Chapter 5 - Ink Interrupted
She didn’t say anything.
Just picked Cassie up and walked.
Not a wave. Not a nod. Not even a “thanks.”
And now he’s in her apartment.
Wearing the same hoodie.
Smelling like memories.
Last night, she let him in.
Now she has to live with that.
Zion sits at the edge of her bed, hoodie back on like armor. He stares at the wall, flexing his hands slowly, like he's trying to count his own regrets.
Joy watches him deep in thought. Sleep still clinging to her lashes.
“You stayed,” she says, not a question.
“Didn’t wanna wake you,” he mutters. “Didn’t feel right…leaving. Not after that.”
She sits up, brushing her hair behind her ear. The shirt she’s wearing still smells like the night they had. The one she swore wouldn't happen again.
“You think that makes it okay?” she says, voice steady but low.
“Joy.”
“You had Cassie happy, fed, and her bags packed. Yet you still asked me to come in to talk.. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
He looks at her, expression unreadable.
“I was trying to make it easy.”
“You don’t get to make anything easy for me,” she snaps. “Not after what you did.”
She doesn’t have to explain what he did. The silence did just that.
He exhales, rubs a hand over his face.
“You think I’m still that man? The one you ran from?”
“I know you’re not,” she says, eyes locked. “I'd be dead if you were.”
He reaches gently for her wrist. She freezes but doesn’t pull back. And before either of them speaks, his lips meet hers.
They kiss like memory. Like unfinished business. Like maybe they’re still that boy and girl in her mama’s hallway. . .before the money, before the grow lights, before the child they now share.
When they break, she whispers, “Don’t think this fixes anything.”
“Didn’t expect it to.”
“Then why’d you come here?”
"To know what could've been"
"Yeah, of course you are". she whispered sarcastically.
She stood up and made it to the stairs before he could respond.
They’ve moved to the living room now, Joy curled on one end of the couch, arms folded, Zion sitting stiff on the other. The space between them held lies, history, love, fear.
“You really think I’d hurt you over that money?” he asks.
“Wouldn’t blame you if you had.”
“You stole over twenty grand, Joy.”
“I bought Cassie and I a much needed new life.”
“You were growing weed in the attic. Had people in and out. Guns in drawers. And Cassie had a bedroom next to it all. I took what I needed to get her out before things got bad”
“I understand how stupid I was but you took everything.”
“You left me with no other option.”
Zion leans forward, voice low now.
“You broke my heart, Joy. But I’m not here to get even. I’m here because I miss my daughter. Because she deserves both of us.”
“She deserves safety. Stability. Shit you never gave me. I think it's time for you to go. I don't want Cassie to get confused."
He’s up now, near the exit, looking back at her like he wants to say one more thing but knows better.
“You still love me?” he asks.
“Don’t.”
“Say it or don’t. But I need to know.”
“You said you came for Cassie,” she says. “Start there.”
“Then start with me. Tomorrow. Brunch. We talk about her, about us, about everything.”
“I don’t do second chances.”
“Then let it be a first one.”
“You pick the place,” she says, voice sharp. “And don’t show up late.”
“I won’t.”
“You ever do again, I change my number and you never see her again.”
The door closes and Joy is left alone once again. . .
😜 Catch up before Chapter Six 😘
Beginning // Last Chapter // Chapter 6 (coming soon)
