Page 230 of When a Soul Cries

“What happened?” she asked, studying my face.

“Business.”

Her brows drew together. “Bad?”

I hesitated.

“Could be.”

She glanced toward the house before looking back at me.

“Then go.”

“I’m walking you inside first.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Rome, I can walk twenty feet.”

“I know.”

“Then go.”

“After you’re inside.”

Sol stared at me.

I stared right back.

Finally, she rolled her eyes.

“You are so damn stubborn.”

I held my hand toward her.

“And you still standing out here arguing instead of walking.”

She sucked her teeth, but her fingers slipped into mine anyway.

A grin pulled at my mouth.

“See? Progress.”

“Shut up.”

We started toward the house together.

Halfway there, I looked down at her.

Her lips were swollen from kissing me, most of the gloss she’d put on earlier completely gone. A loose curl had fallen farther against her cheek, and her face was still flushed.

My eyes lingered.

Sol caught me.

“What?”

I looked ahead. “Nothing.”

Her eyes narrowed as she studied the side of my face.