So Different by Ruthie Robinson Page A

seem surprised to see him, and she was interested, he could tell.
    “So these came from boo,” he said, pointing to her bruises, reaching up to touch her cheek.
    “Casper!” Mariah shouted over her shoulder, startling him. His eyes locked on a very tall woman with dark chocolate brown skin, all of 250 pounds of solid muscle skating toward them.
    “Casper, say boo,” Mariah said.
    “Boo,” Casper said, smiling at him.
    “This here is Adam Barnett, or you can call him Junior D.D.S., the son of my dentist. I told him you gave me the bruises, which you did. Well, the new ones anyway,” Mariah said, with I told you so in her eyes. “You know how people are always mistaking me for trouble? This time I was the abused girlfriend,” she said, not breaking eye contact with Adam.
    He laughed at that and Casper tried to hide her grin. She turned to look at Mariah and lifted an eyebrow before skating away.
    “Your dad sent you?” she said, smiling like she had a secret, confirming his suspicions.
    “He knew, huh? I wondered.”
    “Set you up,” she said.
    “I was easy.”
    “Yes, you were. He called me after your first talk, wanting to make sure you hadn’t offended me, hoping to talk me down from cussing your ass out the next time I saw you. Instead, he suggested another alternative. I’m always up for alternatives,” she said, a spark in her eye as she laughed.
    He shrugged, his smile rueful.
    “You’re not bad as actresses go,” he said.
    “Like my skills, do you?” she said, sliding into his body again. She placed one arm around his waist, the other around his neck and gave off one long wail into his ear. “I don’t think I can leave her. She’s been so good to me,” she said into his ear, moving her shoulders up and down from laughter this time.
    He was caught off guard by her and moved his hands to her waist before he could think, laughing too. He cleared his throat again, watching as she pulled her face back to look into his eyes. Hers sparkled along with her nose stud. He felt himself relax, his limbs soften, his blood warmed. He was charmed and wished they were alone… so that he could do what?
    Her body felt good next to his. He gently pulled her in closer and something in the air between them changed, growing still. His smile fell away as he gazed into the eyes of Mariah of the tattoos and fire engine red hair. All that wasn’t as glaring as they’d once been.
    “So, no boo?” he asked quietly.
    “No boo,” she said, just as quiet.
    “Is female your preference?” he asked.
    “No,” she said, caught up in whatever this was.
    “Good,” he said, and smiled that dreamy smile. He bent his head to her ear. “Like what you did with your hand the last time you held me,” he whispered.
    She laughed to cover her awkwardness, not sure what to make of him now.
    “Hey, Adam, aren’t you going to introduce us?” Michael said, avidly watching the exchange between the two of them. As far as Adam and Mariah were concerned, they were alone. And so much for bringing Tiff along; she’d been standing beside him, watching. Adam seemed to be doing just fine on his own. Michael was still surprised, though. Mariah wasn’t really Adam’s type, but maybe something different would be excellent for putting the ex behind him.
    “My apologies,” Adam said, letting Mariah go. She stepped back, trying to hide her embarrassment.
    “Mariah, this is Michael, an old friend of mine from high school and then college. This is his date, Allison, and her cousin, Tiff.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Mariah said, noting that he hadn’t introduced Tiff as his date.
    “Nice to meet you, too,” the three of them said. The women’s greeting was a little cooler than Michael’s.
    “Interesting attire,” Adam said, returning to his newfound source of interest, looking her over again.
    “It is. Handmade by yours truly,” she replied, falling into a small curtsy, while giving him an even better view of her breasts. He