Page 37 of Standing In The Sun

Removing his dick from her mouth, he finished in his hands, knowing Apple wasn’t really into all that. He liked to get nasty with sex but would always respect his partner’s likes and dislikes.

“Umm, what’s up?” Apple asked, confused at Lunar no longer seeming interested in burying himself deep inside of her.

Lunar gave her that cocky grin with those deep dimples sinking into his milk chocolate skin.

Her lips parted, slightly taken aback. She knew what it was between them. Casual, no strings, and no expectations. butthis? This was new. Usually, they could get lost in each other for hours, tangled up in a way that felt like they were holding onto something deeper, something real.

But tonight, it was like Lunar had already checked out, like he had just been going through the motions.

“You really gon’ do me like that?” she challenged, tilting her head, her pretty face glowing under the sun shining in through the windows.

Lunar sighed, already turning away. “I gotta take a shower before Kamari wakes up.”

Apple scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. “Wow - that’s what we on now?”

Lunar stopped mid-step, turning his head just enough to glance back at her. “Apple, we been onthis.We been on you not wanting more thanthis…been on me slick begging you for something more settled.”

She felt her stomach tighten, but she masked it by rolling her eyes.

“That’s crazy,” Apple scoffed, shaking her head. “You always got this love shit around you like, that’s all you know. It ain’t enough for you to just…be? We have our whole lives ahead of us…let’s just have fun, Nar.”

Lunar leaned against the doorframe, exhaling sharply. “Nah -it’s not.”

And that was the problem between them…always had been.

Apple wasn’t wired for love the way Lunar was. She had seen too many situations go sour, and had been in enough herself to know she wasn’t in a rush to claim anything permanent. She wanted freedom, wanted to do things her way, wanted the benefits of having Lunar without the weight ofhavinghim.

That wasn’t how Lunar was wired though. He yearned for love as if he didn’t already have enough women swarming him like wasps.

His whole life was built around love…aroundforever.His mother and stepfather had shown him that, his uncles had shown him that. Love wasn’t just something you entertained when it was convenient - it was a choice - a commitment.

And Apple had never been willing to make it.

Lunar let the silence linger for a moment before finally saying, “Maybe we just need to be friends again.”

Apple let out a dry laugh, looking away. “Now you wanna be friends?”

Lunar didn’t entertain her sarcasm. He just shrugged and disappeared down the hallway, leaving her sitting there with her arms still folded tight while his mind moved on to the load of baby clothes he needed to do.

* * *

Lunar went straight to the laundry room after his shower, tossing his clothes into the washing machine. He liked doing shit like this late at night— when the world was quiet, and he could clear his head. But lately, Kamari had him worn out so midday would have to work.

Kamari was still knocked out on the couch, his little body stretched across the cushions with a makeshift barrier around him in case he got wild in his sleep.

Lunar leaned against the wall, watching him for a second.

It was wild how quickly he had adjusted to having Kamari around. Taking care of him had come naturally in a way he hadn’t expected. And now, he wasn’t just doing it because hehadto, he was doing it because hewantedto.

Apple sauntered in, plopping onto the couch. “You really out here playing daddy?” she teased.

Lunar glanced at her. “Ain’t no playin’ about it.”

She smirked, crossing her legs. “I ain’t mad at it. Just…didn’t see you in this role.”

Lunar shrugged. “Didn’t see it neither, but shit happens and honestly – it might be the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Apple stretched, tilting her head toward the sleeping toddler. “The whole story is just weird to me. I couldn’t imagine leaving my kid with a stranger just because he has money.”

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