If anything, heâd probably drive straight to Hickman Mills tomorrow, find Ryan before school started, and finish what heâd already warned him about.
The image alone makes Annie wince.
She didnât want Elijah getting arrestedâŠ
She falls back onto her pillow with a frustrated groan, staring at the ceiling.
âI donât know what to doâŠâ
Tell the man she was falling forâŠ
Or keep this to herself, quietly pay to have the number changed, and hope Ryan eventually got bored?
Neither choice felt right.
For the first time since meeting Elijah, Annie finds herself seriously considering keeping something from himânot because she doesnât trust him, but because sheâs afraid of what heâll do for her if he finds out.
đđđđđđđđđđđđđđđ
Sunday afternoon finally comes.
Annie is in her bedroom putting the finishing touches on her outfit when the house phone rings.
She drops onto the edge of her bed and reaches for the corded phone. âHello?â
âWhen you gonâ head this way?â
Rhondaâs voice comes through the receiver.
Annie glances toward her bedroom door. âMy dad gettinâ ready to bring me over there now.â
Annie laughs. âGirl, Iâm coming.â
âIâm just sayinâ. Devin already called twice. She more excited than anybody. You know she tryna see Stack.â
Annie shakes her head, smiling.
âIâll be there in a minute.â
Annie takes one last look at herself in the mirror, smooths down her clothes, grabs her purse, then heads downstairs.
Ten minutes later, sheâs in the passenger seat of her dadâs car.
Warm afternoon sunlight pours through the windshield as they pull away from the house. The air conditioner blows softly against Annieâs face while an old school R&B station plays low through the speakers.
She looks over at her father. âThank you for takinâ me to Rhondaâs house.â
âNo problem.â He keeps his eyes on the road. âWhat yâall got planned?â
Annie shifts slightly in her seat. âNothinâ much. Just gonâ watch movies and chill.â
Annie glances out the window as they pass rows of houses and corner stores. Then she looks back at him. âDadâŠâ
âI really wanna learn how to drive.â
He briefly glances over at her.
âSince Iâm eighteen now, I wanna get my license so I can eventually buy my own car.â
Her father lets out a long breath. âI figured that was cominâ.â
Annie folds her hands in her lap. âIâm serious.â
âI know you are.â He adjusts his grip on the steering wheel. âI just gotta find the time. Your brothers been askinâ too.â
âI know.â Annie looks back out the window. âWe hate dependinâ on everybody else to take us places.â
âI bet.â He nods slowly. âIâm just gonna have to start takinâ yâall out on a few weekends.â
Annie nods. âOkay.â But inside, she thinks, I wonât hold my breath.
Her father always means well when he makes promises like that. But between work, the house, the kids and everything else constantly demanding his attention, weeks could easily turn into months.
At this rate, Annie feels like sheâs going to have to teach herself how to drive.
A few minutes later, they pull up in front of Rhondaâs house. Annie unbuckles her seat belt, then leans over and kisses her fatherâs cheek. âI already got a ride home.â
He looks at her. âWith who?â
He nods, seemingly satisfied. âOkay. Have fun.â
âI will.â Annie climbs out and closes the door behind her.
Rhonda is already standing at the front door waiting. The second Annie reaches the porch, Rhonda grabs her arm and pulls her inside. They both squeal.
âYou look cute!â Rhonda says.
Annie laughs as Rhonda spins around to show off her outfit. âYou think Tobias gonâ like this?â
âGirl, yes.â Annie looks her up and down. âYou knew that before you asked me.â
Rhonda grins. âI just needed confirmation.â
Fifteen minutes later, a horn sounds outside. Beep! Beep!
Rhonda runs toward the window. âThey here.â
Annie grabs her purse, and the two of them hurry outside.
Devin is behind the wheel of her mamaâs car with Ebony sitting in the passenger seat.
The windows are down, and music spills out into the quiet neighborhood.
Rhonda climbs into the backseat first.
Annie slides in beside her and shuts the door.
Devin turns around immediately. âAbout damn time.â
Rhonda rolls her eyes. âGirl, you just got here.â
âI been ready all day.â Devin pulls away from the curb.
Ebony glances into the backseat âEverybody look cute.â
âYou too,â Annie says.
The car smells like perfume, lip gloss, and the strawberry air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.
A burned CD plays through the speakers as Devin turns onto the main road.
Rhonda leans between the front seats. âSo what yâall think they already there?â
Devin smiles. âStack better be.â
Ebony laughs. âYou act like that nigga asked you to marry him.â
âGirl, please.â Devin checks herself in the rearview mirror. âI ainât tryna marry him. Iâm just tryna look at him.â
Rhonda sits back. âYou been talkinâ to him?â
âEvery day.â Devin grins proudly. âHe called me last night.â
Annieâs eyebrows rise. âWhat yâall talk about?â
âEverything.â Devin shrugs. âHe funny as hell. And cocky.â
âVery cocky,â Ebony adds.
Devin laughs. âI like it.â
Rhonda looks at Annie. âWhat about you and Smoke?â
Annie already knew the question was coming, but her cheeks warm anyway. âWhat about us?â
âDid he call you last night?â
âMhm. Actually I called him.â
Devin glances at her through the mirror. âAnd?â
Annie smiles a little. âHe told me he wasnât gonna be able to sleep, âcause he couldnât wait to see me today.â
The car goes quiet for half a second.
Then Rhonda and Ebony both melt at the same time.
âAwwww!â Rhonda squeals.
Devin grins wide. âSee? Thatâs what Iâm talkinâ about!â
Ebony laughs. âNot him sayinâ he couldnât sleep over you!â
Annie covers her face, laughing now too. âHe really said he was gonna be up all night just thinkinâ about cominâ out here.â
âAww, Annie!â Rhonda teases, nudging her shoulder.
Devin shakes her head. âThat man gone.â
Annie laughs harder, shaking her head. âYâall are annoying.â
But she canât stop smiling.
Devin turns the music up as they continue toward Swope Park. The city moves past the windowsâbrick storefronts, busy intersections, buses pulling away from stops, and families enjoying the warm Sunday afternoon.
Rhonda starts dancing in the backseat. âWatch Tobias not even be there yet.â
âHe better be,â Devin says. âMatter fact, all they asses better be there.â
Annie glances out the window, trying to hide the anticipation growing in her stomach.
They finally pull into Swope Park, and Annieâs eyes widen.
Itâs a beautiful fall afternoon.
The sun hangs warm and golden in the clear sky while a light breeze moves through the trees, rustling leaves that are just beginning to turn shades of red, orange, and yellow.
The park is already packed.
One long road stretches through the middle, with wide fields of grass spreading out on both sides. Cars line the edgesâold-school Chevys sitting low on shiny rims, freshly painted Cutlasses, box Chevys, Caprices, and newer cars polished so clean the sunlight bounces off their hoods.
