Bria grabbed her towel and water bottle before leaving her in-house dance studio. On the way to the stairs, she noticed Lo in the kitchen. He had left early that morning, so she hadn’t seen him since then.
“Hey.”
He closed the fridge and peered at her. “Why you sweaty?”
“I was rehearsing.”
Lo took a deep gulp from the water bottle. “You got a show coming up?”
“Yeah, next week. It’s here at the art museum.”
“Am I invited?”
Her eyes expanded, surprised by his question. “I mean, yeah. I would love for you to come.”
“Why you acting surprised?”
“Because you’ve showed no interest in my dancing.”
Without saying a word, he advanced toward Bria and towered over her. She was always amazed at their height difference considering she was a tall girl herself.
“I wanna come.”
She smiled, feeling like she was falling into a deeper pit for him. When he looked at her, she felt like the world came to a pause. Nothing moved while his gaze explored hers. This was the feeling Bria had been chasing when they first married. She yearned to feel those jolts of electricity in her body when she was in his presence. Now that it had finally arrived, Bria wanted more.
“Okay.”
“What you about to do?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“My auntie is cooking, and she invited us over. You feel like riding with me today?”
Eagerly, she bobbed her head. “I would love to. Let me go shower then I’ll be ready.”
Bria hurried up the stairs to shower and get dressed. She threw her hair in a slick bun to the back and wore hoop earrings. Clad in a white bubble poplin dress, she slid her feet into a pair of metallic silver mules. After spraying on some perfume, she met Lo downstairs. His eyes couldn’t stop exploring her from head to toe. He liked what he saw even if he didn’t say it.
“You look pretty.”
Bria beamed as if she had never received a compliment before. It just felt different coming from Lo. Being a man of not many words, he didn’t say things that he didn’t mean, so his admiration meant a lot.
“Thank you.”
“Come on, let’s go.”
The couple got inside his Porsche and drove away. There was a level of excitement that Bria couldn’t contain. Being around Lo’s family would provide more insight to the mystery she laid with every night. She needed answers that he wouldn’t provide freely. Bria wanted to peel back every layer that madeLo who he was. Why was he so violent? Why did he have bad dreams? What happened that made him so closed off. The new obsession for her husband had come without warning but Bria was determined to know the makings of Kylo.
His Aunt Maddy stayed in the Hudson Heritage neighborhood in St. Parklynn. It was considered the suburbs with a diverse demographic. Lo pulled into the driveway, and the two got out the car. He grabbed her hand and led her up the concrete stairs. As soon as Bria approached the porch, the smell of fried chicken hit her nose, making her stomach grumble.
They walked inside where tunes of The O’Jay’s “Use Ta Be My Girl” resounded through the air. Bria was pleasantly surprised to see Kaylona and Meco seated on the couch with a little girl sitting on the floor.
“Hey, girl,” Kaylona greeted her, standing to hug.
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good.” Kaylona took a step back, examining Bria. “You look so good. Just wait until I get my legs like that. Meco ain't gon’ know what to do with me.”
His upper lip curled. “Nah, you ain't gon’ know what to do with me when I snatch yo’ ass up.”
