Thy Neighbor II: Lovin' The Crew

Chapter Four

Ciara didn't heed Trevante's request. As she sits at her work desk, her phone vibrates from Trevante's texts. He's giving a play-by-play review of their early morning together and she'd be lying if she said she didn't like it.

Ciara had no regrets about getting into his bed. She was too cold from sleeping on his living room couch, the supposedly wool blanket too thin to keep her body warm. Trevante turned around to hold her once he felt her creep under his covers. This time, she responded to his grasp. That's all it took.

Come straight to my apartment after work...

What about the gym, Tre?

Fuck a gym, I got you...

Trevante unfollowed gym manager on Instagram as soon as he sat down at his desk that morning. His moment with Ciara felt so right, so perfect ... so how their first night together should have been. He got to play with Ciara's braids that morning as the sunlight beamed off of her back, her drifting in and out of sleep. He didn't want her to leave. He tried not to wake her sleeping body draped over his as he drafted up an email to his boss. He wanted to take up an offer to work from home – hoping that Ciara would say "yes" to his request to call off from work. When she denied him, his heart flatlined. He deleted the email.

"Mr. Rhodes, here's your mail!" Trevante looks up from his phone to see Meganne, the fall intern, looming over his desk with a very wide smile on her face. Her green eyes and 3C hair straight out of a Shea Moisture advertisement caught Trevante's attention when she was introduced to the agency's staff a few months ago. When Trevante saw Meganne waiting for a SEPTA bus after a marketing event, he offered to ride her home. Her sorority sisters couldn't believe the "fine as fuck" man dropping off their soror in front of their house that night. When Meganne – and all of her sorors – followed Trevante on Instagram, he returned the favor.

After that, Trevante and Meganne would grab lunch together often. Though it made Trevante uneasy, he felt it all to be innocent. Meganne didn't see it that way. This 31-year-old modelesque marketing executive with the body of a Marvel superhero bought her lunch and liked her pictures on Instagram? Oh, he's interested. So when Meganne was looking for a place to celebrate her 21st birthday, she asked Trevante for suggestions with hopes that he'd join the fun.

Trevante bought her and all of her sorors drinks at Bar XXI, the hottest lounge in the city. He even secured them a table on a night that Meek Mill was hosting his after party. Meganne got so drunk that she went full steam ahead and sent texts – and pictures– to Trevante. Although it made Trevante feel super awkward, he never mentioned it to her. He just decided to keep some distance. The lunches and Instagram love stopped and Meganne grew worried. Her grown-ass-man didn't want her anymore.

"Appreciate it, Meganne. Thanks."

"You're welcome!" Meganne walks out with an extra switch in her walk which Trevante fails to ignore. Trevante grows weary as Ciara starts to ignore his texts. He really wants to play house with Ciara tonight.

But as the minutes of silence turn into hours, Trevante's mind starts to wander. Though this morning felt amazing, he didn't know how long it'll last, if Ciara would change her mind and go back to the original plan. He doesn't want another "I can't always do it" from her. Feeling the fear of neglect, albeit manufactured, he refollows the gym manager on Instagram and goes on a liking spree. He needs attention from someone.

Ciara is ignoring Trevante's texts because of an unexpected email that graced the presence of her inbox.

Ciara,

I wanted to meet up with you to discuss using your crew for Proverbs. We've been losing bodies thanks to midterms. Hoping you can be of assistance to us. I can be reached at 617-555-3450 ext. 250.

Thanks,

Y'lan

(I also wanted to check in on you. I know we were supposed to meet up for dinner but I guess something happened? Just making sure you're good.)

Shit. SHIT. SHIT!

Ciara completely forgot about her revenge move with Y'lan. Staring at his email, she has no idea of what to do. She wants to ignore it but it's work-related. She wants to curl up in a ball and hide for seemingly inviting Y'lan back into her life but she also wants to make it up to Y'lan for using him as a part of a childish game called her coping mechanisms. He didn't deserve that — even if he broke her heart.

Hey, Ylan!

Would love to meet with you to talk about partnering with Proverbs. If it's not last minute, can we meet up at U City Coffee tonight at 7?

Thanks!

Ciara

She doesn't mention the other night's misstep – on purpose.