New Girl in Town
I stood in the middle of my new apartment, hands on my hips, taking in the empty space like it was a trophy. One bedroom, one bath, squeaky hardwood floors, and a window that looked out onto a half‑paved street and a gas station. It wasn’t the luxury high‑rise I used to have in the city, but it was mine.
No ex‑boyfriend’s name on the lease.
No late‑night arguments about “why you trippin’ when you know what I do?”
Just quiet.
“You really did it, girl,” I whispered to myself. “You actually moved back.”
Well, “back” might’ve been a stretch. I’d never lived in this small town before, but my mama grew up here, and my aunt still lived five minutes away. My brother lived on the edge of town, and two cousins stayed right around the corner. Family was the reason I came here. Family and the need to run—fast—from my old life.
Marcus, my ex, had been a hustler, the kind of man who could talk sweet enough to make you forget the mess he kept you in. I loved him too long, stayed too long, and finally packed up when my heart couldn’t take the weight anymore.
This was supposed to be my fresh start.
I pulled out my phone and saw three unread texts from my cousin Deja:
Deja: U settled in yet?
Deja: U coming to Auntie house later?
Deja: Dre gon be there, lol
I stared at that last one longer than I wanted to. Dre.
Of course he’d be there. He was friends with my brother and cool with all my cousins. We’d seen each other a few times back when I was with Marcus—nothing deep, just quick nods and “what’s up.” But there had always been something unspoken. Something I ignored because I was taken.
Now? I wasn’t.
Auntie’s house smelled like collard greens and fried chicken before I even got out of my car. The kind of smell that slapped you and hugged you at the same time. Family cars filled the driveway and front yard, music thumped low from inside, and kids ran around screaming like they had energy to spare.
The first person I saw when I walked in? Dre.
He was leaning against the kitchen counter, laughing at something my brother Rico said, red cup in hand. Same easy smile, same too‑relaxed posture like life couldn’t touch him.
His eyes found mine, and I swear it was only a half‑second, but it felt longer.
“Keisha?!” Rico pulled me into a hug before I could even respond. “Girl, you finally made it!”
“Yeah, I’m here.” I smiled, hugging him back. “Fresh start, you know?”
“You remember Dre, right?” Rico asked.
“Yeah. Hey.”
Dre smirked, voice low and smooth. “Hey, Keisha. Long time.”
That voice? Deep, dangerous, and exactly what I didn’t need right now.
I turned away quickly before it showed on my face. Girl, don’t start.
Dinner was loud and messy—somebody yelling about cheating at dominoes, kids running through the living room, Deja recording everybody for Snapchat. And Dre? He was everywhere. Laughing with my brother, passing me the hot sauce, standing too close when I washed my plate.
“You getting settled okay?” he asked at one point, leaning a little too close.
“Yeah,” I said quickly. “It’s… different. Quiet.”
“You’ll get used to it. Ain’t like the city, but it’s got perks.”
“Like what?”
He smiled, easy and knowing. “Less noise, more peace.”
I smiled back, then walked away before I made it obvious I was staring.
That night, lying in my new bed, I couldn’t stop thinking about Dre. About the way he looked at me before, back when it was wrong, back when I was Marcus’s girl.
Now? Still wrong, because he had a girl.
Fresh start, Keisha. Don’t mess this up already.
