The Heiress's Bargain

Chapter 8: Between us

(Picture above is what Imani wears to the coffee date)

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The ride back to my house was quiet. Fabian was dropping me off, but I couldn't help thinking about the woman from the party and how tense both she and Fabian had been. A strange unease had settled in the pit of my stomach. It wasn't until Fabian called my name that I realized we had already arrived.

"Hm?" I glanced at him, startled.

"We're here," he said, nodding toward the house. I blinked and reached for the door handle, pausing before stepping out. I turned back to him, his eyebrows lifting in mild curiosity.

"Quick but weird question," I began, my thoughts swirling. I wasn't sure why, but I needed to ask. There was something about that woman and their interaction that kept nagging at me. Dante nodded, waiting for me to continue. "We haven't really talked about anything, but... I just wanted to know if you had a girlfriend or anyone you were seeing before all this was... brought upon you."

The air in the car went still. I watched as his jaw clenched, a reaction that immediately made me regret my question. I didn't even know Dante that well—what right did I have to pry into his personal life?

"You don't have to answer if—"

"I broke it off," he cut me off, his tone flat, his face hardening in that way I had come to recognize as his way of masking emotions.

"Oh." It was the only word that came to mind. So, that had to be the woman from the party, the one who looked at him with so much intensity. It all made sense now.

Dante shifted in his seat and then, surprisingly, turned the tables on me. "What about you?" he asked, his voice softer but laced with curiosity.

I stared at him, surprised. He'd never asked me a personal question before. "No relationship," I said awkwardly, suddenly feeling exposed. "I'm gonna get going now," I added, opening the car door, eager to escape the tension.

Just as I was stepping out, he called after me, "For what it's worth, you did good tonight." His tone was casual, but there was something genuine in his words.

"Thanks. Goodnight," I said quickly before heading inside, my mind whirling from the mixed signals.

Later that night, I jolted awake, my heart racing from another nightmare. The remnants of the dream clung to me like a shadow, too heavy to shake off. I decided to go outside, to the garden, hoping the fresh air would help clear my mind. I slipped out quietly and made my way to the swing set under the large oak tree, grateful for the stillness around me.

As I sat down and began to sway gently, the soft rustle of footsteps caught my attention. I glanced up to see Asani approaching, a joint hanging lazily from his lips.

"Can't sleep?" he asked as he took a seat beside me.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "I should be the one asking you that," I replied, a small smile playing on my lips. "But yes."

"Nightmare?" he asked, casually, like he already knew the answer.

I gave him a sidelong glance, surprised by his intuition. "How'd you know?"

He shrugged, flicking ash from the joint. "I know stuff."

I didn't realize anyone noticed the nightmares. It wasn't something I talked about, and for some reason, it comforted me that Asani did. He and I were alike in that way—quiet, reflective, never needing too many words to understand each other. It's why I always cherished being around him. With Asani, there was no need for forced conversation or explanations. We just existed.