Chapter 21

𝙻𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚢𝚗

Taking a walk in the forest during the evening was not my idea of a good time. Not even a little bit. Every twig snap had me reconsiderin’ all my life choices up until this point. The sun was dippin’, the shadows were gettin’ longer, But of course, everybody had run out of ideas on what to do out here. We were too far from the city for anything fun, and camping? Oh, please. Nobody here had the survival skills or the patience for that.

So here we were, in the woods. For no damn reason.

I let out a dramatic huff, bendin’ over with my hands on my knees like I had just finished training for the Olympics instead of walkin’ on a dirt path that was practically flatter than a pancake. “Yeah… Wrap it up,” I muttered, out of breath, already irritated at the concept of nature.

Aries stopped ahead of me, glancin’ back while everyone else kept walkin’ like they had somewhere important to be. “We’ve been out here for an hour, Lo,” she turned around and laughed.

I straightened up slowly, cuttin’ my eyes at her. “The last time I did this kinda labor, I was sixteen, workin’ two jobs to help my dad.” I huffed, dustin’ my hands off.

She hummed, then turned around and dropped down to one knee, her arms reachin’ back behind her.

“Get on my back.”

I halted for just a second, then immediately walked over like I had zero shame.

I climbed onto her back, wrappin’ my arms around her neck while her hands slid under my thighs, liftin’ me up like it was light work. I let out a satisfied sigh, restin’ my head against hers.

“This is mad high…” I giggled softly, adjustin’ myself as she stood fully upright.

She chuckled, and I felt it vibrate through her back into my chest.

“You smell good too,” I muttered without thinkin’, my voice low against her skin.

She hummed. “Thank you. So do you, mama.”

And just like that, my face heated up for no reason at all, so I buried it into the crook of her neck and shoulder like hiding would fix it.

“Londyn, seriously!?” Khalil called out from ahead, offended by the fact that I upgraded my transportation.

I lifted my head just enough to smirk at him.

Lowkey? This was a bonus. Between the bugs, the random webs, and whatever else was crawlin’ around out here, I had zero regrets. I had seen at least ten spiders in the past hour, and I knew they had friends. Fast ones too.

Yeah, no. I’m definitely stayin’ right here. The only problem was that we hadn’t said anything about yesterday. Not a single word. And honestly, I was committed to ignorin’ it like it never happened.

We were high. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it. Imani and Britney had already been runnin’ their mouths ’bout me being Aries’ “type,” and I was choosin’ peace.

But still, that moment in the pool? The way we were that close?

If Essence hadn’t shown up…If she was even two seconds later…? We would’ve kissed. I know we would’ve, but I’m blaming it on the high. Definitely.

“Thanks for yesterday,” Aries said quietly.

I lifted my head, my brows furrowin’. “For what?”

“You let me know you wasn’t finna push me away.”

I didn’t respond right away. I just leaned into her a little more, breathin’ her in like that would help me process what she meant.

By the time we caught up with the group, Essence immediately started talkin’. And not just talking—interrogating. Like a damn detective.

“What type of ice cream do you like, Aries?” she asked, way too eager.

I didn’t even think. “She likes cookies and cream,” I cut in, quick and adamant.

Essence’s smile fell in a heartbeat. She sped ahead without another word, and Aries and I both turned our heads to look at each other before I let out a small laugh.

“She’s probably mad we almost kissed—”

I froze, my entire body goin’ stiff against her back as I just caught myself slippin’.

Aries stopped walking for a split second too, clearin’ her throat before continuing, just slower now.

Fuck… I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

“Right…Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have—”

“We can talk about it in the car,” I cut in quickly, my cheeks burnin’ as I buried my face back into her neck.

We reached the group again, and Khalil suddenly groaned loud as hell. “Hell nah, it’s gettin’ late and I needa fuckin’ piss,” he said, lookin’ around.

I rolled my eyes. “Course you do.”

“Same…” Aries added, and I lifted my head to look at her like you too??

“Okay, can we all hurry back?” I said quickly. “I’m getting cold anyway. And Aries said she needa piss.”

Essence rolled her eyes. “We didn’t even stay here for long.”

I leaned my head back against Aries’ shoulder, already over it. “Yeah, well, Aries and Khalil need to pee, so—”

“I can’t wait??” Khalil cut in, already walkin’ off. “I’m ’bouta find a bush.

Before I could say anything else, Aries’ hands slipped from under my thighs, and I let out an immediate groan as she carefully set me down.

“You can get back on when I’m done,” she said calmly, already walkin’ off in the opposite direction.

My brows shot up. “You’re gonna squat!? In those bushes!?” I called after her, half horrified, half impressed.

She didn’t even turn around.

