Page 31

Eleven

Exhilarating.

Busy as hell.

Satisfying.

Magical.

These past four days have been a whirlwind. My grandparents’ fire, Noab, finding them a place to stay, fucking Noab, dealing with insurance, and did I say, Noab? I’m falling for a vampire, a sexy, handsome, considerate, and powerful vampire. And I love every minute.

Things are just coming together for me. Nana and Papa are stronger and more resilient than I gave them credit for. For two people who lost everything they owned, they are coping so well. They decided on the small cottage house Airbnb and only spent one night at the hotel. The cottage has two bedrooms and two baths. They did a long-term stay of two months to give them time to look for their more permanent home. Although no final decision has been made between buying another home or renting, I can tell they are leaning toward a rental. Once Nana heard how much the insurance payment will be, she said she wanted to spend the latter half of her life living good. We all laughed because they have always lived good.

As for me, I’m semi-homeless but the happiest I’ve been in a long ass time. I’ve been back to the condo twice to pick up things I’ve needed, but each time was when I knew for certain Langston was not there. My days have been spent checking on my grandparents and taking Nana shopping. My nights have all been with Noab. Even when he was at the firehouse, he trusted me with his home. Things have been moving fast, super-fast, with us but it feels right, perfect actually. It feels like we’ve been together happily for years, making me believe he’s right and we are meant to be.

I’ve blocked Langston because I really don’t want to hear his voice. After my first night with Noab, I got in my Jeep and saw twenty-seven missed texts, eleven voicemails, and thirteen missed calls. I deleted the texts without reading them, sent the voicemails to trash, then blocked him. For once, my mouth, mind, and body are on one accord and I can finally say I am done with his trifling ass. I’m going to get my shit this evening to make it final. I don’t want him or anything out of that condo except the rest of my clothes and my personal items. On my last two trips back, I filled two suitcases with a lot of my things, so if he has any sense, Langston knows my departure is inevitable.

Noab has been so considerate and understanding. He knows Langston is a part of my past, so he doesn’t pressure me to talk about him. In fact, I’ve never even uttered his name out loud in Noab’s home. We dance around the subject of Langston, and when I mention handling that part of my life, he reminds me that he’s here for me. He’s super supportive and I love that so much.

Before I head to the condo, I’m having lunch with Shae. We spoke early this morning during our daily call before she went in so I know she has a clear schedule from one to three. She has been helping as much as she could with Nana and Papa. In fact, she’s the one who found the real estate agent, Kimbra, who’s helping find the rental. I ordered our usuals from Mr. Chan’s, including the delicious Kool-Aid and I’m taking it to her office now.

The public defender’s office is located on the third floor of the courthouse. After going through security, I journey to the elevators and head up. She’s actually in her office sitting at her desk, opening a small container of yogurt and a bowl of fruit is on her desk. It looks like she’s about to eat.

“I came right on time I see,” I say and she looks up and smiles. “Unless you’re on a diet or something.”

“Hell nah. This is the only thing that looked good in the café. Please bring my General Tso’s chicken and pork fried rice here and stop tripping.”

“How do you know I got that?” I ask when I enter and close her door.

“Because I know you love me a lot.”

“I do because I even got you grape Kool-Aid.”

“Oh my God, thank you for real. I’m starving too,” she sighs.

“Where’s the restroom again? I need to wash my hands.”

“Out of my office, to the right and down the hall. That’s the employee one. The code is pound, one, two, three,” she says and I furrow my eyebrows at the simplicity of the code. “Girl, I know.” After placing the bag and drinks on her desk, I walk out and head toward the restroom. When I return with clean hands, my food container is on her desk and she is already eating. “I swear this is the best Chinese food in the city.”

“No lies told. I don’t even bother going to Peking House and it’s right by the condo.”

“Speaking of the condo. Are you ready for tonight? If it was me, I would just go now, pack my shit, and leave. He’s blocked and you don’t owe him any explanation. When he sees all your shit gone, he’ll know.”

“We need real closure. Plus, my name is on the lease; we need⁠—”

“Girl, fuck that lease. I’ll get you out of that shit.”

“I still need to officially talk to him, for me. I have to close that chapter to start my new one.”

“With the fine ass vampire,” she says with a smirk.

“Noab! Stop calling him that.”

“He’s still fine, bitch.”

“Yes, he is,” I say and dramatically fall back on her desk chair. “I had planned to chill with you until we got Nana and Papa settled, but every time I got in my Jeep, the wheels headed to his place.”

“Not the wheels! Hoe, that was all you.” She laughs and I do too because I wholeheartedly agree. Going to Noab’s was truly my decision. There is no other place I’d rather be; I’m just questioning the timing of it all. It feels so, so right, but I can’t lie, we are moving fast as hell. “I might have to start staying some nights with you until Kimbra finds me a place. He’s going to get used to me staying there and won’t want me to leave.”