stared at her, daring her to get it out. If she did, it would mean she accepted Elliot in her life and would welcome nights when they spent time in each other’s bed. Well, his bed—maybe.
“Too complicated,” she moaned.
Giving into a moment of weakness, she removed the box from the trash and opened a drawer to dump it out of sight. There, now she didn’t have to think about it anymore. The next morning, she performed another act that would help her get back onto an even keel, she hoped. She checked the little stick again and sighed with relief. She wasn’t pregnant. Thank all that was good and right in the world. Amaya, the little scamp, was more than enough. With a little more effort, Charmaine could dismiss Elliot from her head and get back to life as usual.
Chapter Eight
The day was scorching. Even while Elliot wore shorts and a T-shirt sans the shoes, he still sweated when he walked downstairs to grab his mail. He knew he needed to go out to run a few errands, but the summer sun kept him in the A/C. Despite the hot day, he had an urge to have a little fun. Work could wait.
Charmaine hadn’t encouraged him at all, but he hadn’t given up on her. The fact that she wasn’t mad at his condom idea bolstered his hope. She would be his before long. He walked into his closet and pushed his feet into a pair of flip-flops then dug out a ball and a spray bottle. For a moment, he lamented the fact that he hadn’t moved into a building with a community pool. Maybe he should join the local rec center.
In the hall, he paused outside Charmaine’s place and rapped on the door. She answered right away, and he detected a note of excitement at seeing him. “I’m—” she began.
He cut her off. “I was wondering if you minded Amaya coming out to play.”
She frowned. “What are you five?”
“You could join us, but it’s up to you. The shading is just right in the quad that we won’t get burned to a crisp.”
She leaned against the door, and he noted the mini-sundress showing off her brown legs. A stirring of desire ignited in him, and he recalled those same legs wrapped around his waist. She had started something in him he couldn’t stop nor did he want to.
“Oh, I forgot you pale folk are so delicate,” she teased.
He smirked. “You look pretty delicate from here.” As he expected, she blushed and lowered her gaze. He enjoyed the view to his fill.
Thumping and bumping sounded behind her, and Amaya appeared. The T-shirt she wore sported a giraffe on the front, which matched her shorts. She was barefoot, and he had a different stirring seeing her. Affection. How he wished for a daughter like her, who he could spoil and tease. To hear his little girl call him daddy would be the highlight of his life.
“Hey, spud,” he said and tweaked her nose. “What do you think about going out to the quad with me? I’ve got snacks and a ball, and I happen to know the super leaves the hose unlocked sometimes. We might be able to splash around a little bit before we’re caught.”
Amaya squealed and jumped up and down. Charmaine put her hand on her hip. “You’re teaching her to break the law?”
“Come on. It’s not broken until you’re caught.”
“Elliot!”
He laughed. “I’m kidding. I got permission actually.”
She gave him a doubtful look, but he wasn’t lying. Since he had been spending time with Amaya, Charmaine hadn’t mentioned her getting into trouble stealing. Then again, Charmaine might have hidden it from him. He was pretty sure she didn’t like him to know when she felt she failed at being a mother. She was doing a great job as far as he was concerned.
Amaya hung onto Charmaine’s arm.
“Fine. Go. But not too long, and try not to get her hair wet, Elliot. I don’t feel like fighting with it.”
“I’ll help you with it if I do.”
“Just be careful.”
“Maybe we should pin it up.” When she hesitated, he stepped past her into the apartment. Elliot ignored the
“Too complicated,” she moaned.
Giving into a moment of weakness, she removed the box from the trash and opened a drawer to dump it out of sight. There, now she didn’t have to think about it anymore. The next morning, she performed another act that would help her get back onto an even keel, she hoped. She checked the little stick again and sighed with relief. She wasn’t pregnant. Thank all that was good and right in the world. Amaya, the little scamp, was more than enough. With a little more effort, Charmaine could dismiss Elliot from her head and get back to life as usual.
Chapter Eight
The day was scorching. Even while Elliot wore shorts and a T-shirt sans the shoes, he still sweated when he walked downstairs to grab his mail. He knew he needed to go out to run a few errands, but the summer sun kept him in the A/C. Despite the hot day, he had an urge to have a little fun. Work could wait.
Charmaine hadn’t encouraged him at all, but he hadn’t given up on her. The fact that she wasn’t mad at his condom idea bolstered his hope. She would be his before long. He walked into his closet and pushed his feet into a pair of flip-flops then dug out a ball and a spray bottle. For a moment, he lamented the fact that he hadn’t moved into a building with a community pool. Maybe he should join the local rec center.
In the hall, he paused outside Charmaine’s place and rapped on the door. She answered right away, and he detected a note of excitement at seeing him. “I’m—” she began.
He cut her off. “I was wondering if you minded Amaya coming out to play.”
She frowned. “What are you five?”
“You could join us, but it’s up to you. The shading is just right in the quad that we won’t get burned to a crisp.”
She leaned against the door, and he noted the mini-sundress showing off her brown legs. A stirring of desire ignited in him, and he recalled those same legs wrapped around his waist. She had started something in him he couldn’t stop nor did he want to.
“Oh, I forgot you pale folk are so delicate,” she teased.
He smirked. “You look pretty delicate from here.” As he expected, she blushed and lowered her gaze. He enjoyed the view to his fill.
Thumping and bumping sounded behind her, and Amaya appeared. The T-shirt she wore sported a giraffe on the front, which matched her shorts. She was barefoot, and he had a different stirring seeing her. Affection. How he wished for a daughter like her, who he could spoil and tease. To hear his little girl call him daddy would be the highlight of his life.
“Hey, spud,” he said and tweaked her nose. “What do you think about going out to the quad with me? I’ve got snacks and a ball, and I happen to know the super leaves the hose unlocked sometimes. We might be able to splash around a little bit before we’re caught.”
Amaya squealed and jumped up and down. Charmaine put her hand on her hip. “You’re teaching her to break the law?”
“Come on. It’s not broken until you’re caught.”
“Elliot!”
He laughed. “I’m kidding. I got permission actually.”
She gave him a doubtful look, but he wasn’t lying. Since he had been spending time with Amaya, Charmaine hadn’t mentioned her getting into trouble stealing. Then again, Charmaine might have hidden it from him. He was pretty sure she didn’t like him to know when she felt she failed at being a mother. She was doing a great job as far as he was concerned.
Amaya hung onto Charmaine’s arm.
“Fine. Go. But not too long, and try not to get her hair wet, Elliot. I don’t feel like fighting with it.”
“I’ll help you with it if I do.”
“Just be careful.”
“Maybe we should pin it up.” When she hesitated, he stepped past her into the apartment. Elliot ignored the
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