Imani slid up beside me, already laughin’ under her breath like she’d been waiting to get me alone while Britney was off in her own little artistic universe, crouchin’ at different angles takin’ pictures of leaves, sticks, probably air particles at this point. And Essence? She attached herself to Britney, because apparently being in my vicinity was a moral offense now, as if I’m out here ruinin’ the air quality or sumn.

But honestly? That feels like a her‑issue. I’m not takin’ that on today.

“So…” Imani nudged my elbow, draggin’ the word out like she was about to start sumn messy.

I huffed immediately. “No. We ain’t kiss,” I said low, already knowin’ where this was going. “We… almost did though.”

Her face lit up like I just pulled out her favorite candy. “I mean… you can still kiss on the way back?” she teased, and I rolled my eyes.

“It was a mistake. We were both high…” I muttered, crossin’ my arms.

She hummed, very much unconvinced, her expression screaming girl please.

“I did say she been looking at you differently lately,” she added, a little more serious now. “It’s ain’t the same as when I first met her, Londyn.”

I side-eyed her. “That ain’t—”

“We should play a prank on Khalil and Chelsea.”

I stopped mid-sentence. When Essence walked over right when we were talking about somethin’ that didn’t involve her.

Britney followed behind her with a tired sigh, like she already knew this was about to be some nonsense.

“Ion think that’s—” I started, already ready to shut it down.

“—I think. We leave them and one of us drops something we’re wearin’ behind to scare them,” Essence continued like she was pitchin’ a billion-dollar idea.

I stared at her. Real long before my face scrunched up automatically like, be serious right now.

I shook my head slowly, already disassociating from the plan, but Imani just shrugged like she was considering it.

“Imani, seriously!?” I whipped my head toward her..

“He’s lowkey been eatin’ all the snacks,” she shrugged.

I let out a sigh.

And somehow—some fucking how—Essence ended up takin’ full control of the prank like she was movie director. And guess who got casted as the sacrifice?

Me. Because apparently almost kissing someone she is NOT dating is a punishable offense now.

She literally tussled with me, like physically fought me to get my shoes off.

And now? Now I’m barefoot in the woods like a lost spirit with no direction, just wanderin’.

The dirt crunched under my pure white socks—white that used to be clean, mind you—

I let out a harsh huff, already irritated beyond repair.

“This bitch is whack,” I muttered under my breath, steppin’ carefully before sumn either stabbed me in my damn foot or bit me.

But then something moved.

On my leg.

I froze, then immediately lost every ounce of composure I had left.

“AH—!” I screamed, smackin’ at my leg, my arms flailing as I shook like I was fightin’ for my life. I bolted in a random direction, no thoughts. Just straight instinct.

‘Cause who the hell do I look like dying tonight in a forest? 

Not I??

I bolted through branches, twigs, everythin’, until I suddenly ran straight into somethin’ solid, stumblin’ back before a pair of hands caught me by my arms, steadying me.

“What is you screaming for?” her voice came, calm and slightly confused.

My eyes burned instantly, the corners already stingin’ as I clutched onto her without thinkin’.

“…Something fuckin’ touched me,” I said, voice a little shaky, because absolutely not.

This ain’t for me.

“On top of that, that bit—” I started, already heated, but Aries cut me a look that shut me right up mid-rant. Nothing crazy, but enough to say breathe first, talk second.

I huffed anyway, grippin’ my wrist tight like I needed somethin’ to hold onto other than her. “She wanted to pull this prank on Chelsea and Khalil, and now I have no shoes. And—”

“Mama, slow down,” she said, her voice low and steady.

My throat burned tryna get everythin’ out at once, my words trippin’ over each other. “Aries… I’m cold and I just wanna go back,” I admitted, my grip tightenin’ again without me realizing.

Before I could say anything else, she pulled her hoodie off and carefully dropped it over my head, pullin’ it down around me. The warmth hit instantly, and I swear my entire body unclenched just a little.

“Aight, let’s go. I’ll message them when we in the car,” she said, like it was already handled.

Then she lifted me, just like that. No hesitation. My arms wrapped around her neck automatically, legs hookin’ around her as her hands settled under my thighs, holdin’ me up.

“I don’t know how you like someone who’s mean as fuck,” I muttered into her shoulder, still cold, and still pissed ’bout  the principle of the situation.

She chuckled, the sound rumbling through her chest into mine. “I’ve told you a couple times now that I don’t like her or Whitney,” she said softly.

I hummed, unconvinced.

“And then you asked me like five more times this mornin’,” she added, laughin’ under her breath.

I grumbled, reachin’ behind to pinch the nape of her neck lightly. “Maybe I wanna get to know you,” I shot back with an eye roll.

