Chapter 19 The Message In Silence
Sloane’s POV
“Is there anything you’d want to pick up on the way back to LA?” Malik asked.
“Nope.” I popped the ‘p’ longer than I should have as I loaded up my suitcases into the trunk of the car.
“Let me help with that.” Malik told me as I lifted the heaviest of my luggage.
“I’m good, thank you.” I supplied, looking away from him. I slammed the trunk shut.
I didn’t bother looking at him before I made my way to the backseat, pulling open the door and getting in.
I didn’t have it in me to sit next to him today.
From the rear view mirror, I saw him shrug before he made his way to the driver’s seat. Like he couldn’t care less if I accepted or rejected his help. Like it was my loss.
Whatever.
I rolled my eyes.
He pulled the door open, sliding in. He started the ignition and drove off.
My heart ached because we had spent just two days here, but it felt like I was saying goodbye to a place so important.
I would never have the chance to visit here again.
The drive back to Los Angeles was a very silent one.
From time to time, I caught Malik staring at me from the rear view mirror. I stared at him too.
It was as though one was waiting for the other to break the chain of silence.
We got to Hollywood faster than I expected.
In no time, Malik parked the car in the garage and began to get our luggage out of the trunk.
“I can get my own stuff, thank you.” I smiled at him, collecting my suitcase from his hand before I pulled it into the mansion.
I took a shower as soon as I got into my bedroom, spending some time in the hot tub as though the memories of that night that we shared would somehow get washed away.
I hated to admit it, but it played in my mind longer than it should.
The moment he begged me to hold him.
The moment I held him.
The moment he first kissed me.
The moment I broke free and he did it again….
The moment he….
Sloane, you can’t have such thoughts, please.
I tossed and turned in the tub, increasing the temperature of the water like it could make the thoughts go away.
“Fuck!” I exclaimed when the water felt so hot it would peel my skin if I did not step out.
I stepped out immediately, reaching for my towel and wrapping it around my body.
In the bedroom. I threw on checkered pajama pants and a white tank top before I made my way to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Only, the kitchen wasn’t empty.
Inked back faced me as he stirred something in the pan with a spatula.
I stood there, torn between walking away and actually fixing something for myself to eat.
The grip I had on my phone loosened and it fell to the ground.
The sound of the phone connecting to the marbled floor caused him to turn to look at me.
“Sloane, I thought you’d be sleeping. I was about to bring breakfast to your room.”
My breath hitched, my eyes flying wide open in shock.
“Breakfast?”
“Yep. I heard your stomach rumble more than thrice while driving back home.” He responded, not bothering to spare me a glance.
Why was he being nice to me all of a sudden?
I didn’t understand it at all.
Also, Malik was making eggs.
“You’re making eggs?” I asked shockingly.
“Yeah. I saw the way you made it yesterday and learnt a thing or two. Let’s hope it isn’t a flop, you know. You might have to pretend you like it to not hurt my ego.
Pretend I like it.
By the time Malik was done making the eggs, he dished everything into one plate and then peeled two avocados, sliced them and slated them and then placed them on the plate as well.
He reached for the paper bag that was on the counter and brought out two plastic cups.
He placed the plates on the countertop, pulling out two stools.
“Sit.” He ordered before his ass landed on the first stool.
“I thought we were eating separately?” I quirked an eyebrow.
“Do you wanna eat separately?”
“Look, I don’t understand you at all. One minute, you’re being nice to me and the next, you’re being a total asshole. There are no cameras rolling now, you know. You can treat me how you want to. You really don’t have to be nice out of obligation.” I spat before I could swallow the words back.
“Oh, I…”
“You literally said the content yesterday was good for the brand and you hoped that this whole PR stuff would end soon. I think you should stick to your words and actually keep your distance.”
He sat there, speechless, looking at me.
“Also, you really shouldn’t be walking around the house shirtless like that.”
“Does it affect you?”
I shut my eyes, counting numbers in my head before opening my mouth to speak.
“How would you feel if I just casually walked around the house in my bra?”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before.” He shrugged.
My jaw literally hit the floor.
God, the audacity that this man had.
“You know, I’ve actually had enough of this and it’s just dawned on me that you haven’t even signed my clinical validation yet, and apart from the information the general public knows about you, I don’t know shit. I think it’s high time we started taking this seriously.”
“I’ve been taking this seriously from the jump. Maybe you haven’t
Truly, I hadn’t.
I had only been doing stuff that the brand wanted and I hadn't been doing anything to get my degree.
I picked up my phone from the counter, going straight to my notes app.
“What’s your full name, Malik?”
“I’m very sure you can google that.”
“I’m not playing games.” I rolled my eyes.
“My full name is The Monster, and you are?” He burst out laughing immediately.
Fuck my life!
The actual audacity of this man.
I gave him a look that said ‘really’ and the laughter came to an abrupt end.
“That wasn’t funny to you?”
“Your full name.”
“Wow. She’s not even playing around. My full name is Malik Zaheer Cross. I was born on April twenty-first and I’m twenty-five years old. Calculate the year yourself. Hooping is literally my life. It’s what I was sent to the earth to do. I’d rather be dead than not hoop.”
“Hobbies?”
“Hooping.”
I rolled my eyes. He was really determined to make this very hard for me.
“Come on, Malik. You have a life outside basketball. For all I care, you can say your hobby is sighting a new blonde woman!” I spat.
Only when the words had slipped past my lips did I realize what I had said.
“Would you rather I say that instead?” He folded his arms across his chest.
For a minute, my eyes lingered on his pecs.
“What are your hobbies, Malik?” I asked, not entertaining him at all.
Gaming. Going on walks. Watching clips of myself. Going to the club. And lastly, finding a new blonde to fixate my attention on.” He responded and I nodded.
Genuinely, no bad blood.
“Ever had any past serious relationships?” I asked him.
He clenched his jaw, shutting his eyes
“That’s enough!” He raised his hand in surrender.
He got up from his seat.
And then, he walked away angrily.
Like what I said was particularly triggering.
“Malik, I…..”
“Leave me alone, Sloane” He barked out.
I got up and followed behind him.
“Did I say something?” I asked.
Silence.
I followed behind him to his wing of the mansion.
I was two steps away from getting into his bedroom when he slammed the door shut. Loudly.
I raised my hand up to knock, but the loud sound of my ringtone suspended my fist in the air.
“Hello, who’s this?” I asked, pressing the phone against my ear.
“This is Caspian. Arthur’s friend. I’m using a new number to contact you. I lost my old number and I’ve been trying to get your contact details.”
My heart fluttered as soon as I heard him speak.
“Okay.” I nodded with hope in my heart.
“So, I spoke to Arthur about it and he said you should give him some time to think. He’s not happy about it, Sloane, but he loves you. I know you love him too. He’s willing to mend things with you, but he needs a little time.” Caspian said.
“Yes, thank you. I’ll wait for you. I’ll do what he wants me to do.” My voice broke, tears falling down.
“If you want him to take you more seriously, end whatever it is you’re doing in the United States and come back home quickly. I’m just advising you.”