Chapter 14

14

N eko

As I walked down the beach, my phone rang. Malik was the last person I expected to see calling, so I answered quickly, assuming something was wrong.

"You good?"

He sucked his teeth. "Yeah, but I fucked up."

"How?"

"Mal came home sad talking about she was seeing some nigga and it ended tonight. I might have overreacted and said some shit that made it worse."

Sighing, I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from cursing as I shifted directions. So much for me walking and clearing my mind.

"What did you say, Malik?"

"Honestly… I don't remember. Just that it was too soon, and she didn't have the common sense to let her heart heal before letting another nigga break it."

" What ?" I damn near yelled, increasing my pace back to the hotel, grateful it was on the beach.

"Look, I fucked up, aight? I know now that I probably should have just listened. Now wasn't the time for my opinion while she was already in her feelings." He huffed. "I'm going to my lil shorty house tonight to give her some space. When you get to the house, I just need you to check on her and make sure she's okay."

"Malik, I don't thi—"

"Just check on her for me, aight?"

Groaning, I squeezed the back of my neck. "Aight. I'm on my way."

After disconnecting the call, I laughed. I was sure the last person she wanted to see was me, but I'd keep my word and go check on Mal anyway.

I stopped by the Chinese restaurant up the street and was grateful they were still open before going back home. If anything would get Malorie to talk to me, it was food. As I knocked on her door, I tried to think of what the hell I was even going to say.

"Leave me alone," she whined, not even bothering to ask who it was.

"I got Chinese."

A few seconds passed before she opened the door. As she tried to take the bag, I held it tighter. "If you want my food, you have to let me in."

Her eyes rolled as she huffed like her damn brother. I held back my smile as she opened the door wider to let me in. As she opened the bag of food, I pulled her nightstand over to the couch then grabbed a few paper plates from the kitchen. By the time I made it back, she'd already started eating the General Tso's chicken.

"What are you doing here, Neko?"

"Malik wanted me to check on you. He said he fucked up and he wanted to make sure you were okay."

A slither of a smile graced her lips. "He's an asshole but he was right. It was way too soon for me to be dating. He said I don't know what's best for me."

"Do you agree?"

She looked into my eyes. "I know what's better for me now. I'm still learning, that I can admit." Surprisingly, she cupped my cheek. "You were good to me and for me. I don't regret our brief affair. I just hate that it had to end."

Kissing her palm, I smiled. "It ending is my only regret too." When it became increasingly difficult not to kiss her, I cleared my throat and put some space between us. "If you're good, I'm gonna go so you can enjoy this and have some space."

"Yeah, I'm good. Tell him he's an asshole but he was right about me moving too fast."

"I don't agree," I admitted as I stood. "I don't think you moved too fast. I don't think you needed to wait until your heart was healed; I think my love would have helped."

"That's crazy because I said the same thing to him. Still… I think I'm just going to chill on dating for a while."

"That's fair. I guess I'll uh… I'll see you tomorrow."

With a nod, she lowered her attention back to her food. "Okay. Good night. And um… thanks for everything, Neko. I'm sad that it's over, but this time with you and your parents really helped me a lot."

"You know I'll do anything for you, sweet girl."

Our eyes locked again, and she gave me a soft smile before I made my exit. Maybe this was a lesson in love for me.

Lesson one: Loving someone doesn't mean you have to be with them.