Page 19 of Second Chance Summer

“Oh…girl, I was distracted trying to put clothes in this dryer. No, he hasn’t called, and that’s probably because I made it clear that what we had ended in Hawaii.”

“Girl, if you don’t get off your tail and go over there and see ‘bout that man! And make sure you ain’t wearing nothing but like a coat or something.”

“It’s ninety-five degrees. I’m not wearing a coat anywhere, Jovie.”

“Then put on some super short shorts and a tank, and then go give that man a second chance.”

“You know what? You’re right. I’ma do it, but in decent attire.”

“Okay, friend! Look at me being a therapist. I went to college for the wrong thing, chile. This is my true calling—helping y’all married folks out.”

“Apparently. Anyway, I gotta go figure out what I’ma wear. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye, girl.”

* * *

I finish my tasks for the day, toss my clothes in the washer, and after they dry, I put them in the dryer. Then I grab a salad from the fridge and watch TV. I’m supposed to be relaxing, but I can’t exactly do that because I’m supposed to be reconnecting with Hendrick right now.

I glance at the clock. It’s close to eight. I sigh and look at my phone, debating whether I should text Henny.

“No, don’t send a text, Lanai,” I tell myself. “Just go over there.”

I need to do this in person. I told Jovie I would, and she’s already warned me not to send a text.

I get up, step into some flip-flops, and grab my keys. I drive to his place with knots in my stomach, like I just didn’t have the time of my life with him in Hawaii. As if we weren’t burning those sheets with passion. He’s not new to me, so why am I nervous to even face him?

Upon arriving, I don’t exit immediately. I sit in the car and reminisce about how good things were between us in Hawaii. We can be that again, I’m certain of it, and it shouldn’t take a doctor, therapist, or mediator to make us see that.

It just needs to be us.

“Here goes,” I say, getting out of the car. I walk up the stairs to his townhouse and ring the doorbell.

The nerves haven’t subsided even though I know he wants the same thing I want. Well, he said he did, but what if he’s changed his mind? I don’t want to make a fool of myself.

I hear movement behind the door, and then it opens. And he’s shirtless. I wasn’t prepared to be greeted by abs, pecs, and clingy gray shorts, but here we are.

“Hi, Hendrick.”

“Hey. What’s up?”

“Can I come in for a minute?”

He looks me up and down, and when his eyes find mine again, he says, “Nope.”

I wasn’t expecting that. “No?” I ask.

He smirks and says, “You’re much safer out here.”

“Who said I wanted to be safe?”

Before I could blink, I was off my feet being carried into the house, lifted up every step, and he didn’t stop until I was on the bed. Until our bodies slammed together in a union so grand, time stood still. He’s greedy, and desperate as he kisses me and owns my body as equally as he’s owning my mind.

Our eyes sync and marry when he says, “You really don’t know how much I miss you, Lanai, and I’m not talking since Hawaii. I mean, since we split. I don’t know how I let that happen, baby, but I’ma make sure it never happens again. I love you. You hear me?”

“Yes.”

“I love you, and ain’t nothing keeping us apart anymore. I want this forever, Nai.”