Every Thug Needs a Lady.

"I see you. Looking at me. Looking at you..oh hey Girl!"

I was in deep concentration as I read the last lines to the fictional romance novel I couldn't put down. I sighed deeply as I closed the book. I wondered for the millionth time when would my own hero enter my life. Even though I always wanted to be the heroine in my own life. I wanted to be the one doing the rescuing. That the man who breaks, finally has the power to break down my walls and enter my heart, would be so in love with me that he would kill any man who so much as looked my way.

I quickly checked the time and realized I was late for youth practice. I grabbed my bag off the floor and placed my coffee bill on the table with a tip and made my way home.

As I checked both ways before crossing the street my house keys fell out of my bag that I forgot to zip up properly. I bent down to pick it up and I saw a guy on his bike coming straight towards me. My body unable to move I stood there glued to cement only managing to let out a roaring scream. I closed my eyes waiting for the impact when I heard someone yell out. 

"Look out!"

A warm body wrapped around me as I was was flung roughly to the ground.

My heart was beating erratically. 

Slowly opening my eyes I looked up at my guardian angel and inhaled at the sight standing over me. He was very tall and handsome to boot. He would of been perfect if it wasn't for the fierce frown on his face which looked like it was directed at me.

"Tha tha thank you"

I didn't know if my stuttering was caused by my near death experience or from the intense eye contact my rescuer was giving me. 

"You need to be more careful next time miss. You ok?"

Giving me a hand up and giving me a once over to make sure I didn't sustain any injury he turned to walk away.

"Wait! What's your name?"

He never once stopped in his stride but called over his shoulder.

"It's Jahr"

And with that he turned the corner and out of sight leaving me standing like an idiot. My phone rang. Still shaken by what just happened I answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey sis, are you able to still watch the kids tonight while I hang out with my cousin who just arrived from the states?"

It was my brother in law Nathaniel. I cringed just remembering I promised him to take the kids, I just didn't think it was tonight. It collided with my youth practice but I had already said yes to him knowing he needed a night to himself.

"Yeah of course. I just need to go home and then I'll swing over."

After I hung up I called my youth leader next to let her know I couldn't make it before I continued to the bus stop to wait for my bus.

My rescuer still stuck in the back of my mind.

Arriving at Nathaniel's, the kids nearly bowled me over when I tried walking inside.

Noah- "Auuuunty!"

Me- Hi my sweetness!

Noah- Can we watch a movie tonight?

Me- Sure. What do you want to watch?

Niva & Molly- Frozen frozen frozen. 

Noah- The ride along

Me- Maybe and No that's not appropriate for you.

We all chatted and Nathaniel made sure I paid attention as he told me all the numbers in case I couldn't reach him on his phone.

Nathaniel- Oh I forgot. Come meet my cousin. He's just outside. Hold up.

"Uce!"

Smiling at my brother seeing the happy light slowly coming back into his eyes after being hit with the loss of his wife, my sister Shaye, it was good to see him with a real smile. The stories he told of the antics he and his cousin would get up to was hilarious. This was the cousin who got in with the bad crowd when he moved to the states and was heard to have been in jail.

The smile left my face as I saw who Nathaniel's cousin was. My rescuer from earlier. He looked surprised to see me. 

Nathaniel- Uce this is my amazing sis in law I was telling you about. Ria this is my cousin Jahr...

Nathaniel stopped when he noticed we avoided eye contact. 

Noah chose that moment to walk in.

Noah- Uncle Jahr isn't my Aunty Ria beautiful?

Jahr was busy looking everywhere else but her.

Jahr- Yeah neph you're right. She is.

Nathaniel- Son..

His warning tone to his son didn't deter the look of satisfaction on Noah's face. The silence stretched into awkwardness.

Nathaniel- Ah am I missing something?

Too stunned to speak I was suddenly embarrassed although I didn't know why and it made me frown when I looked at Jahr and found him staring back. His brow slowly arching up like he knew exactly what I was thinking. 

Me- Ok you guys have fun. Don't come home until it's daylight outside. 

Nathaniel- Ria. Please call me if you need anything. Anything. Anything at all ok. You got my number. Remember no sweets after dinner because they will be up all night. Molly needs to put on her diaper before bed because she's toilet training. Her diapers are in the draw just ....

Me- I knoooooooooow bro. Can you just go now. You sound like Shaye. 

Nathaniel smiled before responding. 

She was the best at this.