Page 28 of Stay with Me

He took me to Coda, said they were having a special guest for R&B night. I was delighted when Guordan Banks took the stage. Keep You in Mind was my jam!

We had a great view of the stage from our corner booth, and I rocked in my seat to the music, grinning at Ryan from time to time, always finding his eyes on me. When he looked at me the way he looked at me, it felt like his eyes were seeing through my clothes and my skin, to my soul. It was an oddly pleasing feeling. It made me wonder what it would feel like for his eyes to actually roam my naked body.

After Guordan Banks’ set was over, we ordered appetizers and drinks and got to the “getting to know each other” part of the night. He shared that he was the youngest of two children and that his brother, Cedric, was incarcerated in Louisiana for “doing some stupid shit.” His mother was deceased, and he didn’t keep in touch with his father. He’d never been married or even in a long-term relationship. Had no kids, loved his job, and could see himself moving to a tropical island after he retired.

I told him there were three Strickland girls and that I was the middle child.

“Which makes you the normal one.”

I tilted my head to the side. “How so?”

“Well, the oldest usually shoulders the most responsibility, so they end up with all these issues where they think they have to take care of folks, get attached to people, and can’t let go. The youngest is always spoiled, gotta have their way. The middle is usually level-headed, normal, because they’re able to avoid all the bullshit the other two have to endure.”

“So, by your own definition, you’re spoiled and have to get your way.”

He flashed me a smile. “Absolutely.”

“That’s why you hung up on me?”

He shrugged. “You hurt my feelings. Wasn’t the most mature way to handle things, and I’m sorry about that.”

I smiled. “Say that again.”

“Say what again?”

“Sorr’ ‘bout ‘dat.”

He chuckled. “Oh, daaaamn. You’re making fun of my accent? I thought you liked it.”

“I do. That’s why I asked you to repeat yourself. Say it again.”

“Hell, naw.”

I laughed. “What’s your deal, Ryan? What do you really want from me?”

“Your time. That’s it. I know a little bit about what makes you scream. I also want to know what makes you smile, laugh, cry. I wanna know you.”

I adjusted in my seat and averted my eyes from his.

“Am I making you uncomfortable by bringing that up?”

I met his gaze. “Yes.”

“Why does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Because…”

“Because you never felt like that before?”

“Maybe…”

“And my bringing it up makes you want to feel it again?”

I cleared my throat. “Um…”

He stared at me for a moment. “Come here. Move closer.”

“Why?”