I rested my head against her shoulder after that, eyes closin’ for a second.

It was dark, my socks were ruined, I was cold, overstimulated, annoyed… yet somehow, bein’ right here with her made everything feel quieter. Calmer.

“You know me quite well, to be honest,” she said after a beat.

I hummed softly, holdin’ onto her a little tighter. “More than anyone?” I asked, softer this time, like I wasn’t even tryna hide it this time.

She paused for half a second. “For the most part, yeah.”

I smiled softly, hidin’ my face in the crook of her neck.

She carried us through the rest of the forest, steady steps, and not one complaint. When we finally reached the car, the second we got in, I yanked my dirty socks off with a harsh huff and tossed them aside.

Before Aries could even start the car, I climbed straight into her lap.

“What is it?” she chuckled, clearly not surprised.

I ignored the question, pressin’ my face into the neck of her hoodie she gave me, breathin’ her scent from the hoodie like that was the solution to all my problems.

My head rested on her shoulder like I had no intention of moving.

“I’ma go get us some food,” she said softly.

I glanced up at her just enough to speak, my voice muffled against the fabric. “Do drive-thru.”

She nodded, waitin’ for me to get off her lap.

“Do you get clingy when you’re overwhelmed or sumn?” she teased, her voice light.

I pulled back just enough to glare at her. “Be quiet,” I huffed.

“Aight,” she said softly, adjustin’ me in her lap instead of arguin’, one hand steady on my side as she started the car.

“Don’t make this a habit though, it ain’t safe to drive like this,” she added, real calm, real reasonable.

I leaned into her anyway as she pulled out.  ‘Cause that ain’t my problem.

She hit up a drive-thru, ordered my favorite without even askin’, grabbed my drink too, then parked somewhere quiet.

We moved to the backseat, eatin’ like it was our own little bubble away from reality.

I chewed slowly for a second before speakin’ again. “Does it bother you that I can get like that?” I asked, glancin’ at her. “I don’t mean to be overbearing or nun, I just—”

She ain’t even let me finish, she just shoved a fry straight into my mouth.

“No, it doesn’t bother me,” she said, softer than I’d ever heard her. “You’re comfortable. That’s all that matters.”

My face heated up instantly, and I nodded, chewin’ slowly like I needed time to process that.

“I hate when I am…” I started, trailin’ off. “When I’m comfortable.”

She raised a brow slightly.

“I get mad annoying and care too much—”

“You’re annoying already—”

My jaw dropped.

I didn’t even hesitate, pinchin’ her arm hard while she laughed. “In a good way,” she added quickly, her smile softenin’ as she looked at me.

I rolled my eyes, grabbin’ a fry and holding it up to her lips.

“Here…” I mumbled.

She paused, then gently held my wrist, leanin’ in to take a bite from it. “Thank you, mama,” she husked.

And just like that, my ears went hot. I really wanted her to shut up. So damn bad…But at the same time? I really didn’t anymore…

“I’ll talk to Essence,” she said, calm and steady, like she ain’t just casually offerin’ to step into a situation that could very easily turn into a whole situation.

I huffed immediately, shakin’ my head before she could even finish forming the idea fully. “Don’t want me to?” she added, tiltin’ her head a little, watchin’ me like she already knew my answer but wanted to hear me say it anyway.

I shook my head again, slower this time, my voice dropping. “No… not tonight. I just…” I trailed off, because saying it out loud felt a lil’ too real and a lil’ too needy for my likin’.

“Need me?” she finished for me, real soft, like she wasn’t tryna press me but still hit the target dead center anyway.

I clicked my tongue and looked away. “sumn like that, nigga…” I muttered, clearin’ my throat.

She didn’t make a big deal out of it though. She just pulled me over onto her lap like it was the most natural thing in the world, like I belonged there or something, like my attitude ain’t mean shit when it came to this. and I hated how easy it was to melt into it.

“Which pair of shoes?” she asked, fingers already slidin’ into my hair, slow and careful before she started gently massaging my scalp as if she knew exactly where the tension was.

I hummed softly without thinkin’, leaning into her touch like I had no self-respect left whatsoever. “Doesn’t matter anymore,” I muttered, jaw tightenin’ again as the reminder hit. But it was slipping through my fingers the longer she touched me like that.

She sighed softly like she knew I was frontin’, and I turned my head to look at her, realizin’ just how close we were again. Like, stupid close. The kind of close where breathing feels loud and everything slows down.

Lately, it had been way too easy to end up like this. Like the space between us decided to disappear permanently without askin’ me first.

My eyes dropped to her lips for a second before I could stop myself, my eyes flicking back up to her eyes.

