03

CHAPTER THREEclover's pov

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five weeks later..

I'VE BEEN AVOIDING DANESHA AT ALL COSTS. I knew that wasn't the smartest idea. But every time I looked at ha, all I could see was Adonis and that night. And I'd rather not think about that lil boy at all. Avoiding her, though, ain't work the way I wanted it to.

"Yeo, Nesh, I'm outside. Open the door," I said, turning off my car and looking at my phone. Nesha, Brooklyn, and I were on a Group FaceTime, talking 'bout having a girls' night. She swore up and down Adonis wasn't gon' be here, and I was relieved, so I told her I'd come. I ain't tryna be nowhere near him, not after everything.

"Okayyy," Danesha cheesed, her face damn near in the camera with her sparkly red bonnet on. "I'm on the way."

I nodded, told Brooklyn bye, then hung up. I had on something comfortable—a baby pink sweater that hung off the shoulder and some off-black leggings that hugged me just right, keeping me warm in this disrespectful-ass winter weather. Black Crocs on my feet, 'cause who wearing real shoes if they ain't gotta? My natural hair was out per usual, curls sitting pretty in my medium-sized Afro. I ain't no baldheaded bitch, ya heard.

I grabbed the bag with the snacks and stepped out the car, my breath damn near visible in the cold air. I hated winter, forreal. The cold ain't never been my friend.

Before I could even get to the door, it swung open.

"Heyyy, pookie! I missed you!" Nesha yelled, pulling me into a tight-ass bear hug, rocking me side to side like she was tryna crack my back. She smelled like vanilla and some type of fruity body butter—probably that one she always talking about from TikTok.

I could hear the smile in her voice, but for some reason, my stomach twisted up. I could throw up all over again just thinking about... everything that went down.

I wonder if he ever thinks about that night.

"I missed you too, Nesh," I mumbled, pulling away before she could say something about how I wasn't hugging her back right. I held up the bag. "We should have girls' night more often. I brought queso dip and chips."

"Oop, say less! You know that's my fav," she said, grabbing the bag out my hand like she was starving. "Come on, Brooklyn already inside setting up the movie. We watching some corny rom-com, but we got wine, so it don't even matter."

I chuckled, stepping inside and kicking the door shut behind me. Warmth hit me instantly, and the smell of something sweet lingered in the air—probably some candles Nesha lit to be aesthetic.

Maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad. Maybe I could pretend, just for a little while, that Adonis and that night never happened.

Maybe. Because that's all I've been thinking about these past few days.

Brooklyn was sprawled out on the couch, bonnet on, hoodie oversized, scrolling through the TV. "Finally! Y'all was takin' forever. I already picked a movie, so don't start with the complaints."

"What we watching?" I asked, flopping onto the couch next to her.

Brooklyn smirked. "Some old rom-com where the girl mad dramatic and the guy a walking red flag but she fall for him anyway."

"So, all of 'em?" I laughed, grabbing a blanket and pulling it over me.

"Exactly," she said, pouring us each a glass of wine like we was grown-grown.

Nesha plopped down on the other side of me, opening the queso like she was on a mission. "I ain't eat all day, so if y'all want some, speak now or forever hold your peace."

I rolled my eyes. "Girl, just pass me the chips."

The movie started playing, but my mind wasn't all the way there. The laughter, the warmth, the comfort of being with my girls—it shoulda been enough to drown out the thoughts creeping in. But they was still there, lurking in the back of my mind like a shadow I couldn't shake.

Adonis. That night.

The way my heart felt like it was tryna escape my chest. The way his voice still echoed in my head sometimes. The way I swore I'd forget, but it ain't never go away.

I sighed, shaking my head and taking a sip of wine.

Not tonight. I wasn't letting that boy ruin tonight.

"Pass me the remote." I hold my hand out, and Brooklyn passes it. I turn up the volume and set the remote beside me. I just like holding it—I couldn't even tell anybody why, for real.

As the movie keeps playing, we all over the place—laughing, reminiscing about old memories, just all in all enjoying ourselves.

Now this is what I came for. I get comfortable on the couch, curl myself up a little, drape one of the blankets Nesha keeps around, and lean my head against the seat, just listening to my homegirls and laughing.

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

I wake up to Brooklyn's excessive snoring. It sound like a damn siren going off for the end of the world—loud and psychotic. I stretch and let my eyes adjust. Nesha is knocked out under Brook, both of them curled up together.

They heavy sleepers, so when I quietly get off the couch and make my way upstairs to the bathroom to take a shower, I already know they ain't hearing nothin.

But when I open the door, my eyes damn near bulge out of my head, my breath got caught in my throat, and my knees damn near buckled.

Adonis was just standing there in the shower, water dripping down every inch of his toned-ass body, hand wrapped slow around his dick like he had all the time in the world. Like I wasn't standing here, eyes wide as hell, legs squeezed so tight I could feel my pussy havin a heartbeat of her own.

His smirk deepened, his voice felt like it was vibrating through me. "Damn, ma, you just gon' stand there gawkin'?" His voice was all smoke and arrogance, laced with that same damn energy that had me fucked up in the first place.

I blinked. Swallowed. Tried to move. But my feet? Yeah, them shits wasn't cooperating. My brain was screaming at me—But my body? Whole other story for real.

I bit my lip hard, like pain could snap me out of it, but that ain't do shit but make my pussy clench. The way he was lookin' at me—like he already knew what I was thinking, like he knew exactly what he was doin'—had my stomach doing somersaults.

He slid the curtain open just a little more, water spilling out, heat rolling over my skin. Giving me the full view.

And I froze.

That deep-ass V-line? The sharp cut of his abs? The way he gripped himself like he was daring me to stop looking? Yeah, Stacee was right.. my ass is stuck.

"Shit," I whispered, hating myself already.

"Shit," he mimicked, laughing low. His voice got deeper, rougher, like he could hear my breath hitchin. "C'mere, Clover."

Ah damn.

I need to turn the fuck around, and walk my dumb ass back downstairs and go to sleep and pretend none of this ever happened.

But.. let's be real, ya'll know ian do that.

I couldn't process nor barely felt when he reached for me. He traced his fingers slowly up my arm, warm and slick from the steam. My pulse is pounding. My body is screaming.

And before I could stop myself—before I could even think—I close the door behind me. Locking it.

I ain't know what was finna happen. But I damn sure ain't finna stop it... nor regret it.