Page 28 of See No Evil

“Dinner and dessertwere good. That cheesecake you made was bomb. I’m not a big cheesecake fan, but your recipe changed my mind. You’ll have to show me how you made that cherry topping though.” He patted his stomach and leaned back on Desiree’s couch. It seemed to always be their spot. From the kitchen to the living room.

“I will. It’s super easy.”

“Bet. Next time, I want you to come to my apartment, Desiree. I’m not comin’ back over here until you stop by. That’s one-sided.”

“But my daughter is—”

“I know, I know. It’s difficult, timing wise, and you don’t let your child meet men until you’re sure. I get it. And don’t get me wrong, I appreciate you letting me say hello to her in the past on the phone. I know that was probably a big deal for you, too.”

“Yeah… lately, Kaylee spends the nights with her friends, grandmother, and whatnot every now and again, and it allows me to study a bit more, and talk to you of course. So, I was just trying to take advantage of the situation. Usually, she’s home with me.”

“Right. It’s cool.” Legend took a swig from his beer bottle, then set it back down on the coffee table. “I’m just tellin’ you that you need to make that happen soon. You comin’ by my way.I’m not going to keep doing this with you.” She rolled her eyes, then laughed. “I’m serious, Desiree. Play wit’ me if you want to. I don’t like games, and I’m getting fed up. You’re using legitimate reasons, but exploiting them.”

Her smile faded as he continued, “I’m not stupid. Just because I like you and want to sleep with you doesn’t mean I’m just going to let anything happen. You’re testing the waters, thinking I’ll fall in line as long as I’m with you. I still have common sense. Nobody is worth me losing my self-respect over, and I don’t give a shit how much I fucks with them.”

She drew her legs up onto the couch, looking a bit uncomfortable as he called her out on her shit.

“I’ll come over, but my reasoning isn’t bullshit, Legend. Don’t dismiss me like that.”

“You said you like dogs, and I got three of ’em. Love ’em to death. I got a small but nice apartment. I plan on moving next year, but it’ll do for now. But I get it.” He shrugged. “I know you’re more comfortable here. Feels like you have more control over yourself, and me for that matter, but—”

“No, that’s not it,” she said with a smile.

He waved her off.

“Yeah, it is, Desiree. Stop that shit. I don’t like it.” He waved his hand about, feeling a tad bit annoyed. “Just be truthful. You feel like you have more control over the situation, this thing going on between us, if I’m on your turf. I’ve offered to take you to the movies, out dancing, to a concert, out to eat, and you refuse. You don’t want it to “look” like a date.” Her complexion deepened, but she didn’t respond. “Anyway, thank you for inviting me over again though. I enjoyed cooking dinner with you tonight.” He stroked his beard, then fixed his gaze on her.She’s blushing as I stare at her. Even though she’s pissing me off, I still think she’s the most beautiful lady in the world…

“You’re welcome. You know I love spending time with you outside of school, Legend. I really enjoy our conversations. I don’t know if me being more comfortable here is true or not. When you put it like you did though, maybe Iamdoing that.” She shrugged. “Putting up a safe barrier of some sort. It’s not on purpose though, so please believe me. I’m not tryna play games. At the same time, I… never mind.” She reached for her wine cooler and took a sip.

“Nah, what?”

Her lips twisted, then she smiled. “Idolike you. I care about you. It’s becoming a problem.”

He took a moment to mull her words while listening to the music—Coi Leray featuring Lil Durk’s, ‘No More Parties.’

“It ain’t a problem, unless youmakeit a problem, shortie.” He lit a cigarette, puffed it, then passed it to her.

“Question. Do you think people should be friends before they are lovers?”

“If they want to be. If it’s not forced and happens spontaneously. I don’t believe in a bunch of rules to this shit. We make it so complicated. What is supposed to be will be.” He yawned, then glanced at his phone, noticing several missed calls and text messages. He’d been at her house for several hours, but it only felt like twenty minutes.

“Sometimes, people who have been friends for years realize they love each other. They get married and live happily ever after. What do you say to that?”

“You were friends with your baby daddy first. How’d that work out for ya?” He burst out laughing when she tossed a pillow at his head. He ducked just in time, and it rolled onto the floor. “Sometimes, Desiree, people meet and only know each other for an hour, and then, before they know it, they’re fuckin’ the life out of each other. Right after that, they fall madly in love—and it works. Love don’t know shit ’bout no timeline. That’s somebullshit people made up. People go to the club, fuck on the first night, and stay together all the time. There’s no rules to this. Sometimes shit just happens. We can’t control it.”

“Attraction is carnal, and unpredictable.”

“Exactly. We’re attracted to what we see with our eyes,” He pointed at his own. “But then, that attraction grows. As you talk to someone, you get to know them, find out y’all complement one another. Can help each other. Motivate one another. Keep each other in check. Make each other feel good, but be brutally honest with one another, too. So, I’m good on all of this.” He waved his hand about. “Good on what I want. How I get here. Who I am. I’m good on friends, too. I have enough friends, Desiree. I’m on some other shit right about now. Church.”

He took the cigarette back from her, tapped the ashes in the ashtray, and smoked.

“Who are your friends? Are they like you?”

“Who areYOURfriends?”

“I have a couple ladies I’m real cool with. Met them in high school. Back to you. I know birds of a feather flock together. Who you hang with?”

He held up two fingers. “I only have two that I consider my best friends. Axel and Caspian. Caspian is from here, but lives in Georgia, near Atlanta. Axel is right here in Louisville still.” He brought his cigarette to his lips, then blew out rings of smoke.

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