Plaything

How Many Licks?

The morning was already dragging, and I could feel the headache brewing before my coffee even kicked in. My boss had just sent me out to assess some damage on a car involved in an accident. As an insurance claims adjuster for high end luxury vehicles, the company name, Prestige, fits well for business. I’d seen everything from fender benders to outright totaled vehicles, so I wasn’t expecting much. I tossed my bag onto the passenger seat of my car and groaned as I got in. Besides, I could see myself growing with this company.

“Alright, Nik, just another day,” I muttered to myself, starting the engine.

Rell had been texting me all morning, cracking jokes and sending me memes that had me snickering between calls. I liked him, he was easy to talk to, funny, and way less complicated than Jay. But that little voice in the back of my head kept me cautious. I wasn’t about to get too close so fast. When I pulled up to the shop where the car was, my heart stopped. Parked in front of me was Jay’s truck. For a split second, panic set in. Was he hurt? Maybe it was one of his vehicles.

I shook the thought away. I wasn’t about to go there. But damn it, my stomach still flipped, and I hated that it proved I still cared.

I stepped out of my car, clipboard in hand, trying to keep it professional. My heels clicked against the pavement as I approached the vehicle, my face set like stone. And then I saw him.

Jay stood next to one of his cars, looking as fine as ever in a plain black T-shirt and jeans, his arms crossed like he’d been expecting me to arrive. His eyes landed on me, and I felt that heat that I wasn’t ready to feel again.

Keep it together, Nik.

“Good morning,” my tone was clipped and polite, as if I didn’t know him.

His eyebrows raised slightly, and I could tell he wasn’t used to this version of me.

“Morning,” he replied, his voice low.

I walked around the car, jotting down notes and snapping pictures, ignoring the way his gaze followed me like a shadow.

“You ain’t gon’ act like you don’t know me, Nik,” he said when I walked past him.

“I don’t know you,” I replied without looking up, my voice even.

“Nik—”

“I’m here to do a job,” I cut him off. “Anything other than that isn’t my concern.”

Silence hung between us for a beat before I turned on my heel and walked back toward my car. My hands were shaking, but I wasn’t about to let him see that. I got in, shut the door, and went to start it.

Nothing.

“You gotta be kidding me,” I muttered, twisting the key again. The engine sputtered but refused to turn over.

“Not today, not again.”

Jay knocked on the window, and I rolled it down halfway, shooting him a glare.

“Pop the hood. I’ll take a look,” his tone was softer now.

“I’ll call someone.” I hated that I was acting this way.

“Nik, just—”

“I said I’ll call someone,” I snapped, pulling out my phone. I scrolled to Rell’s number and hit call, holding it up to my ear.

Jay’s jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed,“Who? Your new boyfriend?”

His tone was laced with something I didn’t want to name. I didn’t answer him because I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that I’m not seeing anyone.

A few minutes later, a familiar car pulled up. Jay’s demeanor shifted, growing tense. I got out and walked toward Rell as he stepped out of his car, his eyes immediately on me.

“You alright?” he asked with a concerned voice.

“Car won’t start,” I managed a small smile.

He nodded, his eyes flicking briefly to Jay before coming back to me. “Pop the hood. Lemme see what I can do.”

I glanced back at Jay, who was watching the entire exchange, his expression unreadable but his eyes burning with something I couldn’t place.

As I moved to the passenger side of Rell’s car, my eyes locked with Jay’s one more time and I saw the hurt. It should’ve felt good to see him like that, to know he was finally feeling what I’d been feeling for months. But it didn’t.

That’s why they say don’t play with fire. Because now, standing here with Rell, I was the one left burning with guilt. Rell closed the hood of my car, wiping his hands on a rag he’d pulled from his back pocket. He glanced at me, his expression apologetic.

“It’s not gonna start without some serious work. I can call a tow truck and have it taken to my guy,” he offered.

Before I could respond, Jay stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “Nah. I’ll handle it.”

Rell turned to him, his jaw tightening. “She doesn’t need you to handle it.”

Jay’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he kept his gaze locked on Rell. “It’s her car, and it’s going to my shop. One of my guys is already on the way with the truck.”

“Jay, I didn’t ask for your help,” I crossed my arms.

He turned to me then, his tone softening, but his eyes stayed intense. “And I didn’t wait for you to.”

Rell scoffed. “You think you can just step in whenever you feel like it? She’s good without you, man.”

