Page 21 of The Smoke Hour

“You ready?” I asked when I finished.

“Yeah.”

I walked to the shelf and held the shoes up.

“Why are you so pressed for these that you would come here and get naked for a man you don’t know in an establishment full of men?”

“It’s not all about the shoes.”

“Really?”

She shook her head.

“Then tell me what it’s about.”

“It’s about me being in control of my life, about doing the shit that I want to without owing anyone an explanation or apology and about stepping out of my comfort zone to live and breathe. There’s something about you that makes me want to do the unthinkable, Smoke.”

Kaifiya’s words fanned a flame inside of me. It was a little flicker, but it was still there.

“I’m gonna let you take these home on the strength of your word.”

“My word?”

“Yeah. You didn’t earn these back tonight, Fiya. You lost them. But I get that the price tag on these ain’t shit to sneeze at.”

“It’s not just that. My fiancé bought them for me. I don’t know how I would begin to explain to him that I lost them stripping in a gentlemen’s club.”

“Yeah, that shit wouldn’t fly with me either if I were your fiancé.”

“So, what are you proposing?”

“I ain’t tryna make shit more difficult than it has to be at home for you. So, I’ll give them back for you to take home. But you owe me.”

“What?”

“Another game.”

“Strip dominoes?”

“No. You’ll find out the name of the game when you arrive.”

“Okay.”

“Thursday night, I want to see you here at The Smoke Hour.”

Kaifiya was noticeably quiet on the ride to her condo. I turned the ignition off and got out of the car to walk around to her side. I held the passenger door open.

“You don’t have to walk me up.”

“I know that I don’t. I’m going to.”

She nodded and kept her eyes on the ground as she walked up the stairs to the third floor, where her condo was located.

I checked her apartment for safety and returned to the front door.

“Lock up behind me.”

“Okay,” she replied softly.

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