Page 45 of Cause When You Love Someone
I shut my eyes for a second, enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin. The mixture of tequila and weed had me relaxed, and the aroma of Clarke’s cucumber scent triggered my goofy expression.
“Are you drunk, Superman?”
“Something close.”
“Here. Drink some of this.” Clarke carried the bottle up to my lips, then guided water down my throat. “I’m stunned you drank as much as you did. I’m not complaining, though. I like you loose and easy.”
We laughed at her choice of words.
“If I’m being real, I always limit myself because I come from a family full of addicts. I can’t fuck around and lose my grip with reality.”
“As grounded as you are, you should have more faith in yourself.”
Though my tongue burned with the urge to defend myself, I nodded and looped my arm around her waist.
“You want to cuddle, but I want to dance.”
“Right now?”
“Right now,” she replied, standing to her feet.
Clarke slid out of my hands and switched her hips over to an area deemed the dance floor. Her hands moved from her thighs up to her mid-section when the beat of the smooth R&B switched tempos. I paid attention to the way she pointed her toes, then carried her body around in a circle. Light on her bare feet, Clarke’s movements ranged from something I saw inThe Nutcrackerand something out of a hip-hop music video. Even with her thigh peeking out of the slit in her dress, I wouldn’t say Clarke’s performance was provocative. No matter what she did, I would have been mesmerized.
Unable to stay away, I slowly bobbed my head and abandoned my seat when D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does it Feel)” coasted through the air. I heard my club brothers hoot and holler when I got close to the dancing queen, but I ignored them. The only person I had energy for was the woman who gave me a reason to get out of my seat.
“I knew you wouldn’t leave me out here by myself for too long.” Clarke snorted through her laughter when I reeled her into my arms and pulled her back into my chest.
“For a second, I started not to interrupt. You looked like you were in your element.”
“Yeah. Some things come naturally. Can’t let them go.”
“Then you need to tap in. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be working in the field you love when it’s clear you can’t let it go. I remember a pretty lady told me that.”
A rosy color swooshed up her cheeks. “Hm. Sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders.”
“Yeah. Her head game is crazy!” I joked as I spun her around to face me.
Girl, it's only you.
Have it your way.
And if you want, you can decide.
Every lyric I sang appeared to crack any doubt that may have plagued Clarke’s mind. Her breathing reduced to a snail’s pace, and she relaxed so much I thought I would have to hold her up soon.
“Everyone is watching us,” she sang.
“Of course, they are. Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
“Actually, I haven’t. I don’t feel the need to. You make sure I know I’m the prettiest girl in the world.”
My lips found their way to her earlobe. “Don’t try to gas me up.”
“Try?” She smirked. “It’s too late for that, my love.”
“I’m walkingin the warehouse. Let me call you back.”
Clarke’s twisted lips emerged on my screen when she threw her body back on the hotel bed. Though she left my home a week ago, the hot commodity kept a low profile. Every day, I tried to convince her to go home, and her response was always the same. She wasn’t ready.
