The weight of his gaze.
His lust.
His love.
His lips hover close to mine, just a breath away, teasing, his tongue tracing the curve of my lips in a way that makes my center tighten with anticipation. My breath deepens, each inhale pulling me further into the memory. My skin is tingling with the memories of his touch and the way he’d make my body respond. I feel myself sinking deeper into the moment. The sensation blurring the lines between past and present. My body awakens under my touch, the memories wrapping around me with the comfort of familiarity. It’s as if he’s here with me, the heat of his body against mine, and for a moment, I allow myself to stay in this space. To let go, to feel. His lips touch mine as my chest rises and falls.
“Beautiful,” he whispers.
I finally let myself fall over the edge.
Blakely
Paige: Hey! Want to get coffee before work?
I’ve had a slow morning. I never take those for granted. When school starts back up, it’s always a rush to get Amari up, fed, and out the door to school. I’m thankful I can work part-time, giving me more time to be a mom.
I had asked Amari if she wanted to sleep at her dad's house last night because there was still so much tension in the house; I didn’t want her to feel it or see it. Kai and Amari both agreed, even though they didn’t know what truly was going on. This will only add more to the list I know Kai is keeping in his head.
Me: Sure.
I slipinto a beige blouse and match it with black slacks and leopard mules. Since I had some extra time, I went all out with my makeup, even adding a pair of lashes to help my eyes pop. A spritz of my favorite long-lasting perfume, Alien by Mugler, envelops me. It’s been ages since I’ve felt this good and put together. Maybe that recent release had something to do with it.
The air is chilly in the morning, bringing a crisp to the air and hints of the weather changing. “I Do” by Cardi B plays through the speakers from my Spotify list.
I pull up to my favorite coffee shop, Café Brewz. It’s nestled among trees that provide a sense of seclusion. The café feels like a hidden gem. As I step inside, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops me—intensifying my craving for an espresso.
“Blakely.” I turn to the sound of my voice and see Paige sitting in the cafe's corner in her black scrubs. Dr. Peterson doesn’t mind what we wear to work as long as it’s business casual or scrubs. Scrubs don’t appeal to me, so I never wear them.
“Hey,” I say as I take a seat across from her.
“I already got you a latte and a chocolate croissant.”
I grab the mug and take a sip, feeling the flavor of nutty chocolate stream down my throat. “Thank you.”
“I miss you, B. We haven’t spent much time together.”
Her words hang in the air, and I can see the questions in her eyes. I nod. “I know. With everything going on, I’ve been so busy.”
She fidgets with her croissant, her gaze focused on it, as if she knows there is more to my story.
I haven’t told Paige about what’s been happening, or how I’ve been feeling lately, because I’m still trying to sort through the emotions. It’s not like me to keep things from her; we’ve always shared everything with each other. But this time, I find myself at a loss for words. The thought of keeping it all from her feels weird. I’m not ready to face my reality and say it out loud, making it feel even realer.
“How has everything been going? You’ve seemed distant lately.”
I can’t help but put on a fake smile. “Can we not get into this right now? I was having a great day, and I would like to keep it like that. When I’m ready, I’ll talk to you about everything. I promise.”
Her eyes narrow toward me as she nods and takes a sip of her coffee.
“Have you been on any dates recently?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. Hearing her dating stories lightens the mood for me. I know they don’t for her—based on all the shit guys do. They’re usually funny as hell, though.
She rolls her eyes and lets her head hang low before letting out a sigh. “I need to give up on finding someone.” She shakes her head. “You won’t even believe what the last guy I went on a date with asked me…”
I chuckle. “What?” This should be good, judging by the look on her face.
“If I do anal.” Her shoulders slump over like she’s truly given up hope.
My face drops. “What?! On the first date?”