People stroll along both sides of the road, laughing and talking while they admire the cars. Some sit on blankets in the grass with coolers beside them. Smoke rises from portable grills, carrying the smell of charcoal, hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbecue through the air. Children race around the fields, throwing footballs and chasing one another between the trees. Under the nearby shelter, families crowd around picnic tables while little kids run between the benches.
Music blasts from every direction. Bass rattles windows and shakes trunks as cars compete to see who has the loudest sound system. One car plays Ja Rule and R.Kelly Wonderful while another farther down blasts Twista and R. Kelly So Sexy, the songs crashing into each other until they become one loud, chaotic soundtrack.
Girls dance beside their cars, showing off their outfits while groups of men stand nearby watching, laughing, and calling out to them.
Devin slowly drives along the road, looking from one side to the other. âDamnnnn,â she says, dragging the word out. âAll the fine niggas out here.â
Rhonda leans forward between the seats, taking in the rows of cars. âHell yeah. And they got some nice-ass cars too.â
Annie stays quiet, staring through the window. Her parents had never allowed her to come to Swope Park on Sundays.
They always said it was too dangerous. Too many people. Too much drinking. Too many fights that sometimes turned into shootings.
To them, Sundays at Swope meant trouble.
But as Annie watches everyone laughing, dancing, grilling, and proudly showing off their cars, she doesnât see danger.
She sees people enjoying themselves.
She sees music, community, and freedom.
For once, it feels good to be somewhere her parents would never approve of.
Devin eases her mamaâs car onto the grass on the left side of the road, not too far from the shelter. The tires crunch over dry leaves before she pulls into an open spot and puts the car in park.
The girls climb out one by one.
The breeze immediately brushes against Annieâs skin, carrying a mixture of perfume, smoke, grass, barbecue, and car exhaust. She adjusts her purse on her shoulder and looks around, trying to take everything in at once.
Devin pulls out her Nokia phone âIâm finna call Stack.â She presses the phone to her ear while the other girls stand beside the car. âAye,â she says when he answers. âWhere yâall at?â She pauses, turning in a slow circle as if she might spot them.âOkay⊠yeah, I see where you talkinâ about.â
She hangs up the phone. âHe said they parked farther down. We gotta walk a little bit.â
Rhonda shrugs. âCool.â
They lock the doors and start walking along the grassy edge of the road.
Almost immediately, heads begin to turn.
Men leaning against their cars stop talking to watch the girls pass. Some stare openly. Others nudge their friends and whisper. A few call out from across the road.
âDamn, where yâall headed?â
âYâall need some company?â
A sharp whistle cuts through the noise.
Devin grins like she expected nothing less.
Rhonda laughs, tossing her head back toward them as she keeps walking.
Ebony pretends not to hear them, but the small smile on her face gives her away.
Annie keeps her eyes forward, though she can feel every stare following them.
The attention makes her nervous, but thereâs also something exciting about walking through the crowded park with her friends, all of them dressed up and looking good. She glances farther down the road, searching through the groups of people gathered around cars.
Her heart begins to beat faster.
Somewhere in all of thisâŠSmoke is waiting for her.
Smoke and Tobias are posted up beside Smokeâs car, talking to a few dudes they know from around the city. Every few seconds somebody walks by and throws up a dap.
âWhatâs good, bro?â
âMan, where you been at?â
Smoke daps a couple more hands while Tobias laughs at something one of the guys says.
A few feet away, Stack and Ramon are sitting on the hood of Stackâs car, passing jokes and blunts back and forth while people continuously stop to speak.
Smokeâs passenger door is swung wide open so everybody can see the custom system in the truck. The bass from his speakers rolls across the grass, vibrating through the ground every time the beat drops.
A small crowd nearby nods their heads to the music while another group debates whose sound system is louder.
Just thenâŠThe girls come walking down the road.
At that exact moment, the song in Smokeâs truck changes.
đ” On the cross-town with the top downâŠ
Sounds banginâ out the backseats
Me and shorty two deepâŠ
Sheâs flashinâ me thighs, wind blowinâ through her hairâŠ
Baby we can take it there⊠đ”
Smoke glances toward the road.
The second he sees AnnieâŠ
Everything else disappears.
The conversation around him fades into nothing more than muffled noise.
The laughter. The music. The cars.
His heart damn near stops.
Their eyes lock from halfway across the field.
Neither one of them looks away.
đ” Could it be my chromed out rims?
Break your neck when you see a nigga dipâŠOr could it be the ice you see?
But you tell me that youâre really feelinâ me⊠đ”
A slow smirk pulls across Smokeâs face.
Without realizing it, he completely tunes out the dudes standing beside him.
One of them is still talking.
Smoke doesnât hear a damn word.
His eyes slowly travel over Annie.
Annie is wearing a red Baby Phat velour tracksuit that hugs her body in all the right places. A pair of crisp white Chuck Taylors completes the look. Her hair is pulled into a sleek side-part ponytail that cascades down her back. Glossy lips catch the light every time she smiles. Her nails are freshly done, and silver hoop earrings frame her face. Matching silver bracelets jingle softly around her wrist, while a herringbone chain rests against her collarbone, adding the perfect finishing touch.
Smokeâs chest tightens.
Every single time he sees herâŠ
She somehow gets prettier.
The breeze catches the end of her ponytail, making it sway gently behind her as she walks.
She looks up again. Still staring at him.
đ”Could it be the word on the block?
I know they told you that a nigga got it locked (so tight, so tight) Tell me why you just can't stop (can't stop, can't stop)
I'm thinking that it's all about me (all about me) What could it be? đ”
Meanwhile, Annieâs feet almost stop moving. She canât help herself.
Her eyes drift over him just as slowly.
Smoke has on a crisp white Vokal button-up with oversized navy and silver embroidery sweeping across the chest and one sleeve. The shirt hangs loose, untucked over a pair of dark wash Vokal baggy jeans. A white wife beater peeks out beneath the open collar. On his feet are fresh white Air Force 1s, spotless as always. A navy fifty nine fifty Kansas City Royals fitted cap sits loose over his white durag, matching the accents on his shirt. Around his neck hangs a simple silver Herringbone, with a matching silver Rolex catching the light every time he moves.
He looked good every time she saw him.
But today⊠today he looked unfair.
The sunlight catches the silver around his neck before glinting off his watch. Even the breeze seems to move around him instead of through him.
She catches a faint whiff of his cologne before sheâs even close enough to touch him. Her stomach instantly fills with butterflies.
Smoke notices the way sheâs looking at him. That same wide eyed expression. The same one that always makes him feel ten feet tall. He bites the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning too hard.
The girls finally make their way over.
Stack is the first one to notice Devin. His eyebrows shoot up. âGot damn, shorty.â
Devin immediately starts laughing. âBoy, shut up.â Her eyes drift past him to the car. It steals her attention instantly. Itâs a candy-painted red Bubble Chevy Caprice sitting low on gleaming gold rims that sparkle every time the sun hits them. The five-percent tint makes the windows look almost black. Through the open driverâs door she can see the custom red and black leather interior with matching stitching, polished woodgrain accents, and chrome shining across the dash.
