Tangled Roots

Chapter Three: A Taste of Something Real

East's POV

Dave's heart was pounding as he stood in front of Jinae's apartment. He glanced down at the bouquet of roses in his hands-an absurdly expensive arrangement. He'd told the florist to make it as big and as grand as possible, but he was feeling the weight of it now, wondering if it was too much. But then again, everything with Jinae felt a little like that-unexpected. Not quite what he was used to, but exactly what he needed.

His other hand gripped the bottle of wine-luxurious, high-end stuff, the kind that cost more than most people's rent. He had no idea if she even drank wine, but he wasn't about to show up empty-handed.

"Just take it slow, East," he muttered to himself. "You ain't gotta do all this. But... you want to."

He knocked on her door and heard her light footsteps approaching from the other side. When it swung open, Jinae stood there in one of her oversized sweaters, her hair in a loose bun, looking like she'd just gotten comfortable for the night. She looked surprised to see him, but that surprise quickly softened into something like warmth.

"Hey," she said, a small smile forming. "I didn't think you'd actually show up."

He grinned. "You kiddin' me? You ain't gon' invite me to dinner and not expect me to show up, now."

She laughed softly, the sound like music in his ears. "True. But, um... I didn't expect you to bring all this." She eyed the bouquet and the wine bottle curiously. "You didn't have to."

Dave just shrugged, a casual smile playing on his lips. "I felt like it. You ain't gotta open it if you ain't feelin' it, though." He handed her the bouquet, watching as her eyes widened, clearly not expecting something so extravagant. "Just a little something for you, you know? For the food."

Jinae blinked, her voice soft. "Thank you. This is a lot, though..."

"You deserve it," he said, his eyes meeting hers. He wasn't lying. The more he saw her, the more he realized how different she was-how much she wasn't like anyone he'd ever met. And that made him want to spoil her, even if she wasn't used to it.

He stepped inside when she opened the door wider, looking around the small, cozy apartment. It wasn't big. Hell, it wasn't even close to grand. But something about it felt... real. There were pictures on the walls, some candles scattered around, a few plants in the corners. And the smell of pasta filled the air-comforting, familiar. It hit him in a way he hadn't expected.

"Nice spot," he said, glancing around. "Feels... homey."

Jinae looked at him, a little surprised. "Homey? It's just... you know. A place."

"Nah," Dave shook his head, his voice softer. "It's good. Feels like a home."

Jinae nodded, walking toward the kitchen counter. She was clearly trying to play it cool, but Dave noticed her blush just a little, like she wasn't used to hearing compliments like that.

"I'll put this in some water," she said, taking the bouquet from him and setting it down on the counter. She took a second to rearrange the flowers, almost like she was getting her bearings. Meanwhile, Dave looked around, noticing how everything in her apartment felt lived-in. Nothing shiny or extravagant-just real life. He liked that.

After a moment, she turned back to him. "I made pasta like I said. Hope it's alright. I just... like to keep things simple."

"I'm sure it's gonna be good," Dave said, moving to sit on her couch, his tone casual but full of the kind of quiet confidence that came from years of navigating the most dangerous corners of the world. "You made it, right? Then it's good."