Every Kind of Way

37.

After about a hour, he moved to the patio couch and ate one of the foil packs Asha made. He was impressed because it was flavorful and spicy. He'd never knowingly had her cooking so, it was knew for him and he liked it.

"So?" Asha's voice made him glance up to her climbing the steps and taking a seat on the couch, after placing a towel down.

"So?"

"How does it taste? Dallas liked it but you're over here in the corner quiet."

"Oh, I ain't mad at it at all. I ain't think the shrimp would be so spicy but it's good." he twirled his wrist and lowered his head for a bow.

"Thank you. Well, that's all I came over here for. I'll leave you to it." she started to get up.

"Hol' up. Sit back down for a minute." he stopped her from getting all the way up. She perched an eyebrow. "Why you be running from me when we at the house?"

"What?" she pushed back against the cushion, getting back comfy in the seat.

"Every time we're in the house you refuse to hold a conversation with me. You either move off to the side or go find Dallas. You be running from me."

"I'm not running from you. What, you want me under you the whole time?"

He leaned back against the couch, "Preferably. I might be reading it wrong but it feels like you're in and out. You're open but you're closed."

She stared at him for more of an explanation.

"You're talking and having a good time but you're not saying much of anything. I feel like we've just been talking about me. Nothing about you."

"Cause I feel like we're strangers. Familiar strangers. Like I know you and you know me but at the same time we don't know each other. I'm getting used to being in such close proximity to you again."

He said nothing for a moment then noticed her cross her arms over her chest and rub her arms, almost like she was hugging herself. He lowered himself in the cushion more.

"I get that. To me it just feel like you went on some long ass trip you not tryna tell me about. But it's been years of nothing between us so I get it. I guess it's just different for me cause you never really left my mind. You just weren't around."

"Four years is a long time for someone to just sit on your mind."

He shrugged, "You made a lasting impression."

"Eh...." she seemed doubtful of those words.

"You don't think so? You're the only person I've ever fallen in love with. That's not something to forget."

"Wow...." she chuckled, dropping her arms and looking else where for a couple seconds. "When did you start to be so expressive?"

"I'm interviewed damn near everyday. Don't worry, I still ain't got you beat."

"Tuh, could've fooled me. I'm not as talkative as college Asha. She liked to be heard and to overshare."

"I enjoyed it. You put majority of your thoughts out in the open."

"Well, now I like keeping things to myself. You're welcome to ask but I'm not volunteering anything."

"Why?" he frowned a bit. A world where Asha was reserved didn't sound fun. Her openness and will to make everything lively was her best traits.

"I felt like I was constantly exposing myself only for it all to be disregarded. It got exhausting. To be honest you played a part in it. You'd hear me then disregard it."