Page 99 of Zimyra

Zavier grins and says, “So, here’s the thing, Axel. Love is supposed to make you crazy and desperate. It’s a feeling you’ll know without a doubt because you’ll do things you never imagined you would. And no one, and I mean no one can get in the way of that. I’ve been there. I know the feeling. So, what if Zander hates you?” He shrugs. “He’s not your focus, is he?”

Zavier pauses a moment and then says, “I don’t have a problem with you because you’ve proven that you care about her. You were there for her when me and my brother weren’t, and I’m counting on you to be there for her now. My sister needs help. I can only do so much. But you—you have her in your hands. Do something about it.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” I tell him.

“Yeah…don’t make me regret it,” he says, then walks the length of the dock until he returns to the yard.

CHAPTER 28

I lock eyes with Axelunintentionally. Every time I look up, he’s staring at me. I tried to avoid him, but those eyes – as piercing as they are – cannot be avoided. He tried to talk to me earlier, but Zavier distracted him. I know I left him hanging last week, and while it wasn’t my intention, I think it was much needed. It gave me room to breathe. To not be up under him, seeking comfort and support when those are things I should be providing myself.

“Sooooo, how are you feeling about him?”

“Who?” I ask, never breaking my gaze with Axel.

“That man over there who you can’t stop staring at. Y’all been kickin’ it, right?”

“Mmm, hmm.”

“Oh, wait one minute,” she says, grabbing a napkin and wiping her mouth.

I smile, because I know what’s coming next.

She says, “Don’t you start being all tight-lipped with me now...sitting over here staring that man down like he’s a slice of your mom’s pie, then talking about some,mmm hmm. I’ma need more than that.”

I grin and consider taking another bite of this hotdog, but I hold off. I’m not all that hungry, even though grilled hotdogs and mustard are one of my guilty pleasures.

But so are his eyes.

His touch.

His lips.

The way he chews.

His voice.

His beard.

That jawline.

His scent.

I can smell his fine behind from over here. I’ve never had a man touch me like him. Kiss me like him. Take control of my entirebeinglike him. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him. I know he misses me, too, hence, his potent stares. Anyone looking at his gaze can sense the intensity and feeling behind it. Shoot, Capri even feels it.

“Walk with me,” I tell her. I stand up, grab my hotdog, and walk across lush green grass to a part of the yard that affords us a little privacy. I then turn to her and say, “Sorry. I had to get up in case he was reading my lips.”

“Your lips? Girl, he was staring hard enough to read your esophagus!”

I chuckle and say, “We’ve been getting close over the last few weeks.”

“Likefriendclose orthat’s-your-manclose?”

“He’s not my man. He’s told me he doesn’t want to be in a relationship.”

“With you specifically, or was he speaking in general?”

“It was more in general.”

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