Is This the Life We Really Want?

locked. A

ike he was trying to read a something about me he'd alr

was ready for whatev

ing. A waiter came, asked if I wanted

ait. So many words swam through my heart b

together, "I wanted to say I'm sor

gh. "Surprise? That

.. didn't know your dad worked f

ou," I said,

mericanos. I didn't even say I wanted one, but he a

taring at the table, "w

ked. "T

You sat across from me like just some guy.

itles. Just love the low persona

mmediately, "That's not the same, Malik. You knew you

be about that," he

at him. "

r, just for something

ress anybody. You were just you. And I was just a guy listening to you speak something real. And for onc

hit something. Somethi

It felt like a lie

, a littl

ain. This time, not

my hands around the cup. N

That day. And I'm still fi

get

like the steam from

sed to men

he wanted to say a lot at once but was trying n

power. And h

nd. "You don't need to re

rned a little. Good. I nee

was hoping I'd see you again. I just

am

Clean cut. Watch that probably

retend with you?"

surprised at the que

w do yo

is eyes. "I've learned to wait.

ne caught me. "Th

ust exp

nd us felt like a blur, like we

e spok

ress you, Sera. I'm ju

hy

tayed with me longer

om lip. "You

e, elbows brushing the edge of

et," h

't the kind of flirt that made you roll your eyes. It was l

used on a tiny chi

me who you were, t

. would you have spoken

at. Because deep d

w you were Big G's daughter either

didn't you say something soone

to. I didn't want t

ly. "News flash..

hurt at that. But

most like he was trying to be careful with it. "I'm just ask

y chest tig

jeans. "Okay, then. Yo

dded

But also confused. Because for the first time in a

ked. "H

iiguring stuff out. I didn't know if this, whateve

uscles in his jaw twi

m not here to play games. And I'm definitely

t say a

d between us like th

forward again

ome. I just know I'd regret it if I di

y. "Even if my da

n more reason to be careful

my mouth.

what was I suppos

ybe ask about his company or somethi

o

it over. I

not

alr

t some ran

like he

ew nothing was

strange happened. Malik stood, pulled out his wallet, but

the

artw

hy it jolted m

ybe because he didn't pick up. Or maybe because my gut told

way without explainin

nna wal

ted, the

g. A sharp wind brushing past, tugging at the edge

silence for a

t looking at him, "

sto

t p

lo

e said fina

the name popped up. I noticed your mo

"It's com

got a lot of complicated

d. Just kept wal

g in my ches

e if it was draw

ulling