She whistles low. âDamn⊠this yo ride?â
Stack deadpans. âNah. Iâm just sittinâ on somebody elseâs shit.â
The girls bust out laughing.
Devin shakes her head. âYou an asshole.â
âSo?â Stack teases with a grin full of platinum. âYou like that shit.â
She rolls her eyes. ââŠMaybe.â
âI know.â He jerks his head toward the passenger side. âCome sit in the car wit meâ
Devin smirks and walks over. Stack slides behind the steering wheel while she climbs into the passenger seat, already running her fingers across the custom leather.
MeanwhileâŠRhonda walks over to Tobias.
His eyes slowly travel over her outfit before meeting hers again. âYeah⊠I see you.â He nods approvingly. âI like the fit.â
Rhonda smiles so wide her cheeks hurt. âThank you.â
Not far away, Ramonâs still sitting on the hood of the Caprice.
Ebony joins him, and the two quickly fall into easy conversation.
That leavesâŠSmoke And Annie.
Without saying a word, Smoke excuses himself from the guys and walks toward his truck where Annie is leaning against the front bumper.
She hears his footsteps before she sees him.
Then his cologne wraps around her.
He leans in just enough for his voice to brush against her ear. âSup, pretty eyes?â
A smile instantly tugs at Annieâs lips.
Smoke grins. âYou gonâ look at me?â
Annie bites the inside of her lip.
Then⊠slowlyâŠShe turns her head.
Smokeâs chest tightens. âThere you go.â His voice drops lower. âYou look real good today.â
Annie kisses her teeth. âThatâs everyday.â
Smoke chuckles. âMy bad.â He slowly looks her over again. âYou damn sure right⊠but itâs like every time I see you⊠it just keep gettinâ better and better.â
Annie tries to fight the smile threatening to spread across her face.
âI guess I can say the same.â
Smoke shakes his head. âNah. Iâm aight. I ainât got shit on you though.â
âOh whatever, Elijah.â
For a long momentâŠNeither one of them speaks.
Trying to memorize another piece of the other.
The sounds of Swope Park melt into the background. The music. The laughter. The engines revving.
It all fades beneath the weight of their eye contact.
She tries. She really does.
But after a few secondsâŠHer eyes fall.
Smoke sighs with a grin. âDonât start that, Annika. You was doinâ so good too.â
Before she can answerâŠTwo girls walk over.
âHey Smoke⊠hey Tobias.â
Smoke and Tobias both glance over.
âSup,â Tobias answers.
Annie shifts her weight onto her other foot.
A strange heaviness settles in her chest.
She suddenly feelsâŠOut of place.
She catches Rhondaâs eye from the side of the truck.
Rhonda immediately reads her expression.
One quick look says everything. You okay?
Annie gives the slightest nod. Iâm fine.
One of the girls looks around. âWhere Stack at?â
Tobias points toward the Caprice. âHe in the car talkinâ to somebody.â
âOh.â The girls nod. âWell⊠weâll see yâall later.â
âSee you,â Tobias replies.
Smoke simply lifts his chin.
As soon as they walk awayâŠ
Smoke looks back at Annie. âYou good?â
She glances at him. âYeah. Why wouldnât I be?â
Smoke shrugs. âJust checkinâ.â
Before either of them can say anything else⊠Another dude walks up. âWhatâs up wit it?â
âWhatâs good, bro?â Smoke answers.
âShit. Tryna find somebody choosinâ.â He laughsâŠThen his eyes land on Annie. And stay there. He looks her up and down slowly. Like heâs debating whether or not to shoot his shot.
Smoke notices every second of it. His jaw tightens. The familiar feeling returns. That ugly, unfamiliar pressure sitting heavy in his chest. Why the fuck everybody keep lookinâ at her?
The dude glances back at Smoke.
Almost like heâs trying to figure outâŠ
Before he can askâŠSomeone calls his name.
He looks back. âHere I come!â He nods toward Smoke. âAight, my nigga. Iâll catch you.â
âYep.â Smoke watches him leave.
Not even five seconds laterâŠAnother group of dudes strolls past. Every last one of them looks Annie over. None of them stop. But they all look.
He knows he has absolutely no claim over Annie. She isnât his girl. She isnât his woman. HellâŠThey havenât even gone on their first date. So why does every pair of eyes on her make something ugly twist inside him?
He doesnât know. He just knowsâŠHe wants everybody to know sheâs with him. More than thatâŠHe just wants to touch her. Heâs been fighting the urge ever since she walked up.
FinallyâŠHe gives in. SlowlyâŠHe slides his left arm around Annieâs waist.
âCome here.â His voice is barely above a whisper.
He gently pulls her over until sheâs standing directly in front of him. Then both of his arms wrap comfortably around her waist while he leans back against his truck.
Annieâs breath catches.
InsideâŠSheâs screaming.
OutsideâŠShe tries to stay cool. But her heart is beating so hard sheâs convinced he can feel it through her back.
Rhonda looks over. The second she sees themâŠA huge grin spreads across her face.
She nudges Tobias with her elbow. Tobias chuckles
Even Ebony looks over and smiles.
Smoke exhales quietly. Holding Annie like this settles something inside him. The jealousy⊠The irritationâŠIt eases. Not completely. But enough.
She fits against him so naturally that it almost scares him. Like sheâd always belonged there. He canât believe heâs doing this because heâs never held any woman in public. Sheâs got him folding again in front of the whole city.
He puts his mouth near her ear. âYou got all the eyes on you today.â His deep voice vibrates gently through her back.
Annie giggles. âNah. That would be youâŠYou the celebrity.â
Smoke kisses his teeth. âNah. Thatâs you.â He glances around. âGonâ end up havinâ me checkinâ one of these niggas before the day over.â
Annie fights another smile. âOh yeah? Why?â
Smoke smiles against her ear. âYou know why.â
She laughs. âOkay, Elijah.â
He buries his face briefly near her neck and breathes her in. âDamnâŠYou smell good as hell.â
Heat rushes into Annieâs cheeks. âThank youâŠSo do you.â
Another group of girls walks by.
Every last one of them mugs Annie.
She sighs. âSee what I mean, Smoke?â
Smoke barely spares them a glance.
âI ainât payinâ no attention to them chicken heads. All Iâm focused onâŠâ He squeezes her waist just a little. ââŠis you. And how good it feel to finally hold you.â
Annieâs stomach flips again. She tries not to smile. Fails.
Smoke smiles too. Then whispersâŠâYou fit perfectly in my arms.â
âLike you belong here.â
She swallows. âIs that right?â
âHell yeah.â He chuckles. âLike a puzzle pieceâŠYou justâŠfit.â
Annie laughs softly. âStop⊠Elijah.
My jaws hurt from smiling too much.â
âGood.â He smiles against her cheek âThatâs my job. Iâm supposed to make you smileâŠSo get used to it.â
Just thenâŠAnother guy walks over. âWhatâs poppinâ, Smoke?â
Smoke reaches one arm around Annie and daps him up without letting her go.
The guy looks toward Annie expectantly.
