Page 29 of The Smoke Hour

“I think you’re wasting both of our time. I doubt my husband will allow this little friendship to continue once I take his name and hand in marriage,” I stated dryly.

“I don’t give a shit what he’ll allow. You wanna be my friend, sweets?”

I pondered that for a moment. Smoke was sexy as hell, but he was also an interesting and charming man in his own way. He wasn’t the typical gentleman type of charmer, but more of anillegal thug that had a way about himself type of charming. How could I not want him to be involved in my life?

It hadn’t been that long since we had met one another, but I knew that after knowing him, he wasn’t someone who could be easily forgotten.

“Yes, I do.”

“Good. So truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

He pulled his glass to his lips again and took a slow sip. When he pulled it away, he didn’t set it down. “Thought you had more fire than that, Fiya.” He pulled the glass to his lips again and slowly sipped.

“Truth,” I repeated.

He nodded his head.

“How did you fuck up so bad that you accepted a marriage proposal from that nigga?”

“Really, Smoke?”

“I said I wanted to get to know you better. You chose truth. Tell me yours.”

I sighed dramatically and closed my eyes. This night was about to become humiliating quickly.

“I fell behind on my loan payments for my shop. I was in danger of having the shop closed and being unemployed and possibly homeless. I have a roommate who also happens to be my best friend, and I know that he wouldn’t put me out, but I couldn’t become his burden either.”

“How did you fall behind on the payments?”

“You asked one question, and I answered. My turn.”

He nodded.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Thought you were more edgy than that.”

“That’s because, for me, the dare ain’t shit. It’s the truth that I might not want to disclose, depending on the question.”

“Have you ever been in love?”

“No. Truth or dare?”

“That’s it? Just no?”

“I said no. I haven’t been in love. Ain’t got room for that shit in my life. I’ve been busy building my empire.”

“Fine. Truth.”

“You sure?” he asked before he took another sip of his bourbon.

“Yes.”

I stared into his eyes, which hung low with desire. I knew he was about to say some shit that I couldn’t handle, yet I wanted him to say it, no matter what it was. I was ready to up the ante.

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