The Supernova Effect

Chapter 13

Andre

Streetlights blurred across my windshield while Nahmari sat beside me scrolling quietly through her phone, one leg tucked beneath the other.

The car smelled faintly like her perfume.
Something warm.
Sweet without trying too hard.

The ride had been quiet ever since we left Daisuke's apartment.

Not awkward exactly.

Just unfamiliar.

I kept catching her staring out the passenger window like she was somewhere deep in her own head.

And honestly?

I still couldn't tell if she genuinely disliked me or if that was just her personality.

Most girls either flirted with me immediately or acted nervous around me.

Nahmari did neither.

She looked at me like she genuinely didn't care who I was.

And weirdly—

I respected that more.

I turned the music down slightly before speaking.

"You mind if we make a quick stop first?"

She glanced up briefly.

"Sure."

I took the next exit and headed deeper into the older side of the city.

The buildings got rougher the farther we drove.

Corner stores behind bulletproof glass.
Kids still outside even though it was getting late.
People sitting on porches watching traffic pass like television.

A few minutes later I pulled up outside a worn-down duplex near the edge of the projects.

Kids rode bikes through the parking lot.
Music blasted from somebody's upstairs window.
A couple dudes stood near the corner store arguing loudly over basketball.

Nahmari looked around slowly.

Then toward me.

"You got family over here?"

"Something like that."

I killed the engine and grabbed the small plastic bag from the center console.

"I'll be right back."

"What are you doing?"

"Handling something."

Her eyes dropped briefly toward the bag in my hand.

Then back toward me.

And immediately—

her expression changed.

Not disgust.

Something heavier.

Disappointment maybe.

"You sell drugs?"

Straight to it.

I leaned back against the seat for a second watching her carefully.

"You the feds or something?"

Her jaw tightened slightly.

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

A long silence stretched between us.

Then quietly:

"You really do this?"

Something in her tone irritated me instantly.