“Can I call you?”
“Oh um, yes, uh,” Imani gave another immediate nod and, unmindful of her actions, leaned across Roman. Intending to give him her number, she reached for a small pad and pen on the end table that flanked his side of the sofa.
He had her in his arms before she could settled back with the writing supplies. They slipped from her hands which had weakened the moment he pulled her close. Eagerly, and with no hesitation, Imani participated in their kiss.
Roman had come to equate her soft purring with her being completely delighted and it made him smile amid their kiss. Images from his ceaseless daydreams of her flashed each time her tongue nudged or sweetly circled his. Her fingers curled into the neckline of his T-shirt and she began to stroke his collarbone. When a picture flashed of her on her back for him, his brain fevered. Once again, he set her away.
“You really should learn how to say no to me just a little,” he nearly panted out the words.
“Why?”
Her question stymied him and he was, in that moment, utterly speechless. Her honesty was refreshing and genuine. He found no deception lurking, as if she were playing some role to entice. Nor was she attempting to tease, by dangling a string meant to intensify his desire for her.
She was as she seemed. There was no pretense and he was completely enticed. His need for her irrevocable.
~~~
Conversation filled the kitchen while Candace and Imani cleaned up after dinner. Pitch and Roman had left half an hour earlier. Imani decided to spend the night with Candace.
“I thought you were going to pack food for Pitch to take home?”
Candace’s laughter merged with a sigh. “I tried, but he ate it all before I could get it in the containers.”
Imani laughed as well. “Then that’s the best compliment. Why didn’t you tell me he was your boyfriend?”
“Like I should’ve expected you to know who Vic Tesano was? Anyway,” Candace sighed again. “I thought Ashi would’ve told you guys all about him.”
Imani rolled her eyes at the mention of her cousin Ashira Morris. “That girl never talks about anyone’s boyfriends, but her own.”
“Ain't that the truth?” Candace noted while wrapping foil around a few remaining corners of crusty bread. “Watch her around Roman too. You’re not the only one who likes Italians,” she favored Imani with a saucy wink and then shook her head.
“You should’ve seen her when Vic came over. She would’ve had him in her claws if I hadn’t gotten home when I did.”
Imani doubled over when she laughed then. “I can’t believe she was so obvious. She’s always telling me and Chaz not to make it easy for a boy-to torture them a little.”
“Really? Ashira actually shared words of what passes for her as wisdom with her little sister and cousin? Unbelievable.”
Imani sobered and focused a little too intently on the dish towel she folded. “I may have asked for a little advice.”
“From Ashira?” Amused and incredulous, Candace propped a hip to the counter.
“She knows a lot about this stuff, Candace.”
Candace shrugged. “Guess I can’t argue that given what a bimbo she is.”
Imani took the cloth she folded and threw it at Candace’s head. Laughter took hold for a while, but soon a wave of seriousness returned to the kitchen.
“So were you asking for advice about Roman?”
Imani shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Then here’s some advice from a more sensible brain-forget Ashira’s advice.”
Smiling thinly, Imani returned the dishcloth to its drawer. “I’m trying,” she recalled the honesty and openness she’d shown to Roman earlier. She’d held nothing back.
“The last thing you want is a guy you can manipulate, Imani. That means he can be manipulated by anyone.”
“I know that,” Imani crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “It’s all useless now. It can’t work for us.”
“Who says?”
“Candy,” Imani fixed her friend with an exasperated look. “I’m going home in five weeks. What do you think could happen?”
“Maybe he’ll go with you. Maybe you’ll stay.”
“I’ve got one word, why neither of those things would happen. Isis Kamande.”
“That’s actually two words.”
“She doesn’t even want a boy to look at me unless she’s inspected him with a microscope.”
“But you said your dad liked him.”
“There’s a difference between liking someone and giving his blessing to be with his daughter.”
Candace chewed her thumbnail and eyed Imani curiously. “It’s that serious between you already?”
“I think so,” Imani paired the confession with a slow nod. “Roman is...very intense.”
