Lavender & Lemons

chapter four.

I don't know why Earn invited to go jogging at four in the morning, but I'm glad he did.

One part of my New Years resolution had been to get more exercise and work out. That was in January, and it was now July. I hadn't gone to the gym at all since I planned that. put on a Nike sports bra and some black joggers with a pair of New Balance sneakers. When I locked my apartment door, Earnest was waiting for me. He wore a Nike jacket and some sweatpants.

"You know, if you really wanted to hang out you could've just asked me to have lunch like normal people do."

"You're right but it's fun this way. You can show me the neighborhood and fight a burglar if someone tries to mug me," he joked.

"You're twice my size, very funny Earn."

We headed a several blocks from home and finally stopped when we saw the sun start to come up. The two of us began to walk back home, having a conversation to make the time go by.

"So, tell me about yourself," Earn cracked his knuckles, "what are your interests?"

"Well I have an obsession with Chinese food, my favorite color is Tiffany blue, and I'm a music junkie."

"Mhm, good to know. Who are your favorite artists?"

"Mýa and Ameriie," I quickly answered. "What is there to know about you?"

"I love red velvet cake, I'm a college dropout, and my favorite rapper is Kid Cudi."

There was a clash of thunder in the sky, and before we knew it the rain was pouring down on us. Earn, being be gentleman that he is, lended me his jacket as we walked home, even though it wasn't that far away. When he took it off, I saw the sleeve of tattoos that were printed on his right arm. They were very unique: one was of two fish in opposite directions, which made me assume he was a Pisces or into astrology to some degree. There were also two wedding rings connected on his arm which made me raise an eyebrow. Did he have a wife? Or maybe even a husband?

He must've read my mind because he opened his mouth to say, "I've been divorced from my ex-wife five years if that's what you were wondering."

"But you're so young," I almost blurred out.

"Yeah, but I got married when I was eighteen. And now I'm twenty three. You're never too young to make mistakes," he laughed.

We got back home and when we got up to our floor, we saw a girl walking out of Vaughn's place slightly bow legged. Only god knows why she was walking like that. Earn and I watched with uncomfortable eyes as a thick Latina girl gave Vaughn a hug and kiss then walked away. After she left, Earn looked at me and asked if I wanted to do breakfast in a couple of hours. Before I could answer Vaughn answered for me saying no.

"Ashé doesn't even eat breakfast, especially not with strange men." He looked Earn up and down with unwelcoming, cold eyes.

"I can answer for myself, Vaughn. I'm a grown ass woman after all." I paused then proceeded to say, "How dare you get all defensive about me when you're with a different chick every day."

Vaughn angrily went back inside his apartment.

"Yeah," I told Earn, "I can do breakfast. Actually, I know a great place down the street from here."