"Aw come on. You know I'd wake up for you."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you."
"No, I shouldn't have. I thought you were sleeping."
"I want you to come back here tonight and please take the key. I keep leaving it out for you. I don't like you having to stay with her and God help me if I find out you're going back to that damn shelter."
"I'll come get you myself if you don't get your ass over here tonight."
"I got a game tonight. You want to come? I promise to leave with you after."
"Okay fine. But come here. If you need rest so badly before class tomorrow then get your sexy ass over here and go to bed. I promise not to stink tonight."
Cage chuckled and hung up the phone.
"That girl's gonna drive me nuts, I swear." I glanced up from my computer screen. Cage was pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Did she get some coffee before she left?"
"Yeah, she did."
He nodded and leaned back against the counter.
"She look upset or tired?"
She looked defeated but I didn't want to tell him that. Not because I was worried about him but I didn't think she'd want me to point out that observation.
"She seemed fine."
I thought about the part of his phone conversation where he'd brought up a shelter. My insides cringed at the thoughts of Will ow sleeping at a shelter.
"What did you mean about her going to a shelter?" Cage cursed and shook his head, "That sister of hers is mean as hell. She's basically kicked Low out. I didn't know about it at first. I found out she was sleeping at a church in town that had some kind of homeless shelter. I was so f**king furious I could've killed her sister with my bare hands."
"Where does she live then?" I had a feeling I wasn't going to like this answer but I needed to know.
"On the days she keeps her niece her sister lets her stay the night. The rest of the time she comes here. I tried to move her into the room you're staying in several times but she refuses. Says she can't handle my life style full time.
The only reason I didn't press it is because I'd end up losing her. She'd see what a chicken shit I really am and I'd lose her. I can't lose her."
The guy was really screwed up. How did he think he was really in love with Will ow if he couldn't even stop screwing every chick with a pair of long legs and fake tits in order to take care of her and keep her safe?
"I see," I replied even though I didn't.
Cage chuckled and sat his coffee cup down. "Naw, I doubt you see at all."
I didn't respond because he was right.
The knock on the door startled me even though I'd been anticipating it for hours. Ever since Cage told me to expect Will ow around seven tonight, I'd been surprisingly anxious.
I'd have Will ow to myself. Even though I knew it wasn't wise I was looking forward to it. She fascinated me.
"Hey Marcus," she smiled up at me as I opened the door wide and stood back so she could step inside.
"Hey yourself."
"I hope I'm not interrupting your night. You can just ignore me and go about whatever you were doing. I'll even hide out in Cage's room if you prefer privacy or anything." No way.
"No, uh, I actually need some company. I've been working on getting my online courses set up. I need a break and an actual conversation."
She beamed and both dimples flashed at me.
"Oh good! I brought a DVD I rented from the Red Box and some supplies for a homemade pizza." She held up the large canvas shopping tote in her hand. Clinched in her other hand was the handle on the old suitcase. My stomach twisted at the thought of her having to carry her things around with her. And the fact such a small suitcase held all she owned. My sister's swimsuit collection wouldn't even fit in that thing.
"That sounds perfect."
"How good are you at chopping veggies?" I pushed up my sleeves and flexed my arm, "I've actually had some pretty good experience."
She laughed making me feel like I'd just moved a mountain instead of agreeing to chop vegetables for her.
I followed her into the kitchen and enjoyed the view of her backside. Tonight she hadn't covered those incredible legs with jeans. A pair of khaki shorts and a snug red tank top showcased her flawless peaches and cream skin. And that hair of hers was hanging down her back free of its pony tail.
The silky waves seemed almost unreal.
"Okay, I know there is a decent knife in one of these drawers because I brought one over a couple weeks ago.
You go on a scavenger hunt for it and a cutting board and I'll get the veggies washed."
I started looking for the knife while attempting to keep the goofy grin off my face.
"How old is your niece?" I was determined to find out more about her tonight. The girl was an enigma. She glanced back over her shoulder and smiled at me, "She turned one last month."
I opened a drawer to find the missing knife wedged between two koozies.
"Found it."
"Oh good. Here, start slicing up the mushrooms," she said nodding her head toward the mushrooms lying on the towel still damp from her cleaning them.
"Yes ma'am."
"So, how do you like living with Cage? I mean you two are absolutely nothing alike from what I can tell." What did she mean by that exactly? Not that I was upset she didn't think I was a player but she obviously held Cage in some sort of high regard.
"He's a nice guy. Rarely here. It's been easy to find quiet time for my online classes."
"Cage can't stay put long. He needs to be social. He's always been that way. When we were kids he was always on the go. So many nights he snuck in my window because he'd stayed out too late and his mom had locked him out." I couldn't comprehend a parent locking their kid out of the house because they'd missed curfew. My parents were always standing at the door pacing ready to unleash their punishment if I came home late.