A few days later, Andre awoke in his apartment. The pain that had pulsed throughout his entire body had stopped. Still in a daze, he rubbed the back of his head.
“Zayden,” he called out, tossing the blanket aside.
Zayden walked into the room holding a glass of water. “Bout time you woke up, Dad. I was beginning to worry.”
“How long have I been out?” he asked. Andre slung his legs over the bed.
“Three days,” Zayden said, handing him the cup. “Your boss called. He saw us on the news. He said you could take the week off.”
“Without pay, no doubt,” he mumbled. “What time is it? Why aren’t you in school?”
“You called the school before you crashed, remember? Said you were taking me out for the week because of Flea.”
Andre took a swallow of the water. He walked into the living room. He glanced over his shoulder at Zayden, who was standing in the doorway. He looked at the clock. It was 4 p.m.
“Thank you.”
He walked into the kitchen and started pulling out ingredients and dishes.
“You don’t have to cook, Dad. I’m not hungry. You should rest.”
“I am hungry,” he said with a smile. “You don’t have to eat.”
After he finished cooking and showering, Andre joined Zayden in the living room. He leaned against a wall, studying him.
“Go ahead and say it. You make me uncomfortable when you go silent.”
Andre smiled. “Good.”
Zayden turned to him. “Are you going to tell me what happened to you? You didn’t have any new visible injuries on you.”
He stayed silent, rubbing his chin in thought.
“LJ,” he finally said.
Zayden looked up in shock at Andre. “Lila Jean? How?”
“She created something… something that can hurt Spant. Even me.” He looked Zayden in the eyes. “It wasn’t her intention, I don’t think. She was trapped and she used it.”
“What was it? How did she even create such a thing?”
Andre opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a knock at their door.
He walked to the door and peeped out the peephole.
Selene Kade stood on the other side of the door with a folder in her arm. “Mr. Brooks, this is Selene. Can I come in?”
Andre opened the door. She shifted her weight, angling her hip like she already owned the doorway. “Ms. Kade,” he said. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
She removed her dark shades. “Sorry for the unannounced visit. May I come in? I believe I have something of interest to you.”
He opened the door wider and she stepped inside. He guided her to the living room. The smell of her loud perfume made his head hurt. Nothing about her felt accidental.
Zayden sat on the sofa watching her. “Hi, Ms. Kade.”
She bent over. “Hello there, Zayden. I didn’t think you would remember me.”
“I remember,” he said. “You were visiting my school the day I shoved Jeff.”
She rubbed his head and smiled. Andre cleared his throat and stepped in between them.
“Why are you here again, Ms. Kade? I’d ask how you found my address, but I think I know.”
She stepped closer to him. “Yes. I…” she began. “May I have a seat?”
“Where are my manners?” He motioned to the sofa. “Dinner’s ready. Go fix your plate,” he said, pointing to the kitchen.
Zayden mouthed, “She likes you,” as he walked away.
He glared at Zayden as he waved.
“Have a seat with me,” she said, patting the spot next to her. “This won’t take long. I promise. I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner.”
She opened the folder and removed a document from it. “This is an offer of employment, Mr. Brooks.” She handed it to him.
He raised a brow. “Why would you offer me a job?” He flipped through the papers. “An editorial assistant to you? I’m not qualified…”
“Let me stop you there,” she said. “The way you handled that angry father that day in the schoolyard impressed me. Yes, I did check you out. I believe you are a good fit for my company. I also believe your job as a delivery driver is wasting your talent. If you accept the job offer, you would only answer to me.”
Andre’s thumb stopped on the contract. A strange tightness settled in his chest as he looked for the fine print. “It would be a huge opportunity for me. I—”
He opened his mouth to answer.
Then came another knock at the door.
Zayden called out from the kitchen. “I’ll get it.”
Andre rose from his seat. “Excuse me.” He walked to the door. “I’ve got it. Eat your food.”
There was another knock, softer this time. “Who is it?” he asked, opening the door.
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“Andre?” LJ said.
He opened the door. LJ stood in front of him in a simple white top, denim jeans, and a scarf wrapped loosely around her neck.
His eyes caught the bandage on her arm first. Then another near her hairline.
His chest tightened.