Jay’s smirk was cold. “She was good enough with me before, wasn’t she?”

My stomach twisted, heat rising in my chest. “Alright, that’s enough,” I snapped, stepping between them. “I don’t need a damn tug-of-war over who gets to play hero today. Jay, if you wanna fix the car, fine.”

He tilted his head, his lips curling into that maddening, unreadable smirk.

“Noted.”

Minutes later, the tow truck arrived, one of Jay’s guys hopping out and hooking up my car. Rell watched the whole thing, his arms crossed and his jaw clenched. Of course that meant that I had to give Jay my new number. God, what was wrong with me?

“You sure you want him handling this?” Rell asked quietly as the truck pulled away.

I nodded, trying to convince myself as much as him. “It’s just a car, Rell. I’m not paying him with anything but money this time.” The words flew out before I had time to register it. Rell’s brows came together.

“What does that mean?”

I shook my head, “Nothing. Just that I would have the money upfront this time.”

It wasn’t that I cared what Rell thought of me, it was just I didn’t want to think that he would be able to get me just as easily. Jay caught my eye as he climbed into his own truck, the same intensity burning in his gaze. I hated that it still made my chest tighten.

As he drove off, Rell turned to me, shaking his head. “You deserve better than whatever game he’s playing.”

“I know,” my voice was weaker than I wanted it to be.

Rell smirked as I sat in his passenger seat, unwrapping a cherry sucker I had tucked in my purse. I popped it in my mouth, savoring the burst of sweetness as I leaned back, finally able to relax after the mess with my car.

“Yo,” he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. “How many licks you think it takes to finish that?”

I gave him a side-eye, knowing exactly where he was going with that. “Boy, get your mind out the gutter,” I snorted, trying not to laugh.

“Nah, I’m just saying,” he teased, his grin growing. “Seems like something worth investigating.”

“Investigate this traffic and make sure you don’t miss my building,” I shot back, rolling my eyes, though I couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re no fun, Nik,” he shook his head.

“I’m plenty of fun,” I pulled the sucker out of my mouth with a loud pop.

He glanced at me and chuckled. “I can’t with you.”

When we pulled up to my job, I thanked him again. “For real, Rell. You didn’t have to do all that, but I appreciate it.”

He waved me off like it was no big deal. “It’s cool. Just glad you’re good.”

I smiled and climbed out, heading back into work to finish the day. By the time I clocked out, I was drained. Rell was waiting out front, leaning against his car with a casual ease that made him look like he stepped straight out of a movie. He texted me asking to go with him to get some food and I said yeah.

“You ready?” he asked as I approached.

“I was born ready,” I replied, climbing into the passenger seat.

We ended up at a cozy little spot he recommended, the kind of place that felt laid-back but had food so good you’d think somebody’s grandma was back in the kitchen. Over plates of jerk chicken and plantains, we were laughing and talking about our childhoods.

Rell sat back looking at me. “I used to spend summers at my grandma’s in Mississippi. We had the ACs that were in the windows but we loved sittin’ on the porch with sweet tea and a fan.”

“I just knew that humidity did some damage, but it, low key, sounds peaceful and the thought of sweet tea is icing on the cake,” I chuckled, swirling a piece of plantain in the sauce on my plate. “I grew up in the city, so it was always noisy. That’s why I moved out to Sunderland. It’s quieter.”

“Crazy how different our worlds were, huh?”

“Yeah, but look at us now.”

I nodded, feeling a small pang in my chest. This was a kind of conversation I’d never had with Jay. It wasn’t his fault, really. Things with him had always been intense, passionate, but not this easy. I wanted that with him before things went bad between us. As the check came and the night was coming to end, I knew I needed to say what I’d been holding back.

“Rell,” I started, meeting his eyes across the table.

“Yeah?” he leaned back in his chair.

“I just want to make sure we’re on the same page,” I said carefully. “I’m not..I mean, I’m not looking for anything serious right now. I just got out of something, and I need to figure myself out before I jump into anything else.”

He nodded slowly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I get it. No pressure, Nik. We’re cool. Just friends.”

“Just friends,” I repeated, though I wasn’t sure if I was saying it to him or myself.

But as we left the restaurant and he walked me to his car, I couldn’t ignore the slight pang of guilt in my chest. Jay’s face flashed in my mind, the way his eyes darkened when he saw Rell. I pushed the thought away. This wasn’t about Jay. It couldn’t be.