Page 15 of North
“I guess we better become friends then.” We rounded the corner and the pizza place materialized. Bright red lights spelled out PIZZA from the snow-framed window.
“Friends, yeah. Let’s be friends.” Her eyes dimmed a bit before I held open the door for her. Pretty sure the last thing she wanted was to be dropped in the friend zone but I had so much shit going on in my life that I didn’t have time for a girlfriend. After Izzy, I didn’t want one. In my mind, no woman would understand me. Every woman was out to hurt me. I planned to keep my heart to myself indefinitely.
After we picked up our pizzas, Melanie smiled up at me, batting her long lashes. If she looked any sweeter, she’d have a halo over her head.
“You need a ride back to your place?”
“No thanks, I’m good. I only live ten minutes away.” I gestured with my chin in the direction of my house.
“Your pizza will get cold.” Her voice was high and soft as she tried her damndest to coax me into her car.
“No really, Melanie I got it.” We stopped in front of her car and I made sure she got in okay while dodging her attempts to take me home. If I didn’t believe Elijah before about Melanie throwing ass at me, I definitely believed it now.
“Well, okay then. I’ll stop by the gallery tomorrow and see you.”
“Yeah, please do. Let me know if you have any questions about any of the pieces,” I said waving. “I’ll see you around.” Once she drove out of sight at a slow crawl. I called Elijah.
“So now you want to believe me after she tried to lure you into her white windowless van?” He chuckled.
“It was an Audi.”
“You know what the fuck I mean, Kane. She’s about to stalk the fuck out of you.”
“I’m not looking for what she’s looking for.”
“Maybe she just wants you to fuck her. Maybe she’s not looking for more than that. Honestly, you could use some pussy. You’ve been a little uptight.”
I barked out laughter at his assessment and narrowed my eyes against the blowing snow. “I’vebeen uptight? Yeah okay, Elijah.”
“You have. Maybe if you fuck Melanie, she’ll loosen you up. Nobody said you had to marry her.” He was right. Maybe letting off some steam by getting my dick wet was what the doctor ordered.
When I walked into the house, my laughter died down a bit. I tipped my nose up and breathed in the scent of cherries floating through the air.
“You still there?” Elijah asked.
“Um, yeah. I’m home now. I’m gonna take this pizza to North and hang out with her.”
“Okay, cool. Hit me up later.”
I slipped my phone in my back pocket and headed upstairs where the cherry smell grew stronger. It was like walking past a bath and body shop. I found North’s bedroom door closed at the end of the hallway. The humidity in the air let me know she was fresh out of the shower.
I knocked a few times when I reached her room and waited for her to answer. Why was I so on edge? My mouth was like cotton and my heart was a frantic bird beating its wings against my chest.
When North opened the door she smiled at me then took the pizza box from my hands. Her long red hair hung in one braid over her shoulder. It was a darker scarlet than usual and the end of her braid curled showing hints at her natural texture.
She was wearing a pair of the new pajamas. Black and white striped shorts and a tank top with pandas scattered everywhere. I studied the freckles on the tops of her shoulders while she opened the pizza box.
“Oh my god, you remembered! Kane, thank you,” she squeaked, spinning to wrap her arms around me. She mashed herself against me. Cherries threaded through the air and pulled the string connecting us a little tighter.
I patted North on the back and chuckled, hoping she didn’t realize how tense I was. I didn’t want her to think I was shying away from her hugs.
“No problem. Eat as much as you want.” I gestured to the pizza. Her brows fell low on her forehead and her lips slipped into a frown. She tugged at the hem of her fitted tank top and stared down at herself.
“I know I’m too skinny. It’s not on purpose.”
“I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad.”
“It’s fine, Kane.” She pulled down her shirt again and pushed the pizza box to the side. “I’ll eat. Thank you.”
