Can't Let Go - A Contemporary BWWM Romance by Shayla Harris Read Free Book Online Page A

adapt, Liv. No two men are alike. You have to
realize that.”

 
    “I
don’t want to be the third wheel,” I said. The idea of sitting at home, alone,
on a Saturday night with nothing but some wine and a head full of irrational
thoughts didn’t sound too appealing though. I could always call Amaya, but she
was usually DJing on Saturday nights at some local club or another.

 
    “You
wouldn’t be the third wheel,” she insisted. “I want my best friend and the guy
I’m dating to know each other. And I want your opinion on him. He almost seems
too good to be true.”

 
    “You
want my opinion?” I asked, raising an
eyebrow.

 
    She
laughed. “Yes. I feel like my judgment is a little clouded right now because
I’m really starting to like him.”

 
    “Who
are you, and what have you done with my LaLa?” I teased. “Fine, if you want me
to, I’ll go. But only if you want. And only if it’s
okay with him.”

 
    “It’s
not his call,” she said. “He’ll have to deal with it. It’ll be a test to see
how he reacts.”

 
    “Great,”
I said as I carried what was left of my lunch to the kitchen trash. “Just glad
I can be of service to you.”

 
    “You’re
the best!” LaLa yelled out.

 
    LaLa
and I got ready together again that night, and it felt good to have the
pressure off me for once. I didn’t feel the need to get dressed to the nines. I
had no one to impress.

 
    I
did LaLa’s hair and makeup once again and helped her pick out the perfect date
night outfit.

 
    “What’s
he going to say when he realizes that you don’t usually wear your hair and
makeup like this?” I asked as I dusted setting powder over her face.

 
    “Oh,
he’s seen me in my natural form, don’t worry,” she said, shrugging one
shoulder. That seemed to be her attitude towards most guys. She had no qualms
about being single or tossing a guy to the side if he didn’t like something
about her that she had no intention of changing. I always admired that about
her. “He hasn’t run away screaming yet.”

 
    She
checked out my work in the mirror and tossed her long, dark hair over her
shoulders.

 
    “Can
I borrow your perfume?” she asked as she reached for it.

 
    “Then
we’ll both smell the same tonight,” I said.

 
    “And
your point?” She spritzed a few squirts onto her neck and wrists. “I need to
get me some of that.”

 
    “Yeah,
you do. It’s like, one hundred and fifty dollars an ounce. You owe me five
dollars now,” I teased.

 
    We
grabbed our things and locked up the apartment, heading out to a little sushi
place on the north side of town. It was close to the police station, and part
of me wondered if we might run into Kevin. I half hoped we wouldn’t. I didn’t
want him thinking I stalked him. I felt like I ran into him everywhere all the
time, almost too often for it to be a coincidence.

 
    “There
he is,” LaLa said as she pointed to Demarius, who was sitting in a booth by
himself in the corner.

 
    “I
like that he’s not glued to his phone,” I said. “Shows he’s not insecure and
not afraid to sit by himself and look like a loser.”

 
    LaLa
nudged me and then grabbed my hand, leading me inside. I saw Demarius’s face
light up the moment he saw her, but it quickly changed to a perplexed look as
soon as he saw me.

 
    “I
hope you don’t mind, I brought Liv tonight,” she said as she scooted into the
booth next to him. “She loves sushi.”

 
    It
was a total lie, but now I was going to have to eat that raw fish like I meant
it. Gross.

 
    I
flashed him an awkward smile, which he kindly returned, and slid into the booth
across from the two love birds .

 
    The
server took our drink orders and I placed a request for some seaweed salad and
miso soup, two of the things I could usually tolerate at a Japanese restaurant.

 
    “Aren’t
you going to have some sushi?” Demarius asked.

 
    He
obviously wasn’t going to forget