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hating him for interrupting me right now. I’m glad it’s him and not somebody else.
    “Hey, Tommy,” I answer.
    “What’s up, lover boy?” He asks. “Just calling to see how you are doing. Haven’t heard from you in a few days.”
    “Things are good. Just busy,” I answer, noticing Elle in the lounge. Earlier, I couldn’t take my eyes off her when I saw her step back out of the locker room in that nice short jean skirt and that tight tank top. Now, her tanned legs completely distract me as I imagining my hands caressing her thighs and slowly moving them up until she can’t take it anymore. Seriously, I’m not sure I could pull off the friendship thing. I’m not used to settling, but it’s more than what I have right now. She’s like a shock to my system that I wasn’t expecting, but I like how it feels.
    “Are you at it again?” He questions. I laugh to myself thinking my old college buddy knows me all too well.
    “At what?” Oh man, I get lost again. Her hair, her skin. Look away man, look away . Lowering my head, I stare at the floor, trying to shake her. You shall not covet Cane’s girl; you cannot covet Cane’s girl! “Damn, there’s this girl, Tommy.” I laugh uncertainly, not familiar with this pull she has over me.
    “Not surprised!” He laughs. “Did you put another unsuspecting victim under your spell?” I can picture the big grin on his face right now, and it makes me smile.
    “Nah, I think it’s the other way around this time.” I exhale loudly, fighting the urge to look at her. “God, there’s something about this one.” I shake my head. It’s as if someone tackled me and threw me flat on my back. How I’m feeling down south below the belt usually rules everything I do. Now, I got this one that’s melting my shit up north. I’m not scared, nothing like that, just not used to my upper head battling with my lower and it being on the verge of losing.
    “She’s gotta be something to have you all confused.” He chuckles.
    “I can’t talk right now.” I glance over again and imagine running my fingers through her long brown hair and pressing my body up against hers, tasting those lips, touching every inch of her. I check the clock on the wall. Damn, five more minutes and I’ll have an excuse to get closer to her.
    “Going to turn on the charm for your latest conquest?” I can hear the smile in his voice.
    “It’s not like that. I’m still trying to figure this out myself. But, you know I’m always up for a challenge.”
    “A challenge has never stopped you from getting what you want.”
    I’m frustrated with what Elle’s doing to me. You just don’t look at a girl and get these feelings, do you? Could I be getting soft? I’ve been here over two months, and I’ve finally settled into my apartment. I’ve got a routine down, a cool job at the center, and made a couple of friends. One of them happens to be this stunning girl’s boyfriend. I even threw around idea of possibly being roommates with him this fall! That’s got to change.
    “I gotta go,” I say. “Tell Momma and JuJu I’ll call them tonight.”
    “All right, seems like you are okay and doing what Reed does best.” He laughs. “I’ll be out with JuJu and Campbell. We all miss you, man.”
    “Right, right miss y’all too.” It stings to hear her name. I love Campbell, but she had too much in the way of jealousy and insecurities to deal with. With everything else going on in my life, I needed her to be strong for me; instead, she just made things more intense. She was one of the reasons I had to move away. I had to put some space between me, and life back home. “So, have you heard anything? Everything still okay?”
    “No. So far, so good. No one’s come around. You know I’ll call you if there’s any trouble, but your sister and momma want to know when you’re gonna come home.”
    “Soon. For sure.” I say, still not convinced about the reason he’s calling. “Are you sure