Chapter 1 #3
He started with how he and Jalen met in college. Different schools, same circles, same competitive events, same parties. Stories I’d never heard, which was impressive considering Cal talked for a living and still managed to surprise me.
I hadn’t known they went that far back.
Then again, Cal knew everyone.
Jalen listened calmly, nodding, smiling when it made sense. When it was his turn, he talked about growing up with a single mom. About discipline. About pressure. About learning early how to carry himself in rooms where people expected things from him.
He spoke slowly. Thoughtfully. Like he didn’t waste words.
The room felt different when he talked. Quieter. Focused.
Even the crew seemed a little more attentive than usual.
And every now and then, without making a big deal out of it, his eyes would shift toward me.
Not staring. Not obvious.
Just a glance.
A quick, shared smile.
I found myself watching him instead of my notes. The way he took his time answering questions. The way he sat comfortably in his body. The way he looked even better under studio lights than he had in the elevator.
Which felt rude, honestly.
The podcast wrapped the way it always did, clean and confident, Cal thanking listeners, plugging sponsors, promising another episode soon. The red light went off and the room exhaled all at once.
Chairs shifted. Headsets came off. Someone clapped lightly. Another crew member stretched like they’d been holding their breath the whole time.
Jalen leaned back in his chair, rolling his shoulders once like he was shedding the performance without losing the presence. A couple of people came over to say good job. He shook hands, smiled, listened.
Cal stood and clapped his hands together. “Alright, people. That’s a wrap.”
I gathered my things and stood, already mentally switching gears.
Cal walked over to us, still buzzing, still riding the high. “Man, that was solid. Thanks for making my job easy, bro.” Cal said as he shook hands with Jalen again. “We’re heading to happy hour. You should come.”
I sighed quietly to myself.
Great.
More time.
More proximity.
More suffering.
Because that’s what this would be. Enduring the presence of a man who looked like that while pretending I was immune to it.
I told myself to be normal. I told myself this was just work adjacent. I told myself I had survived worse things than an attractive man with incredibly good looks and a voice that sounds like butter.
Jalen hesitated. “I don’t wanna interrupt.”
Cal waved that off immediately. “You’re not interrupting anything.”
Of course he wasn’t. I adjusted the strap of my purse, already calculating how much time I had to fake an emergency. Then Cal glanced at me.
“You’re not getting out of this.”
He knew me too well.
I shot him a quick exhausted look.
I exhaled. “You wouldn’t be imposing,” I said with a soft smile, keeping my tone professional despite myself. “You should join us.”
“Cool, I’d love to join,” Jalen said, easy and open.
Cal clapped his hands once, already decided. “Mars. Place?”
“Gutters,” I said, flatly.
“Yes,” Cal said, pleased. “Perfect.”
“Gutters?” Jalen repeated.
“Trust me,” Cal said. “You’ll thank us.”
He wasn’t wrong. Gutters was a low-key staple just outside downtown.
Small bar. No hype. The best burgers in the city, no competition.
It stayed quiet because people didn’t know about it, and Cal and I worked hard to keep it that way.
Petty? Maybe. But some things were worth protecting.
Food was one of them. Peace was another.
And I figured Jalen would appreciate a place where no one would hover or stare or ask for anything.
“I trust y’all,” Jalen said, rubbing his hands together. “I’m starving.”
I adjusted my purse, giving my hands something to do. “Same.” I said. Honestly, I couldn't wait to eat. All I had was that coffee and my stomach was touching my spine at this point.
“I’ll drive,” Jalen offered.
My body reacted before my mouth did.
“Cool,” Cal said immediately.
“That’s okay,” I said, too quickly. “I’ll just meet you guys there.”
“Nah,” Cal said, already sliding an arm around me. “So you can disappear? Not happening. Let’s go.”
He nuzzled the top of my head with his knuckle, sending my fresh silk press in a frenzy.
I nudged him in annoyance. “You’re doing too much.”
In the shuffle, my hair clip slipped loose. I reached up and pulled it free, shaking my hair out as my curls fell down over my shoulders. I tried to reclip it, fingers fumbling for a second longer than necessary.
That’s when I caught it.
From the corner of my eye, Jalen glanced over. Just once. His gaze dipped, then lifted again. His lips parted slightly, tongue brushing over his bottom lip before he caught himself.
It was subtle and quick, but it was enough.
I stopped trying to fix the clip and let my hair fall where it wanted to.
I felt warm. Alert. Annoyed with myself for noticing, more annoyed that I didn’t hate it.
Cal kept talking, oblivious, steering us toward the exit like nothing had changed.
But something had.
And as we headed out together, I had the uncomfortable realization that happy hour might require more self control than I’d planned on bringing.