Page 73 of One Good Reason

“I’m really not, Law,” she scoffed. “I don’t open my heart to anyone. I don’t fall in love. Hell, I think I’m incapable of loving someone other than Gema. I’m not the average girl. Life changed me.”

“If that’s the case Talitha, then what do you want from me.”

“I don’t know.” She crossed her arms in a huff. “I would say companionship, but I don’t think I desire that either.”

“You wanna fuck?”

“Is that a bad thing?”

Leaning up, I rested my elbows on my knees. “For me, nawl, it’s not because I don’t want anything either. But you can’t just fuck me and dip out like a hard leg. Sex with me comes with requirements.”

“What are they?”

“Cuddling after sex, I like to have intelligent conversations. You don’t have to be my companion, but I do prefer dates. I like to wine and dine every now and then.”

“That’s companionship, Harvey.”

“It’s whatever we make it, Howard,” I tossed back. Any other time I was, Law. When she was pissed at me, she used my first and last name. I noticed in New York that she’d started calling me by my last name when I was annoying her. Those were a few signs that I’d picked up on and locked in my memory bank for a rainy day.

“I require anonymity. I don’t want to be another notch under your belt. I also don’t want anyone at the center to know what we have going on. I’ve never wanted to be known as the woman who slept her way to the top.”

“We haven’t slept together yet and your ass has been in my pockets so I would say you don’t have to worry about that.”

“I can give you whatever time I have left after work and taking care of Gema.”

“I’m willing to accept whatever.”

“No feelings, Law. I can’t get wrapped up in anything that could end in heartbreak. I’m holding myself up with tape. Any little thing can go wrong, and I will crumble.”

“No feelings Talitha. But my requests are my request. If you can’t handle that then you can’t handle me.”

“I know.” She sighed. “I want to try.”

“We can start off small. Date night once a week.”

“Once a week… just not on Thursdays. Mrs. Jessie plays bingo with her friends every Thursday night.”

“I’m fair. I’ll let you decide what night. The only thing with that is, that one night you have to stay here.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip before agreeing. “I don’t do office sex but if you want a lunch quicky, I can meet you at your condo,” she tittered.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Anything else?”

“These are your terms and conditions so ask yourself that question.”

“Sssss…” she hissed. “I think that’s it. Maybe we should sign a contract.”

“Fuck out of here!” I chortled. “We’re grown, Talitha. We don’t need a contract. You stated your request, and I did as well.”

“Then it’s solved. That was easier than I expected.”

“Why is that?”

“Don’t know. Kind of figured you wouldn’t agree to it.”

“I’m an easy man.”

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