I leaned in, slow, like I was testin’ the waters instead of divin’ head first like I usually do with everythin’ else in life. My heart was beating stupid loud too, like it was tryna snitch on me.

I wanted to do it. Real bad.

Her hand came up to my neck, gentle, steady, and I grabbed her wrist before things could go any further, my brain finally decidin’ to clock back in and ruin the moment like a hatin’ ass bitch.

Because if we did this now? There wasn’t no excuses. No “we were high,” no “it just happened.” This would be intentional. Real. And that thought? Yeah, no. That scared the hell outta me. ‘Cause this had my self-control hangin’ on by a thread.

I swallowed, my thoughts running laps. I didn’t care that she worked for my dad. I didn’t care that she was my bodyguard. I didn’t even care that she was a girl either, none of that, and that realization alone should’ve had me spiralin’ a little harder than it did.

What I really cared about was what would happen after. ‘Cause the other side of me was loud too, whispering all them annoying little what-ifs.

What if this went left?

What if I messed this up like I do everything else?

What if this was the one time I actually picked right… but still find a way to ruin it?

And right when my brain decided to be dramatic and all philosophical like it was writin’ a fuck-ass documentary, there was a sharp knock on the window.

Both of us snapped our heads toward the sound like we just got caught doing somethin’ illegal, even though we were just… chattin’.

“Shit,” she muttered under her breath, and I quickly climbed off her like I wasn’t just two seconds away from making a life-alterin’ decision in the backseat of her car.

She scrambled toward the driver’s seat, tryna look all normal, which was hilarious because neither of us looked normal at all right now. I pinched the bridge of my nose, already annoyed as another knock hit the window like God really said, “Yeah, y’all not finishing that.”

Aries rolled the window down, her voice steady. “Sorry, sir.”

The cop leaned in, glancin’ around like he was inspecting a crime scene instead of two people minding their business. “You can’t be parked here at this time.”

She checked the time and cursed under her breath, noddin’ like she wasn’t ’bout to argue with him. Smart. Very smart. Couldn’t be me though.

He nodded, then pointed at me.

Yeah… I already didn’t like where this was going.

Aries sighed and lowered the back window, and he leaned down, smilin’ like we were cool or sumn.

My face stayed blank. Flat. No conversation, no cooperation, nothin’. I don’t do cops. Not today, not ever. This nigga could be workin’ with Jalen for all I know. Ion trust nobody with a badge and a tone.

“What’s your name, Darlin’?” he asked.

I blinked at him like he just asked me for my social security number and my childhood trauma in the same sentence.

“Okay, she doesn’t speak,” he chuckled, and I let out a small huff because sir… don’t get comfortable?

Then he pointed at me again like I was an object, and I saw Aries’ jaw tighten just a little.

“Is there anything you need from my girlfriend, sir?” she said, voice steady, but that word?

Girlfriend.

Excuse me????

My eyes went wide so fast I almost gave myself a damn headache. My heart? That shit lost all sense of direction. Just runnin’. Sprintin’. Doing track and field in my chest like it was tryna get to the finish line.

The cop cleared his throat, suddenly less chatty. “No. You free to go.”

Yeah, that’s what I thought. Move.

He walked off, and Aries rolled the windows back up, the car fillin’ with this weird quiet that felt louder than anythin’ we’ve said or done earlier.

“Come to the front, mama,” she said softly, like none of that just happened.

I didn’t even argue. I just got out and walked around, tryna act normal, but my face was still warm. The moment I got in, she reached for my hand, her thumb brushin’ over it slow, groundin’, like she knew I needed it even if I wasn’t ’bout to admit that out loud.

And the worst part?

I liked it. All of it.

The drive back was quiet, but nowhere near uncomfortable. It was just full. Like we both had things to say but we was choosin’ not to mess it up yet. Her hand stayed in mine the whole time. She didn’t let go, her thumb tracin’ lazy patterns against my skin like we had all the time in the world.

Once we got back, the house was loud, everybody in the livin’ room eating like they hadn’t seen food in years. Their heads turned the second we walked in, their eyes droppin’ straight to our hands.

I dropped hers quick, like it burned me, and Imani looked away so fast. Her jaw droppin’ like someone blew out her birthday candles.

“Y’all back late as hell,” Khalil pointed out, chewin’ quickly.

“We stopped for food,” I said, keepin’ it simple. Extremely simple, like my heart ain’t still doin’ gymnastics.

“And more it seems,” Britney added, real slick, and I rolled my eyes so hard. Khalil and Imani started cacklin’ like they just watched a comedy rerun.

“Fuck all of you.”

I didn’t wait for a response, already headin’ toward my room before they could start connectin’ dots that didn’t need to be connected.