Page 36 of Until Nalia
“Good?” I ask, and she opens her eyes.
“So good,” she whispers after she swallows, and my eyes drop to her mouth.
It’s difficult not to lean in and kiss her like I want to.
“Don’t even think about it,” she says, and I lift my eyes to hers, finding her pupils dilated.
“Too late, I’ve already thought about it a hundred times.”
“I’m serious, Logan,” she says quietly, pulling her gaze from mine as the back door opens and Hector comes back into the house.
“Sorry about that,” he says, closing the door behind himself.
“Everything alright?”
“Same shit, different day.” He walks to the table, leans against it, then looks between Nalia and me, tipping his head to the side.
“You two good?”
“Just dodging landmines,” I mutter, walking the salsa bowl to the fridge so that it can sit there until dinner.
“How’s that working out?”
“It’s treacherous out here, brother, but nothing I can’t outmaneuver.”
“You do know that I’m right here,” Nalia says, and I move my eyes to hers.
“Believe me, baby, I know.”
Ten
NALIA
Sitting in the middle of my bed with Zuri tucked against my side, we both smile as Samson shows the two of us and Javion, who is also on the FaceTime call, the plump black and white cat that he adopted two days ago.
“Are you sure he’s not a she and that she’s not pregnant?” Javion asks him when the cat rolls to its side on the bed so Samson can pet its belly.
“He’s a boy, so yes.”
“Are you sure about that?” I frown, catching a glimpse of nipples on its belly before he brings the phone back to his handsome face. Unlike Sage, Zuri, and myself, both Samson and Javion know who their father is, and both of them are as handsome as he was and have his beautiful dark complexion, warm brown eyes, thick lashes, and tall lean frame.
“That’s what the shelter told me.”
“Maybe you should take it to the vet so they can confirm that for you,” Javion tells him.
“I will when I can get a little time off.” He focuses on Zuri. “How’s school going? Do you still like your teachers?”
“It’s good and yes.” She rests her head on my shoulder and lets out a yawn. It’s a little after nine in the evening, and most nights she’s asleep by this time, but the guys sent a text and asked if we were around for a phone call, not long after Logan dropped us off at home. And since it’s not always easy to coordinate with them between their jobs and the time difference with both of them being in Japan, I immediately messaged back yes. The two of them were lucky enough to get stationed in the same country, but they are not at the same military base or exactly close, with Samson in Okinawa and Javion in Tokyo. It sucks having them so far away, but I’m glad that they are at least able to visit each other when they can find the time.
“Any boys we need to beat up?” Javion asks her.
She laughs as she says, “No.”
“You sure about that?”
“Yes.”
“What about you, any guys we need to beat up?” he asks me and I roll my eyes.
