Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
It took a moment for understanding to cross his face. “Oh.”
“We’re not sure if Sharice’s needs would be dangerous for her to broadcast, but we figured it’s better safe than sorry. So the cover is good for both of us.”
“That’s why you sent me away,” Geo gathered. “To keep yourselves safe.”
“And you.” I kept myself fit, and knew how to fight if I needed to, in a last resort situation. But if a whole group of men attacked Geo, Sharice, or me, I worried I couldn’t keep everyone safe. “Geo, it absolutely tore me apart when I told you to leave. I wanted to explain everything right then and there, but I would never put you in danger. I just wanted to keep you safe.”
Geo finally reached over and placed his hand on mine, and I realized just how much I’d missed his touch. It was as if I could breathe again, and everything settled inside my heart.
“I guess I shouldn’t have come over without asking,” he mused quietly. “I just wanted to surprise you. I wanted to show you that I didn’t care about where you came from, and to thank you for taking care of me earlier.”
“I know you wanted to surprise me, and I appreciate it. I should have been honest with you about the situation before now. I honestly hate talking about it, and I was hoping to move away from the area before it came up.”
Geo squeezed my hand. “I don’t like the idea of you living there. Not only because you have to hide your true self, but because of what could happen if you don’t. I want you to be safe and happy.”
“It has always been my plan to move once I found a good job. Now that I’ve been with the company for a couple of months and have some money saved up, I’m going to start seriously looking for a new place.”
“Good.” Geo’s eyes brightened as he sat up straighter. “You should stay with me until you find a place. My parents will be gone for a while still, and there’s more than enough room.”
As much as the idea of living with Geo intrigued and excited me, there was a glaring red flag I couldn’t ignore. “Sweetheart, judging by the events of this evening, I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
The cops were called simply because I was sitting on the stoop of a home, where people decided I didn’t belong. I supposed I should be grateful; I’d heard of people having much worse run-ins with the police. Hell, I’d seen it with my own eyes. But I didn’t feel grateful.
Because it shouldn’t have happened in the first place. I understood being vigilant, and believed that everyone had the right to protect their home and wellbeing. If I or anyone else was causing problems or damage, then it would be understandable for the authorities to step in. But calling the cops because a black man was sitting down was inexcusable.
Though the circumstances were different, Geo had faced some discrimination as well when he rolled into my neighborhood. The guys saw his nice car and light skin, and decided he was in the wrong place as well. A visible gift in his hands and their assumptions could have gotten him seriously hurt, or worse.
All my life, I’d had people assume that I was a thug just because of where I grew up. People also expected Geo to be uptight and intolerant because of his upbringing. But both were far from the truth. We were just regular people trying to find our way in the world, and who had thankfully found our way to each other. All too often, the world saw people on a skin deep level, therefore missing beautiful souls, pure hearts, and perfect love.
And there was a very beautiful soul seated next to me, holding my hand and tapping his lip as he thought of a way to make my situation better. He accepted what I told him, and held no ill will towards me. He only wanted to move forward. So did I, and I needed him to know.
“Staying here isn’t right for us, but I’m sure we can find a place that is.”
Geo swiveled his head around to look at me with saucer-sized eyes. “Us? We?”
I hoped it was excitement I heard, not fear. “Yes, sweetheart. Neither of us are happy where we live now.” I had to hide so much of myself, and Geo lived under the thumb of his judgemental parents. “And I’m positive that wherever I go, I want you with me.”
There were things we’d have to figure out; the most pressing being work. Dating coworkers was prohibited, so living together would be an even bigger problem. We could hide it for a while, but eventually we would have to update our employee files.