Smoke doesnât hesitate. âThis Annie.â
Annie gives a small wave. âHi.â
âAnnie⊠this Arion.â
The two men start talking about cars.
Horsepower. Paint jobs. Suspension.
Annie mostly listens while Smoke absentmindedly keeps his hands resting against her waist the entire conversation.
A few minutes later Arion heads off.
Smoke says to Annie. âCome take a walk wit me.â
They push away from the truck.
Without even thinkingâŠSmoke reaches his hand behind him.
Annie smiles to herself. Then slips her hand into his.
Their fingers lace together naturally.
She glances back toward Rhonda.
Rhonda catches her eyeâŠThen immediately starts doing a little dance, teasing her.
Annie busts out laughing.
Smoke looks over. âWhatâs funny?â
Annie shakes her head, smiling to herself. âNothing.â
They walk in comfortable silence for a minute. Their fingers remain intertwined, gently swinging between them with each step. The sounds of Swope Park surround themâmusic thumping from passing cars, children laughing in the distance, grills sizzling somewhere nearby, and leaves rustling overhead as the breeze drifts through the trees.
Smoke breaks the silence first. âSo⊠why I ainât never seen you down here before?â
Annie glances over at him. ââCause my parents hate this place on Sundays. They feel like itâs too dangerous.â
Smoke nods slowly. âI get that.â
He looks around at the crowd. âIt ainât always like that⊠but it can most definitely get rowdy.â
âYeah,â Annie says quietly. âI heard.â
Before either of them can say anything else⊠Three girls walk past.
One smiles brightly. âHeyyy, Smoke.â
Another follows with a grin. âHi, Smoke.â
The third doesnât acknowledge him at all.
She simply looks Annie up and down with an obvious attitude before continuing to walk.
Annie feels her stomach sink.
He simply lifts his chin in greeting and keeps walking beside Annie without slowing his pace.
Annie finally asks, âHow often do you come here?â
Smoke shrugs. âWe used to come every Sunday.â He looks over at her. âWhy?â
She lets out a small laugh. âBecause the whole city seem to know you.â
Smoke chuckles. âIt ainât the whole city.â
Annie side eyes him. âI canât tell.â
He smiles. âA lot of these people from my neighborhood, Annie. I grew up around âem.â
He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. âSoon they gonâ know you too.â
Annie raises an eyebrow. âIs that so?â
âOf course. I told youâŠI wanna take you around.â
The moment those words leave his mouthâŠAnnie goes quiet.
Smoke notices immediately.
He sighs dramatically. âOh shitâŠHere we go.â
Annie looks over. âWhat, Smoke?â
âYou gettinâ quiet on me again.â He studies her face. âEvery time I mention spendinâ time wit you.â He shakes his head. âTalk to me. âCause at this point⊠it gotta be deeper than the way I look.â
Annie chews the inside of her cheek.
Part of her wants to brush it off.
Another partâŠKnows he deserves the truth.
Smoke notices the wheels turning in her head.
His voice softens. âCome on, Annika. You can talk to me.â
Annie lets out a slow breath. âIâm scared, Elijah.â
She continues. âIâm scared of goinâ all in.â She looks away toward the road where another group of people walks past laughing. âToday kinda made me realize⊠beinâ with you and beinâ seen with you ainât easy.â
She laughs nervously. âIâm gettinâ dirty looks. Girls tryna holla at you right in front of me.â
She shrugs helplessly. âItâs⊠a lot.â
Her voice grows quieter. âAnd after everything Ryan put me throughâŠâ
She swallows. âIâm scared to give somebody my whole heart again. My time. What if it happen all over?â
Their joined hands come to a stop between them.
He turns until heâs standing directly in front of her.
Annie instinctively lowers her eyes.
Smoke slowly reaches up and hooks a finger beneath her chin.
His touch is gentle. âLook me in my eyes.â
Smoke holds her gaze. âI donât know what else I can do to convince youâŠThat I donât give a fuck about no other girls.â
His voice is calm. Certain.
âIâm focused on you. Iâm focused on buildinâ whatever this is between us. I ainât got no reason to play wit yo emotions, baby.â
The word baby sends warmth spreading through Annieâs chest.
Smoke keeps going. âI know what that nigga did to you. And Iâd never do no shit like that. I couldnât even bring myself to hurt you.â
He shakes his head. âTruthfullyâŠIt ainât really fair, Annika. You punishinâ meâŠAnd keepinâ me at armâs lengthâŠFor what another nigga did.â
His jaw tightens. âI keep showinâ up. I keep callinâ. I keep tellinâ you exactly where I stand. I keep tryinâ to prove to you that Iâm here. That I got yo back. And that I ainât goinâ nowhere.â
He glances toward the crowd before looking back at her. âAnd you talkinâ about females lookinââŠI understand. I really do. But truthfullyâŠWe dealinâ wit the same shit.â He laughs softly without humor. âYou know how many niggas done eyed you since we been out here? Huh? My own nigga was gettinâ ready to try and holla at you if somebody hadnât called him away.â
His jaw flexes again at the memory.
âI had to stand there watchinâ another nigga look at you like he wanted you and I couldnât even do shit about it. You think that shit ainât bother me?â
He exhales through his nose.
âHell yeah. It did.â His eyes stay locked on hers. âBut guess what? I understand thatâs part of beinâ seen wit somebody as beautiful as you. I ainât gonâ spend my time worryinâ about every nigga that look or want you. Just like I donât want you worryinâ about every female that look at me.â
He smiles. âThere a million of them.â
His thumb lightly brushes her hand.
âBut itâs only one of you.â
Annie feels herself melting.
Before she realizes itâŠSheâs smiling.
âThere it is.â He smiles back. âMy favorite thing.â
Annie laughs quietly. Then sighs. âIâm sorry, Smoke⊠Iââ
âElijah.â He cuts in with a grin.
Annie giggles. âElijahâŠYou right.â She nods slowly. âI do need to stop punishinâ you. I ainât look at it like that.â
Smokeâs shoulders finally relax.
âI know.â He smiles warmly. âBut thank youâŠFor finally beinâ honest wit me.â
He gently bumps her shoulder with his. âYou see what beinâ face to face do?â
Annie laughs. âYes. I do.â
âGood.â He gives her hand another squeeze. âNow come on.â
Together, they continue walking until they reach the swings.
The old chains creak softly as they each sit down.
Annie follows a second later.
They swing slowly side by side, their shoes brushing through the fallen leaves beneath them.
The breeze carries the sound of distant music across the park while the late afternoon sun filters through the trees.
Neither one says anything for a while.
Finally, they slow to a stop.
The swings sway gently beneath them before settling.
Annie stands first, stretching her arms over her head. The cool autumn breeze brushes against her cheeks, lifting the loose strands of hair around her face.
Smoke stays seated, rocking lazily back and forth on the swing.
Annie smiles down at him. âYou not gonna get up?â
Smoke shakes his head. âNah⊠I ainât ready yet.â
His eyes never leave her.
