The Shadow Mate

Chapter 2: The Meet Cute

Chapter 2: The Meet Cute

Naomi drove home with the radio off. She had to, she couldn’t bear to listen to the news for one more second. All this talk about a virus which was killing off people with no rhyme or reason. Rumors that the president knew about the virus long before it hit were all any of her clients talked about all morning. Gossiping men loved miserable gossip.

Terri had left the office early, after finding his 63 year old Dad was in the hospital on a respirator. The day seemed to stretch out after that, ticking away eeriely, slow and Naomi knew she was running out of time for something in the end, she took off around 4, after Mr. Rawlings finally shut up about everything wrong the insurance company was doing to him.

She stopped for groceries on the way home, sure she would be stuck in the house for at least a month’s time while the gov’t sorted the virus debacle.

As she hopped out of her silver 98’ Honda accord, she considered checking her mailbox when the elderly lady from next door, Ms. Johnson, came stumbling along in the direction of the boxes.

“Hi, Ms. Johnson.”

Naomi flashed her a huge toothy smile, but the old woman just licked her thumb, fingered through her envelopes and scurried away without another glance her way.

Bitch

Naomi thought to herself, and instantly felt guilty. Maybe the old hag didn’t hear her. She did have a hearing aid.

Or maybe, she’s just sad and alone,

Naomi reasoned and drove the short distance to her building. She slinked out of the car and gaped helplessly at all the baggage currently crowding her backseat.

“Erykah Badu ain’t got nothin’ on me.” She mumbled.

She started gathering her groceries humming the tune to Bag Lady when she suddenly sensed a change in the atmosphere. Like some presence she couldn’t see.

Instinct told her to turn around, but there was something about the situation that reminded her of how “off” everything had been and she stopped in her tracks, her breath getting caught in her throat.

“Excuse me Ma’am, it looks like you’ve got quite a lot on your hands.”

“It was the deepest, sultriest voice that ever blessed her ears. With an island accent and a baritone that sent tingles down her spine.

A voice like His would have suburban moms mailing in their panties in droves.

Yet, as Naomi twirled around, groceries in hand, all she could muster up was, “ma’am? Do I look old enough to be a ma’am? Sir?”

Her cheeks burned after closer inspection of this guy’s face. He stood hovering above her, lean and Caramel, with gray eyes and long dreaded locks.

He had to be over 6ft as Naomi was pretty tall herself, at 5’10. She instantly felt an unrecognizable tingle between her thighs.

She frowned at herself. “Down girl.”

He chuckled with his mouth wide open, eyes glistening.