Page 36 of Lease to Love

When I was alone, I liked quiet things.

Coloring. Journaling. Puzzles. Reading. Things that didn't need anything from me.

It had taken me a long time to let Ayo see that side of me.

I'd been so embarrassed the first time he caught me at the kitchen table with a coloring book and a cup of tea, but he'd smiled and called it cute. Different. Said he liked that I wasn't like other women.

Apparently, he'd just been collecting ammunition.

“I tried to do the slow, shy shit for her,” he continued, laughing. “Tried something different. Did the Hallmark boyfriend thing. And I don't mean no harm, but that shit was lame. I need HBO.”

I rolled my eyes.

Translation: I pretended to be a decent man for a year so I could use you until I got bored.

Yeah. That was more honest.

“You can’t even afford HBO.” I muttered at the screen before I reached for my drink and took a long swallow, letting the cold juice soothe the heat burning in my throat.

Ayo started reading comments from the live aloud.

this nigga really don't have no shame diabolical

boring girls need love too!

Keeya bad asf major upgrade

That last one made him smile. He stepped back from the camera so the angle widened, gestured at the apartment behind him, at Keeya on the couch, like he was presenting evidence in a case he'd already won.

"I can't even argue with that one. I mean, look how I'm living. Look who I'm living with. I ain't meant for nothing regular."

Keeya smiled.

I stared at her.

At my chain.

At the apartment.

At the sheer audacity of this unemployed-ass man standing in somebody else's expensive-looking living room acting like he'd just conquered the world.

I had no idea what I'd ever seen in him.

Well… The dick.

It was the dick.

Obviously.

Because the man's personality had never been that impressive.

“On my mama,” Ayo continued, the phrase he always used immediately before saying something stupid, “If y'all ever see me with a bitch in a studio apartment again, SEND HELP!”

Okay.

That was one bitch too many. I shot to my feet.

“Oh, fuck you, Ayo!” My voice echoed through my apartment.