Page 24 of Counting His heartbeats

"Nah, tell that ni— see, this is what happens when I try to work with your stubborn, hardheaded ass. Where am I popping up on you and imposter Jawaan tonight?"

The huskiness within Jawaan's deadpan inquiry has the seat of my panties in shreds, and I close my eyes to gather my thoughts.

"Unless Stella Rosa suddenly has an identifier change, you'll only be interrupting my candlelit bubble bath, wine, and tablet."

Silence fills the line, causing my brows to hike. I pull the phone from my ear to see the clock ticking, which lets me know Jawaan hasn't hung up.

"Hel—"

"You're pretty ass is wrong as fuck for that visual, Tigress. I gotta go but call me tonight so you can help me unwind and shit."

"O-okay," I reply, swallowing past the lump in my throat from the shift in Jawaan's tone.

"Aye. Make sure your ass ain't in the tub when you call me, either. Until then, enjoy your night." With that, Jawaan disconnected the call, leaving me to nod despite his inability to see me.

"Wait, how did we go from interrupting conversations to a date request?" Jamaica asks.

"Better than that, you agreed without thinking, so I'm thinking there are lots of missing parts to this story," Evie says.

Despite my need to relax while sipping on wine with candles setting the scene, the memory of Jawaan asking me out had me calling my friends.

"I won't say it's complicated, but it kinda is," I confess, taking a drink of the fruity liquid in my glass before sitting it on the tray in front of me.

"Uncomplicate it for us because I'm confused," Jamaica urges in a tone that brokers no argument.

For the next few minutes, I spill my guts about my encounter with Jawaan the Sunday that I thought I was having dinner with Herschel, spending time with him at his house, and how my feelings for him have begun to change.

"What happened to I'm single until God sends confirmation?" Jamaica teases.

"Girl. You keep asking the wrong questions. I want to know what the King of Kings looks like. Did you get to see the marks from the nails in His hands?" Evie asks.

"I ain't about to play with you, Evie. I have enough to get right with God about. Please leave me alone," I remark, reaching for my glass and taking a healthy drink.

"Mhm. Now you understand why I sparked my blunt when I heard Evie on the line," Jamaica adds.

"Forget y'all," Evie defends.

"Focus, y'all. I called so y'all could give me your opinion about dating this man on the heels of the bullshit I experienced with Aldis," I remind them, sighing.

"Dating? I thought this was just a simple date," Evie says, sounding like she's now speaking through a megaphone.

"Tomato, tom?—"

"Unt-unh. They are not the same, so don't even try it. I want to reserve my opinion on the matter. Matter of fact, let me and Evie come over to help you get ready. Then we'll leave after you two do. I want to feel the nigga's energy before I can see if he'sgonna be different than the fuck up with the community dick," Jamaica insists.

"Ooh, yes. We finally agree. I'm totally down with an impromptu introduction," Evie co-signs.

Bzz. Bzz.

"Oh shit! He's calling," I blurt with wide eyes, seeing Jawaan's name on my screen.

"Lord, you done went all school girl crush on us. Why is your voice so high?" Evie teases, laughing.

"Hush. Hold on, I need to tell him I'll call him back since I'm still soaking."

I answer the other line without waiting for Evie or Jamaica to respond. "Hi." My voice is breathy, and I roll my eyes heavenward at the sound subconsciously shifting in the tub.

Splish. Splish.

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