Page 35 of The Sweetest Devotion

TLC was playing on the radio throughout Italo’s that Friday afternoon. It was eighty degrees outside, and so the cool AC was blasting, keeping us cold as we escaped the heat.

The spine of Sabrina’s book was worn, letting me know she’d read it a dozen times and cared deeply for its content. The way she sat engrossed, spoon in her hand with melting ice cream, let me know this tenfold.

I cleared my throat as I stopped a few feet from her, not wanting to crowd or intimidate her.

Sabrina looked up at me, her nicely shaped brows lifting in surprise at my intrusion. It was seeing her up close that I again found myself questioning her age. Perhaps she was legal and just making a living at Crazy Legs. Kennedy—why was I thinking about her?—appeared younger than twenty-four herself.

I had Sabrina’s full attention, there was no backing down now. “Must be a good book.”

A smirk tugged on her lips, almost as though she couldn’t believe I was opening with her book. “I only read it twice a year. Sometimes three.”

I whistled, questioning the last time I’d read a book. My mother was good with giving me quotes when I was coming up, but I’d never been a reader.

“What’s it called?”

Sabrina fiddled with the paperback. “Night Changes.”

I dared to step closer, spotting a young-looking Black couple in an embrace on the dark blue cover. “About?”

She perked a brow. “You really wanna know?”

I glanced over my shoulder at the back kitchen, where the staff of Italo’s were busy getting my orders together. I had a while when it came to those nine pizzas. Returning to Sabrina, I bobbed my head. “Yeah.”

She pursed her lips, appearing doubtful. “It’s about a young woman who still lives with her parents. And one hot and sticky summer, this older guy down on his luck moves into their garage and starts fixing things around their house to get on his feet.” Sabrina’s teeth dug into her lip as she cradled the book and spoke of its plot. “So, the girl is totally infatuated with him. Unlike her gilded world of fancy bullshit, he’sreal. But he’s mean and standoffish, and doesn’t think he’s good enough for her.” Sabrina gushed as she looked up at me. “It’s like…Poetic JusticemeetsDirty Dancing. I’m obsessed.”

Sounded like more than just romantic fairy-tale fluff, but a more modern take on real relationships. Too many of us weren’t perfect Mr. Suit and Tie. “How does it end?”

Sabrina didn’t hide her smirk as she bookmarked her page. “You gotta read it on your own and find out.”

I took a step back, wanting space between us. I didn’t want to insult her, but if she was a minor, I didn’t want to take a chance and leave her alone either. So, I got down to why I’d come over. “I’m Keith, by the way.”

Those teeth of hers bit into her lip once more as she blushed a little. Her energy was light, pleasant, and warm. I could see why she’d be the top dancer at Crazy Legs. Something about her drew you in. Made you feel safe.

“My name’s Eden,” she said with a coy smile on her face.

Huh. Of course “Sabrina” wasn’t her real name.

I tipped my head at her. “Nice to meet you, Eden.” Maybe she was a kid, or maybe she wasn’t. “So, listen, I’m on my way to the community center to have a little surprise pizza party for the kids. If you, or anyone you know—a brother, cousin, friend, ever need guidance or help, you should stop by,” I let her know.

That smile arrested her face as she narrowed her eyes. “Do you say that to all the people who come here?”

“I’m not hittin’ on you,” I clarified.

Something like disappointment crossed Eden’s face as she peered down at her book and shook her head. “Of course a good-looking guy isn’t here to hit on me. Being a romantic is a gift and a curse, I tell ya.” She lifted and dropped her shoulder. “Okay, though, on the community center. Sounds nice.”

“I haven’t been in a while, but I usually volunteer to mentor a few of the guys who stop by,” I said.

“Aww,” Eden responded, resting her chin on her fist. “That’s sweet.”

It was necessary to stop those in circumstances like mine from taking the path I’d chosen. “Offer always stands.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said, making no promises to stop by.

It was something. I thumbed a finger over my shoulder at the counter. “You enjoy that book. I’ma wait on my order.”

Eden watched me back off before going and opening her book again. She ate her ice cream with a grin when something interesting happened in her pages and I couldn’t help but smile at the scene.

It was the simple things.

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