For the first time since heâd met her, there wasnât a kitchen full of cooks yelling ticket times.
No siblings interrupting.
No music loud enough to drown out their thoughts.
Smoke lets himself really look at her.
His gaze moves over her slowly, unhurried.
He notices the way the late afternoon sun kisses her skin, making it glow against the red velour tracksuit. The breeze catches her sleek ponytail, making it sway softly behind her.
He looks at the thickness of her thighs. The softness of her belly, the way her chest sits heavy.
Her silver hoops glimmer every time she moves.
Her glossy lips catch the light.
Then his eyes settle where they always seem toâŠHer eyesâŠ.Her deep set almond shaped eyes.
Big. Warm. Honest. Beautiful.
They were the kind of eyes you could get lost in if you werenât careful.
Heâd been losing that battle since the day they met.
Annie shifts beneath his stare. âWhat?â
Smoke slowly shakes his head. âIâm justâŠâ He exhales. ââŠin awe.â
His voice is barely above a whisper.
âYou so damn gorgeous.â A slow smile tugs at one corner of his mouth. âIâm just admirinâ you.â He tilts his head. âCan I do that?â
Heat immediately rushes to Annieâs face.
Her heart pounds against her ribs.
Nobody had ever looked at her like this. Like she was something precious.
Like he couldnât believe she was real.
She lowers her eyes with a shy smile.
Smoke reaches his hand toward her.
She raises an eyebrow. âWhat?â
He wiggles his fingers. âCome here.â
Annie laughs under her breath before stepping closer.
She slides her hand into his.
The moment their palms touch, another wave of butterflies erupts inside her.
Smoke gives her hand the gentlest tug. âSit down.â He gestures toward his lap.
Annieâs eyes widen. âElijahâŠâ
She glances at the swing. âYou sure we not gonâ break this thing?â
Smoke laughs. âWe not gonâ break it.â
He pats the chain. âItâs metal.â
She laughs softly, still hesitant.
SlowlyâŠVery slowlyâŠShe lowers herself onto his left leg, turning sideways so she can still look at him.
The swing rocks beneath their combined weight.
Smoke steadies it with one foot before naturally wrapping both arms around her waist.
Like theyâd been doing this forever.
The feeling hits him instantly.
A strange, unfamiliar peace settles over him.
Holding her like thisâŠIt didnât excite him the way heâd expected.
Like his body had been looking for this feeling without him realizing it.
Heâd never done no shit like this before.
Never imagined himself sitting on a playground swingâŠHolding a womanâŠWith all his niggas somewhere around him.
Normally heâd have cared.
TodayâŠHe couldnât bring himself to.
Because right hereâŠFelt exactly where he wanted to be.
Annie, meanwhile, is convinced sheâs going to pass out.
She canât believe sheâs sitting in this fine ass niggas lapâŠwith his arms around herâŠIn broad daylight.
In front of his friends. In front of half the East Side. In front of every girl whoâd been staring at him all afternoon. Her pulse is so loud sheâs sure he can hear it.
Smoke breaks the silence. âSoâŠYou on the newspaper at school?â
Annie blinks. âI never told you that.â
Smoke smiles. âYou didâ
She laughs. âI didnât.â
âNo, Elijah. I donât remember tellinâ you that.â
Smoke scratches the back of his neck.âAightâŠâHe laughs. âYou got me.â
She grins triumphantly. âI knew it.â
He chuckles. âI overheard you on the phone one day.â
âI came lookinâ for you.â
Her eyebrows shoot up. âYou came lookinâ for me?âŠWhen?â
âThe week after I gave you my number. I was gonâ ask why you hadnât called.â
Annie bites back a smile. âOhâŠSo you was waitinâ on me to call?â
Smoke huffs dramatically. âHell yeah. I ainât write my number on the back of that money for nothinâ.â
Annie laughs. âMy bad. I ainât know you was that serious.â
Smoke sucks his teeth. âOh wow. Thatâs fucked up.â He shakes his head while smiling. âHell yeah I was serious. You thought I was playinâ?â
Annie shrugs sheepishly. âI donât knowâŠI thought maybeâŠYou was runninâ game.â
Smoke laughs. âI donât need no game, Annie. Iâm a grown ass man. I know what I want.â
She tilts her head. âOh yeah?âŠAnd What do you want, Elijah?â
The world seems to pause.
Even the breeze feels quieter.
Smoke doesnât hesitate. âI want you.â
Annieâs breath catches.
Talking like he walked straight out of one of the romance movies they spent hours discussing on the phone.
Nobody talked like this anymore.
Nobody meant what they said with eyes like that.
She laughs softly, mostly because she doesnât know what else to do. âElijahâŠYou straight out of a romance movie.â
Smoke laughs with her. âIâll take that. But truthfullyâŠIâm just sayinâ how I feel.â He studies her face. âYou got me sayinâ shit I ainât never said. And doinâ shit I ainât never done.â
Annie smiles. âI like it.â
His eyebrows lift. âYou do?â
She nods. âOf course. Itâs not often you meet a fine ass nigga who ainât arrogant. You one of a kind.â
Smoke chuckles. âThe same can be said for you.â
He smiles warmly. âYou beautifulâŠ
But thatâs not the only thing that got me. You shy. You kind. You humble. You donât expect nobody to hand you nothinâ just cause you beautiful. As a matter of factâŠâ He laughs. âYou make a nigga beg to do somethinâ for you. Thatâs sexy as hell to me.â
He shakes his head. âA lotta beautiful women spend all day wantinâ everybody to notice âem. You donât. You donât care about what anybody else got goinâ on. You justâŠexist. In yo own lil world. You care about yo people. You care about yo family. You care about yo dreams. And somehowâŠâ He smiles. ââŠthat make me wanna be a part of it.â
Annie looks at him. âA part of what?â
He exhales. âYo world, Annika.â
She smiles so softly it nearly undoes him. âI meanâŠYou are.â
Smoke grins. âNah. Not like how I wanna be.â He chuckles. âRight now I got one toe in.â
Annie busts into laughter at the visual.
âElijahâŠWhat is wrong with you?â
He laughs too. âNothinâ. Iâm just beinâ real. I canât wait âtil you let me all the way in. ButâŠâ He brushes a thumb lightly across the side of her waist.
âIâm patient. âCause I know when you doâŠitâll be worth every second I waited.â
A Tahoe sitting on chrome rims a few yards away suddenly rumbles to life.
The bass rolls across the park, vibrating softly beneath the swings.
A second later, Tevin Campbellâs âAlone With Youâ pours through the speakers, warm and smooth, drifting through the crisp fall air.
Annieâs face immediately brightens.
She smiles to herself and begins nodding her head to the rhythm. âI love this song.â
Smoke looks up at her, the corner of his mouth lifting. âMe too.â
đ” We were holding hands in the parkâŠ
We had to hurry home before itâs dark⊠I can't wait to see your smile again. And I love the time we spend
I waited for the break of day to come
So I could see your smile in the sun đ”
The lyrics settle over them like they were written for this exact moment.
