Page 31 of His Favorite Felon

We all sat, and Chyanne broke the ice first. “So tell me something about you.” She looked from Chance to me. “How did y’all meet? There has to be a story here. You look younger than him, and just for your information, Justice. My brothers don’t bring women around.” She pointed her thumb at Chance. “Especially this street runner.”

“Well, you are right. I am younger. I’m twenty-six, and I’ve known your brother for the past five and a half years.” I paused, looking to Chance to take over and explain how we met. I wasn’t embarrassed, but I wasn’t sure if he wanted his family to know he was fucking around with an inmate at his place of work.

Chance cut in to ask Chyanne, “Can I talk to you?”

“Don’t be rude. You see, we are talking, Chance Legend,” she said, lecturing him.

“Chyanne,” he said in what I’d assume is his big-brother, no-nonsense tone.

I picked up my menu. “Go ahead. I’ll order while you’re gone.”

“Don’t leave.”

My eyes snapped to him, and it seemed Chance understood something from my look because his expression softened right away.

“I mean, don’t go nowhere,” he corrected. “I’ll be right back.”

I stared at him with narrowed eyes. “Where would I go?”

He didn’t answer immediately, which also bothered me. Then he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

“Order whatever you want. We will be right back,” he suggested and I rolled my eyes.

“You keep saying that like I won’t bankrupt you.”

“Try your best. I’ll be right over there.”

Chance practically dragged Chyanne away. I pretended to read the menu because I was watching them. They didn’t go far enough. Chance stood with his back partially toward me while Chyanne faced him. The second they stopped, she said something. His shoulders stiffened. He looked over at me. I dropped my eyes to the menu. I didn’t want to seem pressed about their conversation.

I waited a few seconds before I looked up again. Chyanne was staring at him like he had lost his damn mind.

“What the fuck?” I whispered.

I couldn’t hear everything over the music, but then I heard one word, Chase.

I wasn’t sure what context that meant, but it was the loudest word I could make out.

Chyanne spoke again and then gestured toward our table. Chance glanced at me once more. This time, I didn’t bother to pretend. I held his gaze. He responded with a smile.

I lifted my middle finger.

His smile got wider.

Chyanne looked between us before slapping him on the back of his neck. She said something that made Chance’s expression change. Whatever it was, he didn’t find it funny. She looked pissed, and every instinct I had was screaming that the conversation was about me.

They made their way back to the table. Chance sat back down beside me, and Chyanne stayed standing.

“Justice. It was truly a pleasure, but duty calls. Let me see your phone,” she requested, holding out her hand. I removed it from my purse and handed it to her.

When she handed it back, she let me know she put her phone number in it and that she texted herself.

“If he does anything to piss you off, call me. I know he likes you, and boys tend to do stupid shit when they are infatuated with a girl, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t embarrass me.

We shared goodbyes, and then there was just Chance and me.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he stated.