She’d been hurt worse than she let on.
“Andre,” she said, eyes lighting up when she saw him. She jumped into his arms before thinking. “Ah’ve been so worried about you. Ah couldn’t get you on the phone.”
Andre hesitated out of guilt but hugged her back. “Lila Jean. I’m sorry. I’ve been out of it for a few days.”
She winced but tried to hide it. “Ah’m sorry, sugah.” She looked past him and saw Selene sitting on the sofa, staring back at her. “Ah should’ve called first. Y’all have company.”
She turned to leave, gave a little wave. “Ah’ll call you later.”
Andre grabbed her hand. “You came all this way. Come on inside. Are you hungry? We have plenty.”
Zayden looked in his father’s direction. Andre had never invited anyone over before.
Selene watched Lila Jean like a hawk.
Andre led her into the living room, where Selene looked at her in a disapproving manner.
“You did not offer me a plate, Mr. Brooks.”
“Sorry about that, Ms. Kade. You said you weren’t staying long, so I didn’t see the point.”
“Who’s your… friend?” she hissed.
Andre stood next to LJ. “Ms. Kade, this is Lila. Lila, this is Selene Kade. She came by to offer me a job.”
LJ held out her hand. Selene hesitated, looking down at it, but shook it. LJ felt Selene’s hostility. “Nice to meet you.” She turned to Andre. “Ah’m interrupting your meetin’. Ah’ll show mahself out.”
Zayden poked his head into the living room. “Hi,” he said, waving to LJ. “My dad’s popular tonight.”
Lila Jean smiled back at him. “Hi, sugah. He sure is. Ah was just leavin’. Ah picked the wrong night to drop in uninvited.”
“Mr. Brooks does value structure,” Selene said. “Most of us try to respect that.”
Andre side-eyed Selene and gently touched LJ’s bandaged arm. “Come outside with me for a minute.” His voice lowered. “Please.”
***
LJ watched him slide the door closed. “Ah’m sorry Ah dropped in unannounced, Andre. Ah saw y’all on the news. Ah tried to get to yah to help, when…” She looked away and rubbed her arm. “Well, Ah’m just glad y’all’re okay.”
In that moment, he understood why she had been dressed as Nyx when the swarm attacked.
She had been on her way to help him. To help Zayden. And Spant never even asked her why. Andre felt even worse.
He gently took her bandaged arm. “What happened here?” He moved her hair at the temple. “And here?”
She waved his hand away. “It’s nothin’, sugah. Ah had a little trouble with an infestation in mah apartment. Got bit a few times.”
“Infestation?” he asked. “Bit? Lila Jean?”
“Ah’m okay. Truth is, Ah just got out of the hospital today, mahself. Ah got poked with so many needles Ah never wanna see another one again.”
Andre held her hand and lifted her chin, turning her head to him. “It looks like you almost didn’t make it.”
Inside, Selene folded her arms, watching through the balcony door.
***
LJ slowly leaned against the railing. She looked out over the horizon at the setting sun. She glanced back inside at Selene watching her with judging eyes and let out a soft sigh. “Ah’m afraid Ah’m not in your league, Andre.”
“Why don’t you let me decide who’s in my orbit and who isn’t?”
She watched him as he leaned against the railing. “Sugah, Ah’m intruding on your evenin’.”
Andre carefully touched her bandaged arm. “How’s your apartment? You said you had a bug infestation?”
LJ sighed. “It’s ruined. There was a fire. The police were called. Mah landlord tried to claim I intentionally set the fire. Ah agreed to leave the buildin’ in exchange for him not pressin’ charges against me.”
He froze. “Lila Jean?”
She smiled. “It’s okay, sugah. Michelle is lettin’ me stay with her until Ah can find another place tah stay.” She bit her lip. “That’s how Ah got y’all’s address. She gave it to me. Don’t be mad at her, okay?”
“I’m not mad. I’m glad you came by.” He straightened. “Do you think I should take the job?”
She nodded her head toward Selene. “Ah can think of two reasons why you should take the job, sugah. One: It’ll mean more money for you. Two: She doesn’t look like she takes no for an answer.”
“Is there a three?”
She leaned back, a playful smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.
