The Vessel - Jenika Snow Page 0,28
all smiles and polite, telling us we could do whatever we wanted. He said we could even build another raised bed.”
I felt my brows knit harder as disbelief claimed me. That certainly didn’t seem like the asshole I talked to just the other day. Although I hadn’t told my mother or aunt that I paid a visit to him, something felt a little bit off with Rodney’s sudden “have no cares about what his tenants did” attitude. He’d been a real prick to me, but he was now okay with them having the garden? Maybe me talking to him had made him have a change of heart?
Unlikely.
The sight of a dark, very expensive—and out of place in my neighborhood—looking car pulling into the driveway had my internal thoughts waning. I knew it was for me without even seeing the driver. I hadn’t been paying attention to what my aunt was saying, but I picked up little bits and pieces on the fact that she was clearly excited about this new change of heart from Asshole Landlord.
“Beanie and I are going to build another raised bed. She wants more marigolds.”
And as I continued listening to my aunt tell me all the things they’d plant, as I watched Lucius climb out of the driver side of the car and start heading toward my building, I realized it wasn’t me who changed the landlord’s mind, nor had Rodney had a sudden change of heart.
No, this was no coincidence that in the span of a day, after I told Lucius about all the troubles of my aunt and mother, everything was now solved.
I didn’t know how to feel in that moment. Should I be upset he did this behind my back? Should I be elated he helped my loved ones out? Should I be weirded out that he even found out who the landlord was when I hadn’t told him a name or address?
I didn’t know what I should feel, but what I felt in that moment was gratitude and happiness that this man went out of his way to make my aunt and mother’s lives a lot easier.
And in my book, there was nothing wrong with that.
The drive to Lucius’s house was a little silent, and that was all on me. I knew he could feel the weirdness coming from me, but after he’d come to my apartment door and I followed him out to his car, my mind had been a whirl of emotions and thoughts regarding the landlord situation.
I could feel him looking at me, and I was embarrassed that I inadvertently put the stiffness between us. It wasn’t my intention, but surprise, confusion, and just not understanding why he’d done what he had with the landlord weighed heavily on me.
I glanced over at Lucius and offered him a smile, but the worry on his face tugged at my heart.
“Is everything okay?” His voice was even, calm, but underneath, I could tell there was concern laced in it. “If this is about the kiss the other night—”
I shook my head, which had him stopping. “It’s not about the kiss.” At the very mention of that kiss, my lips tingled. I’d been dreaming about it—fantasizing—and replaying it over and over in my head.
“Okay,” he said softly and waited a moment before continuing. “You’re quiet today. Did I do something wrong? Did I overstep bounds?” I heard the tightening of his hands on the steering wheel, the leather slightly creaking.
“No, you didn’t.”
He gave a slight nod, his focus on the road ahead. “That’s good.” He still sounded so unsure. “But in all transparency and honesty, I don’t regret kissing you. I don’t take it back. I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable, but the way you held onto me, opened for me, let me in….” His voice changed pitched as he spoke, going deeper, sounding huskier.
God, my body was heating all over again, and the way he shifted on the seat told me he was reacting the same way. “It’s not about the kiss, Lucius. I promise.” He gave a brisk nod, and I watched as his throat moved when he swallowed, as if he was trying to regain his control.
Just ask him.
I cleared my throat and shifted on the seat a little bit so I could fully look at him. Traffic was awful in the city this time of morning, so we were going at a snail’s pace. “Did you talk to my mother and aunt’s landlord?” There was this heavy silence