Every Kind of Way

15.

"The pineapple? Yes, when my hair is curly but I haven't been wearing my curls so I scarf it when I feel like it." he made a face that made her smirk and say, "Is this a problem, sir?"

"Not at all Sideshow Bob."

She screamed out in laughter, "Fuck you okay? You have dreads so you can just go to sleep without doing a thing every night."

"And that's where you're wrong ma'am. I have a whole routine to keep my locs right."

"Well, excuse me!" she held her hands up. "You don't have class today?"

"Yeah, I came home to take a nap after practice but I'm lowkey tryna go back to sleep and say bump this class. I probably won't even miss anything with them extra long ass power-points she make."

"Is it just one class?" she put her focus back on the work she had been doing prior to his call.

"Yeah." he set his phone down and got up.

"Boy if you don't go down the road to that class. You'll be back in your bed in a hour."

"I'm not going. My mind is made. I'll wait til they text the sign in code in the chat then mark myself as present. What you gotta do today? You should come over here with me."

"I go to work in two hours and I won't be off until 6."

"That's enough time for you to come over here. All I need is a hour of your precious time." he returned to the phone. "Don't make me a beggar. We ain't hung in months, man."

"I forgot how clingy you are." she playfully rolled her eyes.

"So you gon' sit here and act like you don't want to see me? That's what you telling me? Cause I'll hang up."

"I...don't." he dramatically lifted his finger and smashed the end button. She fell back on her bed laughing.

She closed her laptop and grabbed her phone to call him back as she climbed from the bed. She let him know she was going to go over to his place like he wanted. Like she wanted. She did miss him but wanted to let him vocalize what he wanted from her before just throwing her ways of loving onto him. She knew she could be a lot when she liked someone and told herself she wasn't going to overwhelm him. He asked for patience so she was going to ease into it and keep the flow of their friendship for now.

She moved quickly, spraying her hair down with water, applying a moisturizer and gel then brushing her hair back in a low braided bun. The outfit she planned to wear to work was already ironed and on a hanger so she was able to save a good fifteen minutes. She got dressed in a black, high neck bodysuit and black cropped slacks. It took her another five minutes to organize her work tote with her folders and papers, but afterward she was out the door.

By time she made it to Sanchez's apartment complex she had a hour to spare — excluding the time it would take to drive to the label from his. She stood outside his door setting a timer for her to leave while waiting on him to open the door. The lock turned and she stuffed her phone in her tote bag already smiling and the door hadn't even opened yet. He immediately started laughing once he had the door open.

"Why are you laughing?" she walked in.

"Cause why you smiling so hard? Uh oh, look at you all business professional." he pushed the door shut.

"You like? Quick question tho. Do these pants make my butt look smushed? I feel like it does but I didn't have time to iron another pair." she turned while sitting her bag down. "Don't lie either. Be honest."

"It looks normal." he shrugged. She looked at him, not satisfied with his answer. "No, it doesn't look smushed, Asha."

"Okay." she nodded then turned around and opened her arms. It was now his turn to break out in a big grin. He wrapped her up in his arms and rocked them side to side. She could admit to missing his hugs the most. They were warm and comforting. "You wanna know what your name is in my phone?"