Part 17 – Fading Heat
Amina arrived at her apartment later than anticipated. But she welcomed it. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Ra'Quan tonight. She'd much rather fling her bags in the corner, strip down, and take a long bath — but that wasn't going to be an option.
To top it off, she still needed to pick up Sasha. Maybe her neighbor wouldn't mind keeping her until morning. Sasha was never much trouble anyway.
She heaved a sigh and pushed the door open. The lights were on.
Her stomach tightened. He'd beaten her home.
Straight to business then, she thought.
Ra'Quan sat on her couch, a glass of wine in hand, bottle on the table beside another empty glass.
"Ray, don't just let yourself in," she said, leaning against the counter. She didn't want to close the distance — didn't want to give the wrong impression.
"Nice to see you too, Amina. How you been? How was the trip?"
His tone carried no real interest. He'd picked up on her desire for distance. He knew her well.
"Are pleasantries necessary?"
"Not really, but it's nice, right?"
"Hi, Ra'Quan. My trip was nice. Quiet. Pleasurable."
She let the word roll off her tongue, slow and deliberate. His eye twitched. His grip on the glass tightened. He didn't appreciate the implication.
"That's wassup. You deserve a little you time."
"Mhm. How's Brianne?"
He took a sip of wine before responding. "She's... well. Is that what you wanna talk about?" Annoyance crept into his voice.
"I don't want to talk at all, but you can't take a hint," she said, not bothering to hide her discontent.
"Where's this coming from, Mimi? I thought we were good. You disappear for a week and come back acting brand new?"
"We were. But I've had time to think. I've had new experiences, and I realize it was a mistake."
"A mistake?" His tone hardened. "It didn't feel like a mistake that night. The way you called my name. The words you said before and after. The—"
"I was in the room, I remember." Her tone was flat, biting. "But two things can be true. I wanted that moment for so long. I was over the moon — to finally be chosen."
"So why this shift?"
"Because I'm not trying to be a piece of shit, Ray. Brianne's my friend too. I already fucked that up though. Once she finds out what we did—"
"Why would she?"
"Because one of us has to tell her."
"Why?"
"Are you serious?" She laughed bitterly. "This is why, Ra'Quan. This is why I don't want this with you. Not anymore."
"You're not making sense. What's the problem?"
"The problem is you think I'm some side piece. I let my emotions get the best of me one night and this happens. We had an okay thing going. The fantasy was so much better than the reality."
"Reality seemed pretty good in the moment."
"I've had better nights since."
His jaw twitched. The wine glass clicked sharply against the table.
"Girl, don't play with me," he said, voice low, agitated.
"You're playing yourself." She took a step back.
He set the glass down and stood.
He didn't do anything overtly threatening — just moved differently. Deliberate. Heavy.
It felt malicious.
He stopped a few steps short, close enough to reach her if he wanted to. Then he smiled.
That easy smile. The one that had melted her heart since high school. The one that still made her feel safe — even when she knew she shouldn't.
"Mimi, I don't wanna fight."
He took a step closer. She didn't move. Couldn't.
"You're not just some side piece. You know that, right?" He took her hand in his and pulled her closer.
She didn't respond, so he kept talking — softer, smoother.
"Let's just get back to that moment."
His breath brushed her neck. His arms wrapped around her. The familiar comfort was winning out. She didn't resist him. Not yet.
Then her phone rang.
The sound jolted her out of the haze.
A new ringtone. One she'd set just days ago.
Her pulse steadied for the first time all night.
She pushed Ra'Quan aside and grabbed the phone.
Her face lit up at the name on the screen.
Deon.
She'd already known it was him — but seeing it still made her heart skip.
She answered as fast as her hands would allow.
"Hello?" she said, voice suddenly soft, sweet.
Ra'Quan froze. He'd never heard her sound like that. Never.
"No, I can talk. I mean, I was kinda in the middle of something, but it can wait."
She shot him a look — half pleading, half commanding — for him to leave. He didn't.
"The flight was okay. How was yours?" she said into the phone, smiling now.
Ra'Quan stood fuming.
She'd interrupted their moment — their moment — for this?
He'd had enough.
"Mimi," he said, tone calm but firm. "Who's on the phone?"
"Sorry, Deon, can you hang on a sec?" She muted the call.
"I don't have to tell you that, Ray. Can we do this another time? This call's important."
"Don't sound like business to me."
"It's my business, and that's what's important."
"You got jokes. Who is Deon?"
"Deon is Deon."
"See? You're playing with me again."
A voice came faintly through the speaker. "Uh, I can always call you back."
Amina's eyes widened — she must've hit speaker by accident.
She scrambled to take it off. "No, please don't hang up! If you give me a minute, I promise I'll be right back. I wanna keep talking. Okay?"
Her voice was light, tender — different.
Ra'Quan's jaw flexed.
He'd just learned where he ranked.
"I'll see my self out then." He said moving to the door.
She hardly spared him a glance but followed him to the door as she talked. Laughing. Smiling.
When he walked through the door he turned around to hoping to get one last word in.
"I'll see you soon-"
The door closed and locked before he could even finish the sentence. She didn't even bother to say good bye. She alway said good bye. She was big on that.
Who the fuck was this new guy.
He took out his phone and made a call.
"Hey it's me. Send me everything you have on the Deon guy. Yeah I know what I said, but she changed. Just send the fucking files." He snapped and the call ended.
He took one last look at Amina's door before walking off.