice made me grin as she listed details I wouldn’t remember. I’d picked up a few things while helping her study to become a master sommelier. I wasn’t an expert like her, but I was more knowledgeable than when we met.
While she told me about tonight’s study session, I finished my walk through.
After turning off all the lights, I headed to the back entrance designated for employees and deliveries, punched in the security code, then left the building.
I dropped my keys into my messenger bag before starting my short walk home.
“Everything okay, though?” Robyn was more alert now; her soft voice was music to my ears.
“No.”
The petrichor air welcomed me as I stepped onto the dewy pavement. It had rained an hour ago. I was used to random showers this time of year. Most people didn’t like rain, but to me it was calming, and cleansing.
I nodded at the group of men I passed who were probably on their way to Over Easy or 8Ball since those were the only places open right now.
If I weren’t ready to shower and sleep, I would’ve gone to the diner and grabbed some food.
It had been a minute since I visited the diner’s owner, Mirian.
Her wisdom and humor always put me in a better headspace.
“What’s wrong?” Robyn asked.
“I haven’t seen you in two weeks,” I told her.
She giggled. “We’ll see each other tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. Only because you want me to be your guinea pig,” I teased just so I could hear her laugh again.
“You offered to taste my new recipes.”
“I knew it was the only way I'd be able to see you sooner rather than later.”
Robyn kissed her teeth. “Anyway. What are you doing?”
“Walking home.”
“You just refuse to drive, huh?”
“It’s a ten-minute walk at best. Plus, the Ville is quiet right now.”
How I liked it.
Springtime in Roseville was unmatched. The weather was perfect, even with random rain showers. When it was quiet like this, it gave me time to think, reflect, and unwind. Walking home allowed me to decompress and appreciate the town that had given me so much.
Robyn hummed, not sounding too impressed with my reasoning.
“You’re not in the big city anymore, G,” I reminded her. Every chance I had, I poked fun at her for leaving her hometown, San Francisco, California to move to Roseville, Maryland. She was still adjusting to the slower paced lifestyle.
“Don’t remind me,” she grumbled. “Did you call Vanessa?”
My eyebrows furrowed and a smile played on my lips. “Why’d you ask?”
“You sound… stressed. And I know it’s because you’re missing Avery.”
“And you,” I added.
Her light, airy laugh made me smile with ease. I couldn’t get enough of hearing it. She didn’t realize how infectious it was to me.
“Yeah, yeah. Did you call her?”
The shift from her being laidback to serious had me pushing out a breath.
I couldn’t avoid this topic with Robyn like I had with Summer.
My relationship with Summer was more familial.
We were quick to turn into each other’s protector.
With her being only a few months from giving birth, I didn't want to give her any reason to get riled up.
Plus, she had never been fond of my ex-girlfriend Vanessa and our breakup added more fuel to the fire.
Robyn, on the other hand, was a little less emotionally attached to the situation.
I was already with Vanessa when we met. There was drama she had missed, but Summer had front row seats.
Even after I caught Robyn up with everything, she remained unbiased when giving me advice.
She had a way of making me open up to her, no matter how much I didn’t want to do it.
Our natural comfortability had been the foundation of our friendship.
In just two years, she’d become one of the most important people in my life.
“I didn’t,” I answered with a sigh.
“Why not?”
“Because what was I supposed to say?”
“Hi, Vanessa. How are you? Can I speak to Avery and wish her a happy birthday? Easy.”
I chuckled.
If only it were that easy.
“I doubt she’d even answer the phone to be honest. Last time I called…” I trailed off, wincing as the sharp pain from earlier returned across my forehead. “Let’s just say it went left and ended with her hanging up on me.”
“You’ve been in that baby’s life since she was one. You were more of a dad than her actual dad,” she continued. “Vanessa knows how much Avery means to you. Ending that bond because she wants to be chased isn’t cool. It breaks my heart that you and Avery’s relationship was collateral damage.”
I chuckled dryly. “Yeah, so it’s easier to not call and deal with them not being here, than to try and have to fight with Vanessa every time we talk.”
I shouldn’t have to fight to keep in contact with a child I loved like my own. For three years, I took care of Avery, I never missed a doctor’s appointment, birthday, or daycare pickup.
Blood couldn't have made us any closer.
“I hate hearing you sound like this,” Robyn murmured. “You changed your life for them, every move you made was for your family. It’s okay to admit you’re hurting.”
Before meeting Vanessa and Avery, I hadn’t considered raising a child or having a family.
They dropped into my life at a time when I had forgotten why having a work-life balance was important.
It took some adjusting, but before I knew it, I was a family man.
I was able to create memories with Avery like my dad did with me.
Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes for breakfast and Sundays at the park were our weekend rituals.
My heart thumped against my chest as I remembered the fond memories of spending Saturday mornings watching “Motown Magic.”
“It’s all good, Goldie,” I said after a moment.
Pressing my fob against the pad outside my building, I entered the quiet lobby.
I nodded at Deira, the front desk attendant, then proceeded toward the elevator.
She waved and smiled before returning her attention to her phone.
I smirked when I realized she was listening to the jazz playlist I sent her a few weeks back.
Robyn groaned. “Are you home yet?”
“Yup. Waiting on the elevator now.” I pressed the button then leaned against the wall adjacent to it. “I sent her a gift last week. Vanessa hasn’t reached out about it yet.”
“It was delivered already?” Robyn yawned. “I thought you said it could take up to six weeks?”
The custom ballet slippers I bought for Avery were delivered on Monday and I'd been waiting all week for Vanessa to confirm their arrival.
Before she and Avery moved, we talked about getting Avery into ballet or gymnastics.
She loved to dance and had taken a liking to ballet after I showed her videos of Black ballerinas performing.
A wry smile curved my lips as I remembered the glimmer of joy in her brown, doe eyes.
“They were delivered earlier than expected. I guess the extra fifty dollars for expedited shipping was worth it,” I supplied as the elevator dinged.
“And she hasn’t even texted you?” Robyn kissed her teeth. “That woman is something else.” She went quiet for a beat. “I’m sorry you have to go through this, my darling. I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”
A smirk formed on my lips at her remark.
“Well,” I trailed off while boarding the elevator.
“What is it?” She sounded like she was already regretting her current offer.
“Come through tomorrow night.”
There was another beat of silence. I looked at my phone, wondering if the call had dropped.
“I need to study,” she told me.
“You need to take a break from studying and spend time with your favorite person.”
“Aw, you miss me?” The longing in her already sensual voice had me drawing in air.
I exhaled, then replied, “I do. So, what are you gonna do to fix that?”
As I stepped off the elevator, I unzipped my bag and searched for my keys.
Robyn sighed. “It’ll be too busy for you to even talk to me.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make time for you, like I always do.”
“Nadir,” she droned, giving me reason to believe her resolve had weakened.
“Come on. I’ll have a table reserved for you, free drinks and everything.”