She planted her hand confidently on her hip and tilted her head, with a gaze bright and inviting. “Three: You deserve doors openin’ for yah… not just ones you gotta deliver packages to.”
Andre blinked. “Thank you… Lila Jean.”
She stopped, pointed a finger to his chest. “Remember. Ah saw y’all first. Ah got dibs on you, sugah.” She smiled.
He smiled. Yes, you do.
She walked back to the door. “Don’t forget about me when you get big and famous, sugah.”
Andre held the door before opening it. “You are very unforgettable, Lila Jean. Are you sure you can’t stay for dinner? There’s plenty.”
“Y’all can’t fool me, sugah. Y’all weren’t expectin’ company. Which means you only made enough for you and your son. Don’t be givin’ up your suppah for me.”
Andre nodded. “Can I take you out then? No double date this time. Just you and me?”
LJ nodded. She walked inside.
Selene narrowed her eyes at Lila Jean as they walked by her. LJ ignored her.
He opened the front door for her. She paused. “Ah’d love that, sugah. Don’t have me sittin’ by mah phone for a phantom call.”
“I will call you tonight. Promise.”
He stayed in the hallway watching her until she turned a corner.
A few moments later, Andre was signing the contract. “I feel like I am signing my life away.”
Selene smiled. “Those are just your nerves, Mr. Brooks. Welcome aboard.”
She stood, holding the folder below her waist. “When can I expect to see you?”
“I have to give my current employer proper notice. Say three weeks.”
She nodded. “Perfect. Your office should be completed by then.”
She walked out the door. Her driver was waiting for her. “Good evening, Mr. Brooks.”
Andre wished her a good evening and closed the door.
***
Selene waited until they boarded the elevator before pulling out her cell phone.
“You neglected to inform me Mr. Brooks appears to have a girlfriend.” Her nail tapped once against the screen. “You are slipping.”
She listened to the quiet street before speaking again.
“I am sending you a picture of a young woman. I want everything. Background. Family. History.”
A pause.
“Do not fail me again.”
***
Back in their apartment, Andre and Zayden had just finished washing the dishes. Zayden walked out of the kitchen biting into an apple. “I don’t know, Dad.”
Andre looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve got two women who want you. One of them hates your alter ego. If she ever found out about him, how do you think Lila Jean would react?”
Andre raised an eyebrow. “What are they teaching children in school today?” He tossed a dish towel at Zayden. It landed on his head.
“Hey. Don’t hate the messenger.”
Andre dried his hands with another towel. “I don’t know. Spant has, in her eyes, brought nothing but hardship into her life. Truth be told, I agree he has.”
Zayden froze.
He pulled out his cell phone. He went through his missed calls. Michelle. Larry. Rob. Spam. There it was—Lila Jean’s number. He hit her number. It rang twice on his end.
“Hey there, sugah. Did y’all accept the offer?” her voice came over the phone.
“Lila Jean. Yes. That’s not why I called.” He leaned an arm against the doorway.
“No?”
“No. Would you like to have dinner with me Friday night?”
“Ah’d love to. Will you be bringing your son? Ah’d love to get to know him.”
Andre looked at him. “No. Zayden’s got a lot of homework to catch up on.”
Zayden folded his arms.
“I’ll pick you up around 7 p.m.?”
“Sounds good, sugah. Ah can’t wait. Andre, congratulations on your new career.”
“Did you eat anything? I know you said you were just released from the hospital.”
“Ah ate, sugah. Thanks for asking. Ah have tah go now. Ah gotta work tonight.”
“You aren’t in the best shape to work right now, Lila Jean.”
“Gotta pay mah bills. Michelle isn’t lettin’ me stay here for free. Can Ah call y’all tomorrow, when Ah get up, sugah?”
“You can call me anytime, Lila Jean. Good night.”
“Night, sugah.”
He found himself smiling at nothing.
Zayden’s grin widened as Andre pushed the phone into his back pocket.
Andre tossed the towel at him, covering his face.
“Hey!”
While Andre was looking toward a future that included Lila Jean in it, Selene sat in her limo outside his building planning to disrupt his plans. Her fingers tapped the screen on her lap. On it was an article and picture of Lila Jean Reno. She rolled up the window and tapped the divider separating her and her driver.