7. The Space Between Us
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE SPACE BETWEEN US
“ F uck,” Trevor moaned out as he came. This was the relief he needed after the last couple of days.
The sheets were still tangled around their legs when the ceiling fan began its slow rotation again, stirring the warmth that lingered in the room.
The air carried the scent of vanilla from the candle on the nightstand and the faint trace of sweat cooling against skin that had only moments ago been pressed together without restraint.
Trevor lay flat on his back, one arm folded beneath his head, the other resting loosely at his side.
His chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, but his mind had already begun its quiet retreat.
Sapphire shifted beside him, her thigh draped over his hip, her fingers moving lazily across the center of his chest as though tracing the outline of a thought she could not quite name.
Their breathing had not yet returned to normal, yet the intensity that had filled the room minutes earlier was already dissolving into something softer.
It was not awkward, but the shift in the air was less desirable.
This was the space they always reached after the heat subsided, when bodies settled and reality crept back in.
Sapphire propped herself up on one elbow and studied him with an expression that held neither accusation nor insecurity. She had always been perceptive in that way. She did not demand more than what was offered, but she noticed when something shifted.
“You drift fast,” she said quietly, her voice still husky from exertion.
He turned his head toward her, blinking once being pulled back into the room from his thoughts. “What you mean?”
She traced a slow line down his sternum with the tip of her nail, thoughtful rather than flirtatious. “You’re here until you’re not. It’s like a switch flips. Post nut clarity? It’s almost always instantaneous.”
Trevor let out a low breath and stared up at the ceiling. The fan blades moved in patient circles above them, steady and indifferent.
“I don’t mean to,” he said after a moment. “I have a lot on my mind, and I can only shut it out for so long.”
“I know,” she replied gently. “That’s why I’m saying something.
” Silence stretched between them. Trevor didn’t know what to say to appease Sapphire, hell, he didn’t even know her real name.
There wasn’t a reason to. But he knew the more they met, the more serious things would become and he would end up on the “ain’t shit nigga” list if he continued and that was not the man he was.
He had come here tonight with intention to clear his mind of the person who had been ruling his thoughts as of late because he knew she was actively avoiding him.
Aniyah had not lingered at drop-off all week.
Every morning he had found her occupied with something just important enough to avoid standing close to him.
She had become careful in their interactions with one another.
There were no more lingering looks or gentle touches.
When he walked in the room she made sure she was on the other side.
He respected her need to protect herself.
Trevor was the first to admit he was not in the headspace to start a relationship or even date someone.
Though, with all of that realized, Aniyah avoiding him still unsettled him.
Sapphire rolled onto her back and folded her hands over her stomach, staring at the same ceiling he was studying.
“You don’t look satisfied,” she said quietly, “For a man that just got his nut off, you look like the world is on your shoulders. You know I’m here to talk if you need a shoulder.”
Trevor turned his head toward her again, “I’m okay there is nothing I need to talk about. I’m good.”
She smiled faintly at the defensiveness in his tone, “It doesn’t look like that from where I’m lying.
Whatever you say, Trevor.” Sapphire rolled her eyes and looked back at the ceiling.
The honesty of what he said landed somewhere deeper than he expected.
At that moment, Trevor knew he needed to end things.
He sat up slowly, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. The sheet slipped from his waist and pooled at his hips. He dragged his hands down his face, grounding himself before speaking.
“I don’t want to keep coming here if I’m not fully present,” he said at last. “It’s not fair to you and I don’t want to hurt you, unintentionally or otherwise.”
Sapphire did not move right away. She let the words sit in the room before responding.
“That’s rich,” she scoffed. “What? You found your self-respect? It’s not that deep, baby. I’m not some damsel in distress. You don’t want to get your dick wet here anymore, cool. Move on to the next bitch.”
He nodded once. “It doesn’t even have to be all of that, Saph. This was a good time. I needed something new in my life and you were perfect. I just realize that where this started is not where it currently is. The water is getting murky.”
