With Pain Comes Love Book 1

Melo 34

Yaya's sulking over sex was almost too adorable for words. It's not that I didn't want to get intimate with her, but Dad had given me some sage advice: "Slow things down with this one if you want to keep her." He had a point. Some girls are definitely worth the wait, and Yaya was one of them. I wasn't about to rush this—yes, I craved her, but I wanted to do things right. What Lathitha had done was childish, and I'd been dealing with that mess all morning. Yep, she was the one I'd been arguing with on the phone.

"Ready to go?" Yaya's voice, sweet as honey, drifted up from the bottom of the stairs, her smile lighting up the room.

"Yeah, let's go," I replied, making my way over to her. I took the items from her hands while she locked up, and we headed down to my car together.

"What time are you coming out today?" she asked, glancing up at me with a playful tilt of her head.

"It's a half-day, actually. I'll be out by 2pm. Then you're going to help me pick an outfit," I said, rubbing her hand affectionately.

"But you always dress up so nicely on your own," she protested.

"I know, but I want to see if you can dress your man up," I teased.

"Uhhhhm... We'll see," she said with a hint of uncertainty.

"That's not convincing at all. Should I be worried?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, you should," she said with a laugh, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"I've got a lot I need to teach you!" I said as we reached her place, stopping right outside. I wasn't late for work or anything, but I wanted to make sure she was ready for when I got off.

"Be ready when I get out of work," I instructed.

"As in, be dressed for the occasion or to come to your place?" she asked, eyebrows raised.

"You know what I mean. I'll call you when I leave the office, so be dressed by the time I get there," I said, giving her a knowing look.

"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes with a hint of a smile.

"See you later then," she added, leaning in to kiss my cheek. She tried to open the car door but found it locked.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering her. Even though I didn't know her that well yet, I'd like to think I could sense when something was off with my girl.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual but concerned.

"Yes, why?" she replied, her tone a bit too neutral.

"You seem a bit quiet, and that's unlike you," I observed.

"Nothing's bothering me. You're going to be late for work," she said, changing the subject.

"I'd rather be late for work. Tell me what's bothering you. Is it still the sex thing?" I pressed.

She shook her head.

"Then what is it?" I asked, feeling frustrated.

"I heard you talking on the phone earlier," she admitted.

Of course. Why was I not surprised?

"How much did you hear?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"You telling someone to stay away from someone," she said with a pout. She reminded me a lot of my mom in moments like these—always wanting to know everything and not liking being left out.

"I was talking to Lathitha," I explained. "I didn't like what she did. She was a one-night stand, and that's all she was supposed to be. She had no right to confront you."