“A man that have you cooking food he doesn’t provide is not a man,” he said. “Lock up,” he instructed, bossing her around in her own home. Alani felt cheated, when he walked out without touching her. She needed his transference of energy. She was offended that he hadn’t offered it; and being the big mouth that she was, she had to let him know.

“Ethic!” she shouted, as she stepped out onto her porch with bare feet.

He turned back.

“Every time you see me, I need you to touch me. It just makes everything better,” she said, as she approached him.

“I can’t,” Ethic declined. “I won’t be able to control my hands, Alani, and I can’t offer you more than what I’m giving. Even this, tonight, was too much.” Ethic saw no point in lying. He was running out of restraint with her.

“That’s not fair. Why is this too much?” she asked. “I walk through every hour of every day feeling like I’m bleeding on the inside. It feels like I’m dying, and the only time it doesn’t is when I’m with you. I’m fine with friends. I know you don’t do the girlfriend thing, but I just need to feel your arms around me.”

This was getting too deep. He had taken things with her too far. He could see she wanted more from him and he could handle that. What bothered him was that he wanted it too…that she soothed his ails as well…she was the anecdote that he had been searching for and he couldn’t have her.

She was crying, as she walked up to him, lifting her hands to his face. She tried to touch his scars and he pulled his head away, slightly, but her gentle fingertips coaxed him to allow her free rein. She cupped his face in her hands and then closed the space between them, sliding her hands around his shoulders, as he wrapped her in his embrace. She rested her forehead against his chest, as she lowered her head, closing her eyes. God, this man is energy, she prayed. Please, help him let me in.

“I’ve got to go,” he whispered.

She stepped back and nodded, before rushing into her house, because the last thing she wanted to do was watch him leave.

“Do I have to go?” Bella complained. “I made up all the work I missed. I haven’t skipped any classes. I swear it won’t happen again, Daddy. Please, don’t make me go to this.”