It was a Saturday in late fall when Tasha's aunt called.
"Baby, you and Darnell come over to watch the game. My man's brother's in town, and we're all getting together."
Tasha looked at Darnell on the couch, scrolling his phone. "You want to go?"
He didn't even glance up. "Nah, I'm headed out with the fellas later. Y'all go ahead."
It was just like him - no interest in being part of her family's moments unless there was something in it for him.
So, she went alone.
Her aunt's boyfriend lived in a modest brick house on the edge of town. The smell of fried wings and barbecue sauce hit her the second she walked in. The living room buzzed with energy - men yelling at the TV, beer bottles clinking, women laughing in the kitchen.
And then she saw him.
Marcus.
He was sitting in an armchair, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a fitted black T-shirt and jeans. There was a ruggedness about him, the kind of look that came from long hours on the road.
Her aunt's boyfriend grinned and called her over. "Tasha, meet Marcus. My baby brother. Just moved back to town. Drives trucks for a living."
Marcus stood, his handshake firm but warm. "Nice to meet you." His voice was deep, with a hint of something… familiar. Safe.
She sat across from him, sipping her drink, pretending to watch the game. But she noticed things - the way he laughed from the gut when the guys argued over a bad call, the way he glanced at her when he thought she wasn't looking.
They didn't talk much that night, just small exchanges between plays, but something lingered in the air - not enough to call it attraction, but enough to make her notice him.
When she left, he caught her at the door.
"Drive safe, Tasha."
It was nothing. And yet, it wasn't nothing at all.