Page 20 of Haze
“I’m serious.”
Yeah, aight. She don’t even realize she’s in a full-blown relationship right now. She gonna learn soon enough.
“Chill, man. I just wanted to show you this.” He gestured toward a purple bike that sat right in the middle of the garage.
She gasped. “Is this . . .”
Her words trailed off as he beamed at her. The name he’d only ever known her by up until yesterday was etched on the side of the bike in pink writing.Thicka.
It was a top-of-the-line bike that was pretty as hell with the matching helmet. She whirled on him. “This is for me?”
“Who else it’s for?” he asked with his brows raised.
She shrugged shyly. “I don’t know . . . You could call other women Thicka.”
“Never.” He scoffed.
She ran her dainty hand over the sleek paint job on the bike. “How long have you had this?”
“’Bout a week after we met.”
Her eyes widened. “Why? I don’t understand.”
“Shit, I don’t either. I was hoping you could help me. I ain’t ever been no sucka over no female, but you had me gone from the moment I laid eyes on you. I can’t tell you why, but I can tell you I’m serious about you. I’m tryna see what’s up wit’ you. Wit’ us.”
“Us?”
“Yeah. So you know, when a man likes a woman, they get to know each other, fall in love, get married, shit like that?” he joked, though the words felt odd on his tongue. He’d never even uttered the word marriage in a sentence that even closely pertained to him.
Devyn shook her head. The action felt like a dagger to his heart, but he did something he wasn’t known for. Haze practiced some patience, instead of flying off at the handle, and let her speak.
“I’m not looking to date right now. I-I can’t. Now with H—my daughter. Not with the dealership. I have too much going on.”
“I ain’t here to make yo’ life hard, ma. I just want to add to it. Can you let me do that?”
He grabbed her hands and gazed down into her eyes on some real sucker type shit. She looked like she was in deep thought. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Finally, she took in a deep breath and said, “Haze, I?—”
Already feeling the sting of rejection, he shook his head. “I don’t need to hear nothin’ aside from you tellin’ me you gonna give us a chance. I ain’t the type of nigga to beg. You gonna learn that about me. Just say yes and make this easier on yourself.”
He gave her a smile to let her know he meant her no harm. He really did just want to feel her out and see where life could take them.
Finally, she said, “Can we just see how tonight goes and go from there?”
Haze looked at her for a few seconds before he nodded. “Fine.” He knew in due time she would warm up to him. Haze came from a home of love. He knew how to treat a woman. He just never felt the need to do it right before. Now that he felt that urge, he was all in. Devyn would have no choice but to fall in line. Changing the subject, he nodded his head toward the bike and asked, “You gonna go riding wit’ me sometime?”
Her eyes lit up. “I can’t believe you bought me a bike.”
“It’s only the beginning. What you say?” He nodded toward the bike again.
She blushed and then hesitantly nodded. “Yeah. We can do that.”
A win was a win. Haze grinned before he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. He couldn’t help it. She was perfection in his eyes, and he wanted to feel her in every way. A kiss would do for now.
It didn’t surprise him that she kissed him back. As much as she wanted to front like she wasn’t feeling him, he knew the truth. Their chemistry was undeniable.
When he pulled away, he led her back through the garage to rejoin the party without another word. His plan was to show her a good time while also showing her that he was serious about her. Even if he didn’t understand it, he wanted to be all the way in with Ms. Devyn Frost.
Tension left Devyn’s body little by little as the night wore on.