Annie looks down at him, her smile turning softer. âI do want you in my world, Elijah.â
She hesitates before adding quietly,
âIâm just being cautious.â
Smokeâs expression immediately softens. He reaches up, his fingers brushing gently beneath her chin before lifting it just enough for her eyes to meet his again. âYou have every right to be.â His thumb strokes lightly along her jaw. âIâm hereâŠAnd Iâll wait however long you need me to.â
đ” Girl, donât leave me, donât leave meâŠOoh, the way you receive meâŠ
Donât take this as an aggressionâŠ
Girl, Iâve learned my lesson⊠đ”
Neither of them says another word.
They simply look at one another.
The laughter echoing across the parkâŠThe musicâŠThe breeze stirring the trees overheadâŠ
Everything around them slowly fades into the background.
For a few quiet secondsâŠ
It feels like the song is saying everything neither of them quite knows how to put into words.
đ” I just wanna be alone with youâŠ
And thereâs nothing else Iâd rather doâŠI just want the chance I had againâŠJust us two âtil the end⊠đ”
Annie feels her throat tighten. âThank you for being patient with me.â
Smoke slowly shakes his head. âYou ainât gotta thank me.â His voice is steady, gentle, but unwavering.
âAnything worth having is worth waiting for.â He pauses, making sure she hears every word. âI donât want you to think that just âcause I talk about us in the future that Iâm rushing you⊠âcause Iâm not. I just always wanna be clear about my intentions. When a nigga know what he wantsâŠHe says it. He donât leave room for guessinââ
A breeze lifts a few loose strands of Annieâs hair from her ponytail between them.
Smoke smiles faintly. âIâm simply lettinâ you know that I see you in my future. And when youâd shut down on meâŠâ
He exhales. âIt started feelinâ like maybe you ainât see me in yours.â
âIf thereâs ever anything you wantâŠOr you feel a wayâŠâ He gently squeezes her waist. âTell me. The way you feel matters to me.â
Annie nods slowly. âI will.â
A warm smile spreads across Smokeâs face. âGood.â
Silence settles over them again.
Not awkward. Comfortable.
The kind of silence that only happens when two people genuinely enjoy simply being near each other.
Smoke studies her face again.
The afternoon sun catches the gloss on her lips.
The breeze makes the silver hoops in her ears sway ever so slightly.
He smiles to himself. âEvery time you look at meâŠI feel weak.â His voice is barely above a whisper now. âThese eyes got a hold on me.â
He lets out a quiet breath. âItâs like you hold all the secrets of the world in âem. Each day it gets harder to look away.â
Annieâs chest tightens.
No one had ever spoken to her like this.
Not with this kind of sincerity.
Not like he truly meant every word.
Smokeâs gaze slowly drifts down to her mouth.
His thumb gently brushes across her bottom lip. The touch is featherlight.
Tender. Almost reverent. âThese lipsâŠâ
He smiles. âThey soft and pretty too.â
His eyes lift back to hers. âYou perfect. You know that?â
Annieâs breath catches.
Everything inside her seems to stop.
Her pulse pounds in her ears.
She wants to say something.
But every thought leaves her mind the moment he looks at her like that.
They both lean forward ever so slightly.
The space between them grows smaller. Smaller.
Untilâ âAye, Smoke!â
Both of their heads snap toward the sound.
Rhonda and Tobias are walking over with Arion and another guy.
Rhonda catches one look at them and immediately exchanges a knowing smile with Tobias.
They both start laughing.
Rhonda looks over at Annie with the biggest grin on her face. She whips out another disposable camera and hurries up and snaps a picture.
Annie shakes her head but canât help but to smile back, even as her heart continues pounding inside her chest.
Arion walks up. âAye SmokeâŠYou got some on you? My cuzz need some.â
Smoke lets out the smallest sigh, still smiling to himself before looking over.
âYeah. Itâs in my truck.â
Smoke follows a second later.
If they were both honestâŠ
Neither one wanted that moment to end.
Smoke reaches for Annieâs hand again.
Without saying a word, he threads his fingers through hers.
Their hands fit together naturally now.
No hesitation. No nervousness.
The late afternoon sun is beginning to sink lower in the sky, washing Swope Park in shades of gold and amber. Long shadows stretch across the grass while music from dozens of cars blends together in the distance. The smell of charcoal, lighter fluid, and barbecue hangs in the cool autumn air.
Ahead of them, Tobias has his arm draped comfortably around Rhondaâs shoulders. The two of them laugh about something Arion says as they stroll a few steps in front.
Someone calls out. âAye, Smoke!â
Smoke turns toward the voice.
Leaning against a candy-painted Monte Carlo sits one of his homies, Jarrell.
Smoke nods toward him and changes direction, never letting go of Annieâs hand.
Jarrell grins the second they get close. âWhat it is?â
âSup, bro,â Smoke replies, giving him a quick dap.
Jarrellâs eyes drift down to their intertwined hands.
He points at her before lifting an eyebrow at Smoke.
Smoke glances over at Annie.
A slow grin spreads across his face.
Proudly. Without hesitation.
Annie feels another rush of butterflies flutter through her stomach.
Something about the way he acknowledged herâŠWithout embarrassment.
Without trying to play it cool.
Jarrell laughs. âI see you, my nigga.â
Smoke chuckles. âYeah.â
He glances back toward Tobias and the others, who are still waiting a few yards away. âAight, cuzz. Iâll catch you.â
Smoke gives him one last dap before turning away.
Their fingers never separate.
As they continue walking, Smoke catches himself looking over at Annie again.
She notices. Their eyes meet.
One of those soft, shy smiles that always made something inside him melt.
Off to their leftâŠTamika stands with a group of her friends beside a pearl-white Tahoe, laughing while one of the girls tells a story.
Then her eyes land on Smoke.
Her laughter dies instantly.
There he isâŠWalking through Swope Park. Hand in hand with another woman.
She blinks once, almost thinking sheâs seeing things.
Smoke? Holding hands? In public?
Everybody on the East Side knew Smoke.
Everybody also knew Smoke wasnât the type to cake up with women.
Hell, he barely showed affection in private.
So seeing him walking beside Annie like he didnât care who was watchingâŠActually holding her handâŠ
Looking at her with that soft expressionâŠ
It knocks the wind out of Tamika.
Her and Smoke had been done ever since she let her brothers get involved and they tried to shoot at him.
She knew sheâd crossed a line that couldnât be uncrossed.
StillâŠA small, stubborn part of her had kept holding onto hope.
Hope that enough time would pass.
Hope that eventually his anger would fade.
Hope that maybe one day heâd call again.
Or pull up like he used to.
Seeing him nowâŠLooking happier than sheâd ever seen himâŠ
Walking proudly beside another womanâŠ
That tiny piece of hope finally dies.
The hurt quickly curdles into jealousy.
Not because Annie had done anything wrongâŠ
But because Annie was getting the version of Smoke sheâd always wanted.
The version that held hands.
The version that wasnât afraid to be seen.