“Murky? The fuck do you think this is? For the love of Trevor? Clearly you have been out the game a while, but here is free game, homeboy. Just because I let you hit doesn’t mean I want to be your wife.
It was fun. I saw something was on your mind, I asked if you wanted to talk.
Anywhere in there did I say I wanted to be your girl?
Newsflash nigga, I get dicked down because I want to.
I don’t need anything from you. This was uncomplicated at first but now–”
“Now it doesn’t feel uncomplicated anymore.”
She pushed herself upright and drew the sheet around her body, studying him with quiet clarity. “Yeah and I don’t do complications. Angelou was more chill than this.”
He did not deny it, but hearing her compare him to his brother made bile rise in his throat.
“Yeah, it’s time for me to head out. You take care of yourself Sapphire.
” Trevor said quickly, knotting the used condom to flush down her toilet and putting his clothes on.
Just because he was the youngest brother didn’t mean he would sit there and let a woman “lil’ bro” him like he wasn’t a grown ass man.
“So what? You offended now?” attitude evident in her voice.
Trevor paused, zipping up his pants to look at Sapphire.
She was still fine as hell even with the irritation written across her face.
To be someone who wasn’t bothered by him wanting to end things, her actions weren’t proven that to be true.
“Say what you want,” He leaned over on the bed, his lips a breath away from hers.
“But I just made that pussy cum four times back-to-back ending in a back breaking squirt. You can’t little boy me, Sapphire.
Because after I’m gone, that pussy is still going to be crying for me.
Now,” He leaned back up and pulled his shirt back on.
“I want you to enjoy the rest of your day. It was fun.”
With that he walked out her apartment and out her life. He would just need to think of a new way to distract himself from his thoughts of his failed marriage and that second grade teacher that haunted his dreams.
Divine Expressions, Mackenzie’s Harlem studio, carried its own kind of quiet despite the movement inside it.
The scent of fresh canvas and hot lights blended with dark roast coffee, creating that specific atmosphere that only existed in creative spaces where art was being taken seriously.
Crew members moved in measured rhythm, adjusting tripods and checking sound levels while Mackenzie stood beneath a wash of soft light, her camera strap looped around her neck as naturally as a necklace.
Trevor watched her from a distance, headset resting around his collarbone, hands loosely tucked into the pockets of his jeans. There was something about watching someone operate fully inside their gift that always made him reflective. Mackenzie did not shrink under the lights. She expanded.
Nina stood several feet away, arms folded loosely across her chest, observing everything with the quiet vigilance that defined her.
She had that way about her. Always seeing what others missed.
That’s why for a while after the divorce, Trevor avoided close moments with her because he knew she would see through him with the weird perception of a big sister. He got enough of that from Jackson.
When Trevor glanced in her direction, she caught the shift in his expression immediately. Her eyes softened, and she tipped her chin toward the hallway that led away from the set.
“Walk with me for a second,” she said quietly.
He followed without hesitation.
The hallway was cooler, the hum of production fading into a muffled backdrop as they stopped near a large window overlooking the street below. Nina leaned back against the wall and studied him with the kind of gaze that did not miss much.
“You look different this week,” she said thoughtfully. “I can’t put my finger on whether it’s a good or bad different.”
Trevor let out a small breath and rested his shoulder against the opposite wall. “That doesn’t sound vague at all.”
She gave him a faint smile. “I’m serious.”
He ran a hand slowly over his jaw, buying himself a moment. “Zara has her first therapy appointment this afternoon.”
Nina’s posture shifted immediately, concern and relief crossing her face at once. “That’s good, Trev. That’s really good.”
“She’s nervous,” he admitted. “I tried to keep it light this morning, but she knows it’s about her mom. I don’t want her thinking something is wrong with her because of what happened.”
Nina stepped closer and placed her hand against his arm briefly. “You are doing what fathers are supposed to do. You’re not pretending this didn’t hurt her. You’re giving her space to process it. That matters.”
He nodded, but his gaze drifted past her toward the set where Mackenzie was adjusting her stance beneath the lights, her voice carrying faintly as she rehearsed a line.