Page 51 of Tension

She liked this shit.

Alana kept talking while Chris caught her breath. I reached for the bread basket, the one just for us, tore off a piece, buttered it with the same hand, and brought it to my mouth. Making sure to lick each finger. Chris watched me with glassy eyes. Lust thick in her gaze.

“Damn, nigga, you gon’ bite your fingers off,” Dom said, laughing.

“I’m very hungry,” I said, not taking my eyes off Chris.

Outside the restaurant, the night air was just cool enough to feel good on my skin. Alana was cracking up at something Chris said. Chris was smiling too, all calm confidence as she handed over her phone so Alana could punch in her number.

Watching them was... nice.

Dom bumped my shoulder. A look passed between us, and he nodded toward the side. I hesitated for a second, eyes still on Chris. She glanced over and gave me a small smile.

We barely made it a few steps before he hit me with, “Did you finger that girl under the table?”

I froze. “Yo, what?” I said with false outrage.

He stared at me like he already knew the answer.

“Wow,” I said, doing my best to sound offended. “Is that really who you think I am?”

Dom said nothing. Just waited.

I smirked. “My fingers never went inside her.”

He blinked once. Looking at me with proud eyes and fake surprise. I laughed.

“I thought we were discreet.”

He looked at me like, really, and I shrugged. “Now I'm going to have to eat my wife out during Thanksgiving just to one-up you.” Dom shook his head, chuckling.

“So that’s you, huh?” he asked.

Chris and I hadn’t labeled shit; the answer still came easy.

I nodded. “Yeah. That’s me. Just... wrong time type shit.”

“Type shit,” he repeated with a low laugh.

We both laughed after that. I let out a long breath. “I ain’t gon’ lie. I’m on my way. Like... emotionally. To being ready for her. For the real shit. But I don’t know how long it’s gonna take for her to be ready for me.”

Dom didn’t crack a joke this time. Didn’t smile either. “She already is,” he said. “She just doesn't know it yet. Don’t pressure her. You show up. You stay solid. She trusts you, man. That girl loves you. Even if she ain’t said it yet.”

His words hit harder than I expected. I looked out at the street. Thought about Chris. All the moments we had shared. The way she opened up without even realizing she was doing it.

“Shit,” I said finally. “I may love her, too.”

Dom clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Then don’t fuck it up.”

I didn’t say anything. Just looked at her and let my heart pound like it had something to prove. Then I walked over, opened the passenger door, and helped her in.

“So your college girlfriend spread rumors that you were abusive because you cheated on her?” Chris asked, her voice sharp with outrage.

“Alana talks too much,” I responded.

“I’m not saying she’s right, but why cheat on her? You could’ve just broken up with her.”

“You’re right. That’s why I haven’t had a girl since.” I shrugged. “I mean, in college I was young, spent my freshman and sophomore year with her. I wanted freedom; I just didn’t know what that looked like.”