A slow glare settles across her face.
Annie just so happens to glance in Tamikaâs direction.
Tamika doesnât even try to hide the glare she sends her.
It is sharp enough to make Annieâs stomach tighten. Her smile fades.
Smoke notices the change immediately.
He follows Annieâs line of sight.
The second he sees TamikaâŠ
There isnât an ounce of longing in his eyes. Only annoyance. Disdain.
He stares directly back at Tamika long enough to make one thing perfectly clear. Leave it alone.
Tamika rolls her eyes dramatically, but she looks away first.
Smoke turns back toward Annie.
He notices the uncertainty on her face.
Without thinkingâŠHe leans in until his lips are just beside her ear.
His cologne wraps around her again, warm and familiar.
His deep voice rumbles softly. âDonât trip, baby.â
He gives her hand another reassuring squeeze.
âRemember what I told you earlier.â
The sound of him calling her baby againâŠThe confidence in his voiceâŠ
The certainty. It washes over Annie like warm sunlight.
The tightness in her chest slowly loosens. She smiles.
Not because Tamika disappearedâŠ
But because she believed him.
For the first timeâŠShe wasnât worried about another woman.
She believed Smoke when he said she was the only one he saw.
Tamika catches the whisper.
Then she watches Annie smile afterward.
Her stomach twists even tighter.
She knows exactly what just happened.
And somehowâŠThat hurts worse than if heâd ignored her altogether.
Smoke and Annie continue walking until they reach his truck
Ebony and Ramon are still sitting on the hood of Stacks car, deep in conversation, laughing every few seconds.
Stack and Devin are still inside.
Two dudes from the neighborhood lean against the driverâs side door, passing a blunt back and forth with Stack while music thumps from the speakers.
Smoke finally lets go of Annieâs hand long enough to reach inside his truck.
He retrieves what Arion came for.
Smoke finishes making the exchange with Arion and slips the cash into his pocket.
Just then, the loud growl of an engine cuts through the music.
One of Smokeâs homies, Ira, rides up on a black Yamaha Raptor four-wheeler, fishtailing slightly before stopping in the grass.
âDamn!â Stack hollers. âNigga still showin off.â
Ira laughs, pulling off his helmet.
Smoke grins. âLet me hit that real quick.â
Ira tosses him the keys without hesitation. âGo âhead. Donât tear my shit up.â
Smoke laughs. âNigga I ainât you.â
Smoke swings one leg over the four-wheeler and settles onto the seat.
He looks over his shoulder. âAnnika.â
Her brows pull together. âWhat?â
He pats the seat behind him. âGet on.â
Annieâs eyes get big. ââŠMe?â
Smoke chuckles. âNah⊠the ghost next to you.â
She rolls her eyes. âYou know what I meant.â
Rhonda starts laughing. âGirl get on!â
Stack joins in. âYeah, quit acting scary.â
Annie sucks her teeth. âI am not scary.â
Smoke smirks. âThen prove it.â
She huffs dramatically before walking over. âI swear if you throw me off this thingâŠâ
âI got you.â He reaches back, taking her hand to help her climb on.
The seat is smaller than she expected.
She settles carefully behind him, trying not to press against his back.
Smoke glances over his shoulder.
âYou gonâ have to get closer than that.â
He laughs. âNo, you not.â
Without warningâŠHe lightly taps the gas.
The four-wheeler jerks forward.
âAhh!â Annie squeals.
Her arms instantly wrap around his waist.
Smoke throws his head back laughing. âThere she go.â
Annie smacks his stomach. âYou did that on purpose!â
âYou ainât shit, Elijah.â
He eases onto the throttle.
The engine roars louder as they take off across the wide stretch of grass.
Wind rushes against Annieâs face, tugging her sleek ponytail behind her.
People glance over as they ride past.
Smoke canât stop smiling.
Feeling Annie holding onto him this tightâŠHe ainât even thinking about nothing else.
She buries her face against his back every time he picks up speed.
âYou okay back there?â he calls over the engine.
Smoke laughs. âSound scared!.â
âBut you squeezinâ me!â
âBecause I donât wanna die!â
The words barely leave her mouth before Smoke cuts the handlebars sharply.
The four-wheeler slides sideways.
Dirt sprays from the tires.
Smoke spins them into a smooth donut.
The world becomes a blur of grass, trees, cars, and blue sky.
Annie screams. âELIJAHHH!â
Smoke laughs so hard his shoulders shake.
Again. He spins another donut.
This time Annie canât stop laughing.
She throws her head back, laughing so hard tears sting her eyes. âStop!â
âYou laughing though!â
âSo which one is it?â
Smoke grins. âThatâs what I thought.â
He finally straightens the bike out and cruises through the park at an easier pace.
The breeze cools the warmth in their faces.
Annieâs laughter slowly fades into little giggles.
She realizesâŠSheâs still wrapped tight around him.
Her cheek resting against the back of his neck.
She loosens her grip a little.
Smoke notices immediately.
âYou can keep holding on.â
âIâm still holding on, just not tightâŠâ
She pinches his side. âYouâre insane big head.â
They ride another lap around Swope.
Smoke points toward different parts of the park as they pass. âThatâs where everybody race they cars.â
He points farther down. âThey be hooping over there.â
Another pass. âOver there they throw the cookouts.â
Annie smiles, taking everything in.
She likes him showing her around already.
She can see it isnât just a park to him.
As they roll back toward the others, Smoke slows the four wheeler to a crawl.
He glances over his shoulder. âYou have fun?â
Annie doesnât answer right away.
She looks around at the musicâŠ
A slow smile spreads across her face.
Smoke smiles too. âI knew you would.â
They pull back up beside the group.
Stack is already laughing. âI knew yo scary ass was gonâ be holding onto that nigga for dear life.â
Annie climbs off, smoothing down her velour jacket. âI hate yâall.â
Rhonda busts out laughing. âYou was screaming like somebody was chasing you!â
Devin doubles over. âGirl, yes you was! Then five minutes later you was laughing harder than anybody.â
Smoke climbs off behind her, still grinning.
âAye get off her. She loosened up.â
Annie laughs and points a finger at him. âYou almost gave me a heart attack.â
Smoke leans in just enough for only her to hear. âBut you still trusted me.â
Her heart skips. âYeah.â
He smiles softly. âI know.â
Annie glances around and notices even more people have poured into the park.
The sun has now set. Crowds gather around customized cars with polished rims. Girls dance beside open trunks while guys laugh,and lean against their rides.
âWhat the fuck you say?!â
Another voice yells back.
Smoke immediately looks toward Stack.
Stack looks right back at him.
Neither one has to say anything.
Theyâve been coming here long enough.
They already know what comes next.
Tobias exhales. ââŠYep.â
He claps his hands together once.
