Page 30 of Trading In A Broken Heart

“I hate when you do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act like you can read my mind.”

I stood and gathered both plates. “I don’t read minds.”

“Then how do you know?”

I rinsed the dishes beneath the warm water. “’Cause I see you.” The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

The kitchen went still again. When I looked over my shoulder, Solei was already staring at me. It was as if she’d heard someone say that before. The moment lasted too long, so I broke it. “Go back to bed.”

She blinked. “What?”

“You look tired.”

“You kicking me out?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.”

I chuckled. “Good night, wifey.”

Her face twisted. “Savion.”

“Good night, wifey,” I repeated.

She rolled her eyes and slid off the stool. Halfway across the kitchen, she stopped. I pretended not to notice.

“Savion?”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for the food.”

I stared over at her. She was standing there in her pink robe, hair messy from sleep, looking softer than I’d ever seen her.

The exact reason I should’ve stayed away from her. Instead, I found myself saying the one thing I shouldn’t have. “Anytime, Solei.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and then she disappeared down the hallway.

I stayed in the kitchen long after she was gone. Staring at the empty doorway. Thinking about the smile she’d given me and realizing I was already in trouble. Somewhere between kidnapping her and protecting her, . . . I started looking forward to moments like this.

Solei was fine, and that was all that really mattered. That wasn’t to say that I could sit down and breathe just yet. The problem wasn’t handled, and it needed to be as soon as possible, because I was sick and tired of looking over my shoulder.

“You okay?” Jabari asked, breaking me from my thoughts. I almost forgot that I was on a date with him. I’d been so focused on Solei that I barely left any time for myself.

“Yeah,” I lied and took a sip from my drink. This date was supposed to take my mind off things. Instead, it was making matters worse.

“You sure? It doesn’t seem like it. If you want, I can just take you back to the house, and we can pick this up another time.”

“No.” I shook my head. I wasn’t about to hide out in the house ’til all of this was over.

“Okay.” Jabari went back to eating his food.

For the rest of the date, I tried to remain grounded in our conversation. Every time my phone vibrated, my heart dropped to my ass. I’d texted Solei earlier to check on her, but she had yet to respond. That girl was gon’ be the death of me.