Every Kind of Way

15.

The question was random but quite relevant to the moment.

"What?" he pulled back to look down at her.

"Teddy bear." she cheesed. "That's what you feel like and I like it. It feels very nice."

"You calling me fat?" he stepped back like he was offended. "We body shaming each other now? I ain't even do nothing."

Asha look at him, amused. "Now if you know like I know, you're one of the finest people walking this campus. Thick and all. Just wait until my turn and everything start going whomp, whomp, badum, dum."

"Aye man watch out." he laughed.

"I'm serious. We're gonna be thick as a team. But I feel like you'll always have more booty than me."

"Asha." he side-eyed her and sat down on the couch.

"What?" she put her hands on her hips. "You know you have a fat booty. I know you see it when you're naked in the bathroom. This is a safe space. You can talk about it."

"Come sit down and relax." he patted the seat beside him. "You on one right now."

"Because I'm pointing out the obvious? I guess." she sat down beside him and put her hands in her lap. "So what's the plan? We have a hour before I have to leave."

"There's no plan. I just wanted you to see you again. We can do something after you get off tonight."

"I can't. I have assignments to finish by midnight. This semester has been crazy and my internship makes it a little hard to stay on top of my planned work schedule."

"You work the weekends?"

"No. You wanna go to the art museum with me?" she grabbed his arm in excitement, remembering the plans she had. "I was gonna go Saturday evening then have some sushi but I think it'd be better if you came with me."

"It sounds like a self care day."

"Yeah, but I can set up another one. I want you to come with me."

"I missed how adorable you are." he smiled at her only for her smile to drop. He laughed knowing it was because he called her adorable. "But I'm down. As long as I don't bust my ass and you don't bust your lip I'm cool." he spread his arm along the back of the couch.

"Ahaha, you're the reason any of that happened last time so you make sure it doesn't happen. I still have a lil bruise from that day too. I've tried lip scrubs and everything to get it to go away. Your block head left permanent damage."

"Lemme see." he smacked his teeth in disbelief.

"I have lip gloss on so I don't know if you'll be able to see it." she pulled her lip to show him the faint bruising where the cut had been. "You see it?"

"Nah, you seeing stuff."

Asha looked up at him then smacked her teeth, "You don't even have your glasses on. Are your contacts in?"

"Hell nah." he laughed. "But you close enough for me to see and I don't see anything. Maybe it's a mind thing."

"Yeah okay." she did a slight eye roll then reached for the remote on the coffee table. She turned the tv on and clicked on the HBO Max app to watch an episode of Boondocks. The feel of eyes on her made her look at Sanchez. "What?"

"Who told you to cut that on? We were talking."

"The conversation had come to an end. You really want to sit here and talk for a hour?"

"You saying that like that ain't light work for you. But continue on with your show. I'ma just take my nap."

"That's fine."