I watched as Christian looked around the house. He walked with caution. I studied the way his jaw clenched when he wasn’t sure about a step, and the way his eyes would widen just a little when a plank creaked. I was mesmerized by the way the sun shone on his flawless olive skin, how his tattoos were brought to life when his body moved. The ink on his chest was always my favorite to watch. I didn’t know what it was completely, but what I could see was the top of what I assumed was a Mexican sugar skull with two vivid red roses on each side. I giggled when a critter ran under the floor and he stilled.
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of little animals?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not a fan of mice.” Christian walked over to me and sat beside me. I said a little prayer, hoping the crate wouldn’t collapse under us. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. I wasn’t acting like myself so I knew it was pretty obvious something was wrong. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.
I inhaled sharply.
“Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in your own life?” I said.
Christian leaned in, resting his elbows on his knees. The wood squeaked as he moved, and I held my breath a little. He stared at me with a certain look in his eyes, almost like he knew exactly what I was saying. But he didn’t say anything, just wrapped an arm over my shoulder in a soothing gesture.
We sat like that for a while, watching the dust fly by and listening to the world outside our little bubble. It was comforting to know he wasn’t just a flirt. He was serious and reassuring when he needed to be.
Chapter Fourteen
Christian
Tupac’s voice rolled inside my ears and the bass of “Ambitionz Az A Ridah” vibrated in my headphones while I gripped the iron bar. I pulled myself up for my last set. Taking a glance at the mirror in front of me, I was satisfied by the amount of sweat that had accumulated on my chest, arms, and face. Because of how much I worked at the bar, I didn’t have enough time to come to the gym like I wanted. I was starting to feel like I was getting soft, so today I made an effort to wake up earlier than normal and head to the gym across the street from my apartment.
Letting go of the bar, I jumped down and made my way to a bench where I kept my water bottle and towel. I wiped off my face as two girls walked by, eyeing my chest. I winked at them just as my music was interrupted by a call. My attention was now on the government owned number displayed on the screen of my phone. I knew exactly who it was. Exhaling, I dropped down to sit on the bench with my elbows on my knees. I answered the phone call.
“Yeah?”
“This is the operator with a collection call from Roman Rodriguez. To accept the charges—” I pressed one, cutting off the operator. Soon enough, his deep raspy voice boomed through.
“I’m surprised you accepted,” he said.
“Yeah, me too. What do you need, Rome. I already gave Mom money.”
“Damn, man, can’t I just catch up with my lil’ brother before I get released?”
“It’s a parole hearing, Rome. You don’t know if you’re getting released, man. But, whatever, what did you want to catch up on?”
Roman grunted. “Same old impatient Christian, always wanting things on his terms.”
My jaw clenched as I looked up to the mirror, seeing my irritated expression in the glass.
“All right then, I’ll get right to the point,” he continued. “I know you’re busy with your little bar . Imma need you when I get out. I have some friends I need to see.”
I shook my head. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, little bro, I’m not joking. I’m starting to feel like you’ve forgotten where you’re from, and how you were able to get that little business of yours running.”
“Yeah, on my own, that’s how. Don’t call me for shit like that, Rome, and then attempt to threaten me . A lot has changed since you
“Don’t tell me you’re afraid of little animals?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not a fan of mice.” Christian walked over to me and sat beside me. I said a little prayer, hoping the crate wouldn’t collapse under us. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. I wasn’t acting like myself so I knew it was pretty obvious something was wrong. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.
I inhaled sharply.
“Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in your own life?” I said.
Christian leaned in, resting his elbows on his knees. The wood squeaked as he moved, and I held my breath a little. He stared at me with a certain look in his eyes, almost like he knew exactly what I was saying. But he didn’t say anything, just wrapped an arm over my shoulder in a soothing gesture.
We sat like that for a while, watching the dust fly by and listening to the world outside our little bubble. It was comforting to know he wasn’t just a flirt. He was serious and reassuring when he needed to be.
Chapter Fourteen
Christian
Tupac’s voice rolled inside my ears and the bass of “Ambitionz Az A Ridah” vibrated in my headphones while I gripped the iron bar. I pulled myself up for my last set. Taking a glance at the mirror in front of me, I was satisfied by the amount of sweat that had accumulated on my chest, arms, and face. Because of how much I worked at the bar, I didn’t have enough time to come to the gym like I wanted. I was starting to feel like I was getting soft, so today I made an effort to wake up earlier than normal and head to the gym across the street from my apartment.
Letting go of the bar, I jumped down and made my way to a bench where I kept my water bottle and towel. I wiped off my face as two girls walked by, eyeing my chest. I winked at them just as my music was interrupted by a call. My attention was now on the government owned number displayed on the screen of my phone. I knew exactly who it was. Exhaling, I dropped down to sit on the bench with my elbows on my knees. I answered the phone call.
“Yeah?”
“This is the operator with a collection call from Roman Rodriguez. To accept the charges—” I pressed one, cutting off the operator. Soon enough, his deep raspy voice boomed through.
“I’m surprised you accepted,” he said.
“Yeah, me too. What do you need, Rome. I already gave Mom money.”
“Damn, man, can’t I just catch up with my lil’ brother before I get released?”
“It’s a parole hearing, Rome. You don’t know if you’re getting released, man. But, whatever, what did you want to catch up on?”
Roman grunted. “Same old impatient Christian, always wanting things on his terms.”
My jaw clenched as I looked up to the mirror, seeing my irritated expression in the glass.
“All right then, I’ll get right to the point,” he continued. “I know you’re busy with your little bar . Imma need you when I get out. I have some friends I need to see.”
I shook my head. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, little bro, I’m not joking. I’m starting to feel like you’ve forgotten where you’re from, and how you were able to get that little business of yours running.”
“Yeah, on my own, that’s how. Don’t call me for shit like that, Rome, and then attempt to threaten me . A lot has changed since you
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