been sitting just inside my office in the chair when Navy walked in.
“Yeah, I have a dentist appointment.” She kept smiling at him like she wanted him to say something else to her…anything else. He turned his gaze back to his work phone though after grunting a response. She fluttered her long lashes like she was trying to regain composure then looked at me.
“No, I don’t need anything, Navy. Thank you.”
“No problem and thank you for giving Xari a chance. I know this isn’t the place to talk about my sister but I wanted to say thank you again.”
“Don’t worry about it. Go head to your dentist's appointment.”
“Okay. Bye, Senator Freeman. Goodbye, Apollo.”
“Goodbye,” Apollo said sternly, never deviating from his usual gruffness. I noticed her linger again like she wanted him to say something else. Was he blind? Navy liked him and he damn sure liked her. Okay, well it was as close to liking anyone as I’d ever seen Apollo come. He let her walk down the hall without saying another word. He watched her until she stepped on the elevator though.
“Why haven’t you asked her out yet, Apollo?” I sighed.
“Who? Navy?” He let out a dry sound that was meant to be a chuckle. It was a sorry excuse. Apollo didn’t laugh. He was essentially stone in the shape of a man. He was still one of my closest friends. When he wasn’t on duty, we talked. He helped me maintain my emotions during the divorce. Apollo was a master at masking emotions. Maybe to his own detriment.
“Yeah, Navy. You keep looking at her every time she comes into the room…out of the room…across the room.”
“I do not. Besides, I’m on duty. I look at anyone coming in your direction. That’s not reserved for Navy.”
“Yeah, okay. You better make your move, man. She’s beautiful. She won’t be single forever.” He seemed to ponder my words before placing a shield of ice over his face again.
I pulled out my home laptop. I figured since Navy was gone for the day, she probably cleared most of my schedule. That meant I could get some much-needed writing in. I was one chapter away from finishing my fifth novel. I usually got in two chapters a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less but I had to always get at least two in. If I skipped writing, my day didn’t feel right.
Writing was my true passion. I didn’t care for politics but I knew my father wouldn’t let me be anything other than a senator. I saw the ambition in his eyes. He wanted me to be president too. I loathed the idea.
I knew writing was my calling ever since I was in middle school. We had a writing assignment to create a fantasy story. I went home and write my first novella. It was effortless. It made me buzz. It made my brain hurt. It made me proud.
I never felt proud signing or sponsoring a bill. I knew it was a necessary evil, so I did it but nothing about it made me sing with pride the way writing did. I couldn’t put on 90’s hip hop and zone out while I reviewed laws. I couldn’t pour myself a glass of whiskey and relax while I had a meeting about legislation.
My mouth watered at the thought of whiskey. Jameson preferably. It was how I drowned out the irritation of the day and how I welcomed the relaxation that came with writing.
“Are you almost done with it?” Apollo nodded toward my computer and I smiled.
“One more chapter then the epilogue, man.”
“I want a copy on my phone by morning, Van.”
“You got it,” I laughed.
I started writing, put my calls on hold, and didn’t look up until it was time for me to go home. I only knew it was time to go home because Apollo cleared his throat and when I looked up, he pointed to his watch.
I hit save on my open document then closed the laptop and slipped it back into its leather case. I wanted to get home in time to have a serious talk with Frankie. If Miss Lucas managed to stay for the entire day, I’d talk to her as well.
When I walked in, I heard giggling and low talking. I smelled something savory and amazing. I went into the den and looked at the scene in front of me. Two dark heads of hair tilted together. One head sporting a fluffy, coily puff and the other flaunting a