âLetâs head out, yâall.â
Rhonda looks around. âThey fightinâ?â
âProbably,â Tobias replies. âAnd once one fight start⊠everybody wanna join in. Then comes the gunshotsâ
Smoke nods in agreement before turning toward Annie. âWhere yâall park at?â
âUp a little farther,â Annie says, pointing toward the shelter. âCloser to the pavilion.â
âAight.â Smoke squeezes her hand. âWe gonâ walk yâall up there.â
Annie smiles. âOkay.â
The whole crew starts making their way through the crowd together.
Ramon and Ebony walk a few steps ahead, talking quietly every now and then, their conversation broken up by easy laughter.
Stack and Devin are⊠Stack and Devin.
âYou lucky you fine,â Devin says, bumping his shoulder.
Stack laughs. âNah, you lucky Iâm fine .â
âYou so damn arrogant.â
âAnd yetâŠâ He flashes his platinum grin. âYou still walking next to me.â
Devin rolls her eyes so dramatically everybody laughs. âYou so full of yourself.â
âYou like that shit.â
Stack throws his head back laughing.
A few feet ahead, Tobias has his arm draped comfortably across Rhondaâs shoulders while her arm rests around his waist. The two are so wrapped up in conversation theyâre barely paying attention to anybody else.
Behind themâŠSmoke and Annie trail the group, fingers intertwined once again.
Their hands swing gently between them as they walk.
Smoke glances over. âYou have a good time today?â
Annie looks over at him, smiling. âOf course I did.â
She bumps his shoulder lightly. âYou?â
Smoke doesnât even hesitate. âAbsolutely.â He smiles to himself. âIâm glad I got to see you todayâŠâ His eyes meet hers. ââŠBut Iâm even happier I got to hold you. Iâm gonâ sleep good tonight.â
Annie busts into laughter. âElijahâŠâ She shakes her head. âYou get on my nerves.â
Smoke chuckles, the sound low and warm. âYou so goofy, Annie.â
He laughs. âYo ass laugh at everything.â
âNah.â She points at him. âItâs you.â
She giggles again. âYou crazy.â
âIâll be that.â He shrugs. âAs long as I get to hear you laugh every day.â
Annie smiles so hard her cheeks begin to ache. âWellâŠâ She grins. âKeep it up.â
Smoke raises an eyebrow. âOh yeah?â
She nods. âLaughter is the key to my heart.â
Smoke whistles softly. âSay no more.â
She laughs but doesnât say anything else.
Then Smoke looks over again. âWhat else?â
Annie gives him a puzzled look. âWhat else what?â
He smiles. âWhat else the key to yo heart?â
She thinks about it for a moment.
The sounds around them fade into the background.
FinallyâŠShe answers honestly. âHonesty.â
Smoke nods immediately. âI like that.â
His voice grows softer. âWell⊠thatâs who I am. So that one easy.â
Annie hums thoughtfully. âWeâll see.â
Smoke chuckles. âYou love sayinâ that shit, donât you?â
She giggles. âYeahâŠâ She shrugs. âIâm from the Show-Me State.â She smiles. âShow me.â
Smokeâs grin spreads ear to ear. âOhhh, nah.â He points at her. âNot you stealing my phrases.â
Annie laughs harder. âOh please, Elijah.âShe waves him off. âWe all say that.â
âNah.â Smoke shakes his head dramatically. âI donât hear nobody say that shit but me.â
She nudges him with her shoulder. âDonât be delusional.â
Smoke laughs. âYeah aight.â He gives her hand another squeeze. âWellâŠIâm gonâ put my money where my mouth is.â His eyes stay on hers. âIâma show you. I love provinâ myself.â
Annieâs smile softens. âI noticed.â
âGood.â His voice drops lower. âI was hoping you did.â
The butterflies return full force.
By the time they reach Devinâs car, neither one wants the walk to be over.
Everyone begins saying their goodbyes.
Rhonda turns toward Tobias.
He cups her face and kisses her softly.
When they pull apart theyâre both smiling.
Smoke and Annie glance at each other before looking away with matching grins.
Stack, on the other handâŠ
Hooks an arm around Devinâs waist.
He throws her over his shoulder.
She squeals, beating on his back while laughing. âWhat is wrong with you?â
He spins her around once before setting her back on her feet. âYou too light.â
âIâm finna beat your ass.â
Ramon gives Ebony a nod. âIâll hit you up.â
She climbs into the front seat.
One by oneâŠEveryone gets into the car.
Leaving Smoke and Annie standing beside the driver back seat door.
The sounds around them seem farther away now.
Smoke looks into her eyes. âSoâŠâ His voice turns quiet. âCan I hold you one last time tonight?â
Smoke doesnât hesitate.
He steps forward and wraps his arms tightly around her waist.
So tightlyâŠHis forearms overlap behind her back.
Like heâs trying to memorize what she feels like.
Annie slides her arms around his neck. The familiar scent of his cologne surrounds her. Warm. Clean.
Smoke closes his eyes for a second.
ThisâŠThis was becoming his favorite place already.
He lowers his head, brushing two gentle kisses against the side of her neck.
Annie immediately giggles.
The vibration makes him smile against her skin. âWhy you laughinâ?â His voice is muffled against her neck.
ââCauseâŠâ She squirms. âIâm ticklish.â
Smoke chuckles. âHmmâŠâ He hugs her even tighter. âI donât wanna let you go.â
His voice is barely above a whisper now. âIâm gonâ miss you.â
Annie smiles into his shoulder. âIâm gonna see you tomorrow at work.â
âI know.â He sighs dramatically. âAnd Iâm still gonâ miss you.â
She laughs again. âYou so extra.â
âFor you?â He smiles. âEvery time.â
Annie murmurs âHonestly, Iâm gonna miss you too.â
Neither one moves for another few seconds.
Neither one is ready to end the day.
FinallyâŠSmoke forces himself to loosen his arms.
He brushes his thumb across the back of her hand before letting it go.
âText me when you make it home.â
He glances toward the darkened sky.
âI know itâs gettinâ late. So I ainât gonâ call.â
He smiles softly. âGoodnight, Pretty Eyes.â
âGoodnightâŠâ She grins. âBig Head.â
She climbs into Devinâs car.
Before closing the door, she steals one last look at him.
Smoke is already watching her.
He gives her a small nod.
She smiles back before shutting the door.
As the car slowly pulls away, Annie turns around in her seat and watches through the back window.
Smoke is still standing exactly where she left him.
Hands tucked into his pockets.
Watching until the car disappears around the bend.
Only then does he finally turn.
The guys fall into step beside him as they make their way back toward their cars, the sounds of Swope Park still buzzing around them.
Annie has Smoke doing anything to make her laugh. đ€ I fear heâs down bad already. And donât get mad at Annie yâall, she tries to see the good in people. Sheâs lived a sheltered life. Disclaimer: Smoke has not been with all of those women. They are mad because Smoke has never given them the time of day. They want to know why Annie is so special that she could get Smoke and not only that but be affectionate with her in public. Smoke is selective and he did keep a few in rotation. I do not want people to think that Smoke was with half the city. That would be Stack. People not even mad that stack is a hoe cause they know what it is, but Smoke is the catch. These girls have wanted Smoke since childhood.
