Every Kind of Way

17.

"How you know if I was talking about you or somebody else. I didn't say any names." she perched an eyebrow.

"There's another he you could be talking about?" he paused his movements to look at her.

"Could there be? We never discussed whether we're going into this taking it slow thing exclusive or not."

Like the universe was trying to push an agenda, Sanchez's phone rang on the table. Both their eyes looked over at it to read an unsaved number on his screen. Sanchez quickly silenced the ringer. It made Asha looked at him funny but she chose not to say anything. It wasn't until the call ended and a text followed from the same number. His previews were off so she couldn't see what the text said but he obviously knew who the number belonged to. She didn't want to really react because she had been entertaining Trevon, but she knew Sanchez was doing more than that. He told her he was the fuck and go type so she knew whoever the girl was had been involved with him sexually. That was more than she could say about her and Trevon and that bothered her.

She put her eyes back on him and awaited an answer to her question. "I'm not talking to anybody else."

"Are you having sex with anybody?" it probably wasn't a proper question to ask in their stage but she didn't care.

Sanchez quickly frowned then laughed to himself. It made Asha tilt her head because the question wasn't funny to her but he was obviously amused. "Are you forreal, Asha?"

"It's a simple question."

"You think I'd be out here fucking when I'm intentionally tryna build something right here?" he screwed his face up.

"I don't know what you would do which is why I'm asking you. It's simply yes or no. I'm not tryna guilt trip or make it into anything. I'm tryna figure out where I stand and how to move."

"No. No, I'm not fucking anybody. Now what?" his response was laced with attitude.

Asha pursed her lips then nodded, turning back to her laptop without a word. She definitely felt a way about his tone and the 'now what' but she didn't want to argue. They hadn't argued before and she wasn't trying to see how that would play out so she was biting down on her tongue fairly hard.

From her peripheral she could see him shake his head as he tossed his notebook on the table. He made a noise with a soft chuckle but it wasn't a chuckle from amusement.

"You have more to say?" she typed. "Cause if you would like to say something to me you can speak up about it."

"You got your answer so you got it but I don't like my character being questioned. I ain't out here assuming you fucking on niggas so why I gotta be the one that's probably moving funny?"

"I'm not the one who's not into commitment. I want to be sure my heart isn't on the line for nothing. I'd rather ask directly so it's clear we're on the same page than to find out in a way I don't want to."

"So because I've chosen not to commit until now I'ma dirty ass nigga that'll be fucking on women behind your back? Even though I sat and told you I wanted to take it slow because I refuse to hurt you? Damn." he chuckled again.

"That's not what I'm saying—"

"Then what're you saying?" he interrupted.