Page 86 of Session 33

“No more stripping in front of Silas. He’s damn near already in love with you.”

I snorted, rolling my eyes despite the way my legs were still shaking. “Maybe if you stop ignoring me like a damn child.”

His mouth curved into a grin, his teeth grazing my bottom lip as he kissed the corner of my mouth. “Maybe.”

We stayed there for a moment longer, tangled. And even though I knew we weren’t fixed, even though I knew we weren’t close to being okay, for the first time in a long time, it felt like we weren’t breaking anymore.

Chapter seventy four

The nail salon hummed with noise—dryers whirring, drills buzzing, and women chatting. Naomi and I were in our usual spots, me soaking my feet in warm water as the massage chair worked out knots in my back that Cassius had put there. I closed my eyes for a second, savoring the moment of calm.

Naomi, sat next to me sipping her iced matcha latte and scrolling her phone or was pretending to. She had that look on her face, like she was just biding her time, She was waiting for the right moment to pry into my business. She couldn’t help herself—it was her love language.

“You’re quiet today,” she said finally.

I shrugged, leaning my head back against the chair as it kneaded my shoulders. “Just soaking up the silence,” I told her.

“Unhuh.” She hummed.” Why have you been MIA since the camping trip?” she asked.

I kept my face neutral, refusing to give her an inch. “I’ve been around.”

Her eyes finally flicked over to me. I could feel it, I looked over and she had them narrowed and on me like she was a human lie detector. “Mmmhmm.”

I sighed dramatically, deciding to block her interrogation. “Y’all really hurt my feelings that last day of the trip,” I said, my voice dripping with mock sadness. “All that judgment and jumping to conclusions. I didn’t deserve that, Naomi.”

Her face softened instantly, and I had to fight back a smirk.Got her.

“My bad,” she said, sounding genuinely apologetic. “We shouldn’t have doubted you, but...” Her words trailed off, her attention shifting past me. I turned to follow her gaze, and my heart stalled.

Cassius.

He strode into the salon like he owned it. I waited for heads to turn. And turn they did. Women were shamelessly staring, but his focus never wavered. It was locked on me. I was going to ban his eyes from showing up when I was around a bunch of women. But then maybe not. It gave me a little tingle to know they wanted him and he was mine.

He was carrying a paper bag. The scent of oxtails and rice and peas he even reached me hit me like a wave of nostalgia.

He stopped in front of me, holding out the bag.

I took it, my fingers brushing his for the briefest second. “Thanks,” I murmured, barely meeting his eyes, but I could feel the heat of his gaze.

He turned to Naomi next, handing her a bag too. She lit up like he’d just gave her a lottery ticket.

“For me?” she asked, clutching it to her chest all dramatically.

Cassius ignored her theatrics, leaning down to kiss me—a quick, soft kiss on the lips that sent a ripple through me. “Hi, beautiful,” he said, his voice low and intimate, meant just for me.

Then he kissed me again. This one lingered, his lips pressing just a little harder, a little longer. My eyes darted around the salon, and sure enough, all eyes were on us. People were definitely watching.

“Bye, beautiful,” he said, standing back up with that infuriating smirk of his. He gave Naomi a nod, his tone teasing as he added, “Bye, sea witch.”

And just like that, he was gone, striding back out the door .

“Ahhhhh, I knew it!” Naomi screeched, loud enough to draw even more attention. Half the salon turned to look at us.

“Keep your voice down!” I hissed, ducking my head as my cheeks flamed, dimple going deep.

Naomi slapped a hand over her mouth, but her eyes sparkled. She leaned closer, whispering loudly enough for only me to hear, “Silas said you were walking around that house naked. Y’all been back doing the dirty for two months or more and you didn’t tell me? I thought we were friends!”

I groaned, already regretting the decision that had led to Silas having that kind of information. “Silas talks too damn much,” I muttered.

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