Dangerously In Love

Chapter Twelve

11:28 p.m. -
La Gorce, Miami, Florida

"Wassup?"

Lani slides into the cool, midnight black interior of Jah's car. The leather seats are chilly against the back of her thighs as she relaxes her body to sink into the seat.

"Hi." She resounds timidly, her heart beating rapidly against her chest.

Jah glances over, taking his foot off the break and peeling off the curb. As he's driving out of Lani's gated community the car is filled with an awkward silence. Lani fiddles with her fingers as the duo makes their way on the main road.

"Why you all quiet and shit over there?" He questions, stealing another glance before turning.

Lani lifts her head, surveying Jah's side profile.
His bronze skin glows and looks dewy from the moonlight peaking into the car. His thick natural brown lips, parted as he takes in deep breathes of air through his mouth are smooth from his carmax and his hooded eyes indicate to Lani that he's high. His silky waved hair is hidden under a red durag and he's dressed down in a black tee, black Polo sweatpants and two gold necklaces dangling around his neck.

"I thought we was over this awkward shit."

"I'm an awkward person..." She trails off shrugging her shoulders. Now that Lani doesn't have liquor courage and the courage over the phone she feels timid in Jah's presence. The air of masculinity and confidence that he has makes Lani feels safe and protected while with him but it's also makes her feel ten times as shy.

Jah chuckles rolling to a stop as he approaches their destination for the night. "You wasn't shy the other night when you was talking all that big shit."

A sly smirk forms on Lani's face as she remembers the conversation Jah is referring to.

"I don't talk shit, only the truth." She looks out the window and notices that they're at a park in front of a basketball court. Since it's almost midnight the court is empty.

Bitting his lip, Jah reaches over, grabbing a stray curl and twirling it around his finger. "I'm surprised you came, I thought you wasn't gone be able to leave out."

"Why'd you think that?"

Jah shrugs and continues playing with strands of hair. "I'on know. Seems like yo parents probably keep you on a leash. I was shocked when I seen you at the kickback."

Lani breathes in the scent of Jah manly cologne. She darts her eyes across the park to avoid eye contact.

"They do and I hate it. They treat me like I'm five." She whines. "Like I understand that it's a dangerous world and what not but I need-deserve some freedom."

He looks at her with his low, brown eyes, "They just looking out for you mama. These streets is cold and a girl like you...Shit, that's bread right there. Easy money."

At his words Lani pulls away, scrunching up her face. "What?" She asked shocked he would say something like that. His statement made her feel dirty and degraded, like she wasn't worth anything.

Sighing deeply, Jah leans back. As the words replay is his head and realizes how fucked up it sounded, especially since he brought her to a dark, empty park.

"I'an mean it no way Lani, I was just tryna say- man I'on know what I was tryna say. Just pretend I didn't say shit." He rubs his hand over his face.

Lani remains quiet. Right now she's feeling uncomfortable and the only thing she wants is to be back in her room. I should've never left. She thinks.