Page 26 of Love Legacy

I just want to talk to you.

Fine. If you won’t answer my calls, and you won’t respond to my texts, I’m coming over.

That last text was sent six minutes ago.

“Dang it, she’s on her way over!” I say, running to the bathroom.

Alex chuckles. “I told you, you should’ve just picked up the phone.”

I check myself in the mirror, trying to figure out how I could clean up the trainwreck that was staring back at me in under five minutes. I throw my hair up in a messy bun, not even bothering to try and work through the knots in my hair. I fell asleep without my bonnet, and even with my silk pillowcase, my rough sleeping turned my curls into a nest.

I quickly brush my teeth, swishing a little mouthwash. I also quickly wash my face, cleaning up any eye crusties or traces of drool.

Okay, I might not look great, but at least now I don’t look like I just woke up from a twelve-hour nap. I head back into the kitchen to see Sage sitting at the breakfast bar. How does she look this good all the time? She was wearing olive green skinnycargo pants, a white V-neck T-shirt, a blue denim vest covered in patches, and black high-top Converse. Her hair is in its naturally wavy state.

She was deep in conversation with Alex about something somewhat serious. Alex gestures in my direction, letting Sage know that I’d returned. She turns in her stool to look at me, giving me a sad smile. “Hey, Naomi. You’re a hard woman to get a hold of.”

I shrug, pulling my robe tighter around me. “Really? I think I might have left my phone at the house. I haven’t seen it all morning.”

She raises an eyebrow with that signature smirk, looking down toward my waist. I follow her gaze and see it—my phone sticking out of my robe pocket. I smack my forehead gently.Stupid.I don’t know why I thought that excuse was going to work. “What do you want, Sage?” I say, sounding annoyed.

Sage winces at my tone. “Naomi…” she pleads. “I just want to talk to you. One on one. Face to face. In private…” she says, glancing over at Alex.

Alex holds her hands up in surrender. “You don’t have to tell me twice. Good luck, Naomi. I’ll be in my room. With the TV on. And the volume turned up loud,” she says, heading out of the room.

I turn my attention back to Sage, shifting my weight from leg to leg, not wanting to say the first word.

Sage sighs, standing up and walking toward me. Standing toe-to-toe she reaches out to hug me, but I take a step back, wanting to keep distance between us. “You wanted to talk, so talk,” I insist, crossing my arms over my chest, growing impatient and uncomfortable.

Sage bites her lip. “So about last night…”

10

Sage

“You wanted to talk, so talk,” Naomi says, her mouth set in a frown, the annoyance radiating off her.

When I first reached out to Naomi this morning, this wasn’t what I expected. Embarrassment? Sure. Regret? Maybe. This degree of hostility? Never saw it coming.

I sigh, biting my lip. “So about last night…”

“What about it, Sage?”

“We need to talk about the kiss. You ran off before I could talk to you. And now, this morning? You seem annoyed with me.”

Naomi sighs, dropping her shield a little bit as she goes and sits in the corner of her sectional. “No…I’m not annoyed with you. I’m just…really confused,” she says, deflating.

This is exactly what I was afraid of. Naomi has limited romantic experiences to begin with, let alone with another woman. Add in her religious background, and she’s probably spiraling.

I take a seat next to her on the couch, leaving a little space between us. I put my hands in my pockets, trying to prevent myself from reaching out to Naomi. “I’m sorry, Naomi…” I say, unsure of where to start.

She shakes her head. “It’s not your fault, Sage. I’m just a mess.”

“Want to talk about it? It might help. Working through your feelings with someone, I mean.”

Naomi sighs, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she does when she gets nervous. “Well, I guess I’ll start with the kiss.”

“I’m sorry if I took it too far, I was just—”

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