“Ms. Rodriquez, excuse me?” Brandon spoke in a soft voice from outside her bedroom door. “I’m sorry. I know you said not to bother you, but you have a visitor.”
Tierra shot him a look that said, you are so fired, from inside the bathroom. If he could have seen her face, the look she had would have put Medusa’s gaze to shame.
“He said I’d be in big trouble if I didn’t tell you he’s here,” he went on in an apologetic tone.
“Who is it Brandon?” she asked, stepping out of her sanctuary, snatching her bathrobe off the hook behind the door.
“He said you’d know who it is. I wanted to let you know before I left. It is actually 12:30pm and I’m finished for the day.”
She was mumbling angrily to herself, as she walked towards the front of her condo. Normally, she’d never answer a door in her robe, but since Brandon had already let them in, and he was on his way out… she decided to take a quick peek. When she reached the end of her hallway, with a bird’s eye view to the front door, she didn’t see anyone.
“Brandon, I thought you said…” she began, as he walked passed her, winking. He pointed back towards the kitchen, where she heard a familiar voice humming, as he closed the door behind him.
“See, I knew you were going to be a no show. So I brought lunch to you instead,” Aquarian said, taking food boxes out of a brown paper bag from JC’s, and set them on the counter top.
“Qu seriously, you know I wouldn’t stand you up on purpose, right? Unlike you, who went and got all my information, you left me none on you. I don’t have any of your numbers. I would have called you…” she tried to apologize. “Shireece, Bridget and I pulled an all-nighter and I guess I slept in extra late. I’m sorry,” she whined, poking out her bottom lip, batting her eyelashes.
“Yeah, yeah sure and don’t be trying that ole’ puppy dog face with me girl, this isn’t junior high,” he laughed, trying not to look up. He couldn’t resist though, and was surprised to find Tierra standing in the middle of the kitchen, her hair all wet and curly, and she… well she was wrapped in the same silk animal print bathrobe he gave her the year he moved to Cali.
“But hey, that wet I just stepped out the shower look, now that works for me. Did I umm… interrupt you? I mean if you have company, I can come back another time,” he asked sarcastically, clearing his throat and dramatically placing the food boxes back in the bag.
“Stop playing Qu. I was in my Jacuzu trying to ward off this killer of a hangover, slash migraine,” she rushed over to him and stood on her tip toes trying to reach around him, to take the box of food away from him. She tried not to laugh, but he continually turned his back, keeping the food from her grasp and she couldn’t help it. “I’m starving Qu, stop playing! You nearly got poor Brandon fired you know. He knows better than to interrupt my bath time.”
Qu turned around and faced her, and she reached out to grab the box from his hand. He instinctually reached out his hand to block her, but instead slid his directly into her barely tied bathrobe. They both gasped simultaneously as his hand brushed over her still damp breast.
Tierra immediately jerked herself back, and tightened her robe around her neck. Stunned, Qu placed his hands toy soldier style, by his side and focused his attention on the hardwood floor beneath him. He was too embarrassed to look in Tierra’s eyes.
“Yeah, hmm… I’ll be back,” she said, nervously. “Let me go put on something a little more… appropriate.”
“What’s wrong with the robe? It’s your house, be comfortable,” he called to her, regaining his composure as she rushed down the hall. He finished setting the boxes on the table and opening them. “I’m just saying, it’s a nice robe,” he whispered to himself, popping a boneless rib into his mouth.