Page 17 of Touch of Smoke
“The man who’s giving you some because you’ve also been glowing like a beacon when you strutted yourself into the sanctuary on Sunday morning.” Donyell pursed her lips knowingly as she waited for Sariya’s response.
In the past weeks Sariya had been existing in a bubble. At least that’s how she’d liked to think about the time she spent at Ro’s house. Nobody knew she was there because the only personwho’d been to his house had been his parents. Donyell hadn’t even been there yet because he’d wanted to wait until he had a bit more furniture to have his first family function. Of course, she knew that he wasn’t sleeping on the streets, but Donyell was so busy running the lounge and taking care of her husband and her home, that she hadn’t given much thought to where Ro was sleeping.
“You act like I never get any,” Sariya replied. “And you’re also acting like you haven’t seen me in these past weeks when that’s not true either. Didn’t we have a whole lunch meeting Tuesday before last? When I told you about my business venture idea and asked you to help me with my business plan?”
“Yeah. Yeah,” Donyell said with a wave of her hand. “And come to think about it, you were looking different then too. So now I know it’s a guy. Who is he and when do I get to meet him?”
As if the heavens wanted to intervene and possibly give Sariya a minor heart attack, Ro picked that exact moment to arrive. She’d left him in his bed sleeping this morning. The sticky note she’d pressed to the top of his phone so he would see it as soon as he woke up simply said: No breakfast in bed this morning. ? It’s Pop Up Shop day. S.
“Mornin’ ladies,” he said and dropped an arm over Donyell’s shoulder. He kissed her on her forehead, then crossed to where Sariya stood.
She immediately took a step back and Ro frowned. He wore a brown sweatsuit and a fresh pair of pecan and white Nike Air Force 1’s.
“Hey, Ro,” Donyell said. She was about to say something else but then she looked from Ro to Sariya. “What’s going on here?”
“Nothing,” Sariya replied quickly.
Ro arched a brow. “Nothing?”
“Oh. My. Generations,” Donyell said and stepped closer to where Ro was now standing directly across from Sariya. “Wait awhole damn minute,” she continued, narrowing her eyes as this time she looked from Sariya to her brother, then back to Sariya again.
Sariya knew exactly how this looked, she knew because her stomach had plummeted and her cheeks were red hot. Ro took another step toward her, the look in his eyes daring her to move back again. And really, she didn’t want to move back, she wanted to run up out of this place and not stop until she was locked in her apartment.
She really had enjoyed that bubble she and Ro had been living in, but he’d made it perfectly clear that he wasn’t interested in a secret relationship. In reality, she wasn’t either. She’d grown up a lot in the years since their first encounter and a big part of what had worried her about them being together before, just didn’t matter now. Still, she would’ve liked to remain in their bubble just a little while longer. The more people who knew about them, the more opinions that would come flying their way and while Ro had a great ‘fuck you’ demeanor, Sariya’s still needed a little work.
“Good morning, Sariya,” he said when she, in fact, did not move away from him again.
She swallowed as he came even closer because she knew exactly what he was about to do. Since the night of Donyell’s party, they’d been greeting each other with a kiss. Ro didn’t plan for today to be any different.
“Good morning,” she hurriedly mumbled praying her words might throw off his intention.
That prayer clearly went unanswered because about three point five seconds after the words were spoken, Ro’s lips touched her lips.
“Oh. My. Generations,” Donyell said again and Sariya stiffened.
In all the time she’d known Donyell, she’d told her everything. Every secret surrounding her family, every crush, every insecurity, every dream, Donyell knew it and the same went for her where Donyell’s was concerned. But this one thing, the way she’d felt about Ro, had been Sariya’s secret alone. She’d never really known how Donyell would act if she knew that Sariya was pining away for her brother. Plus, Donyell gave every girl that Ro ever brought home a fit. Sariya had witnessed it and secretly cheered her friend on. Now, Sariya prayed she wouldn’t be on the receiving end of that treatment.
“It’s about damn time!” Donyell said, causing both Sariya and Ro to turn and look her way. “I thought you two were gonna go to the grave wanting each other, like some goofy star-crossed lovers in a book.” She laughed.
“What?” Sariya said.
Followed by Ro’s, “You’re not funny.”
“Oh, but I am,” Donyell continued through her chuckles. “You thought I didn’t notice you forgetting to knock and just barging into my room those times when she was there. But I saw your eyes immediately following her then, and whenever we were all together. Like you wanted to memorize her or something.”
“That’s enough,” he said. “What do you need me to do, Sariya? I’m free all day so I can hang out here.”
“Awww, ain’t that cute?” Donyell joked and Ro tossed her a glare before he tugged on one of her braids.
“Um, I,” Sariah stuttered, then cleared her throat. “Can you make sure all the signs have been brought out of the storage room and put out front? I saw one when I came in but I’m pretty sure we have two more that we usually put on each corner.”
“Got it,” he said, then leaned in to give her another quick kiss.
He stuck his tongue out at Donyell as he passed her and she swatted him in the back. An exchange Sariya had seen manytimes before growing up. Usually, it only made her long for a blood sibling. Today it made her feel like a complete jerk. There was no question that Donyell and Ro were close. It was no wonder Donyell had known exactly when her brother started noticing Sariya. Using that same logic, it would stand to reason that the secret she thought she’d been keeping from Donyell, wasn’t much of a secret at all.
“You know I’m pissed with you right?” Donyell said when they were alone.
Sariya dropped her head back and groaned. “How was I supposed to tell you I wanted to jump your brother’s bones? You would’ve cringed,” she said and looked at Donyell again. “Then you would’ve gotten angry and tried to beat my ass.” Donyell always had more mouth than Sariya and she hated the thought of messing up her face. Whereas Sariya had very little tolerance for mouthing off. She was a hit now, ask questions later kind of girl.
