Enemies Without a Limit

Chapter 22

If Naomi wasn't all out of tears she knew she would have cried to hear how defeated he was on believing that his dad didn't love him, as much as he obviously did. "I remember how your parents were together, and you're right. There was no doubt that they loved each other whole-heartedly, but your mother loved you and so did your father. Remember, two years ago, that time I came over to your house and your dad was telling those embarrassing stories of you as a kid? And you were begging him to shut up? Even though he was making fun of you I could tell he was really proud of you, and I'm sure after your mother died, things changed between your father and you, but he still loved you. If not, what else explains him always coming home to you?"

"What explains him leaving me for long periods at a time?" Darryl countered with a snort.

"That's not the point, Darryl." This time she brought her weight around so that she straddled his legs and was able to look at him face to face. "Your dad knew that he had a responsibility to take care of you--as best as he could. So he came back to you. He could have easily left without a second thought about you, but he didn't. He came back. The only difference now is that he won't be coming back, but don't think that he did this selfishly. We have no idea why he did this." 

He stared back at her, empty, but she knew he was registering she'd said. She didn't know what else to say so she just hugged him. They kept silent for a moment and she was about to pull him to bed until he pulled apart so that her face was cupped in his hands. His lips were an inch apart from hers and the familiar excitement from being touched by him made her shudder in want. No, Naomi. Fight it. 

"Thank you, Nay." Darryl whispered with a smile, one with more character than she'd seen in the last couple of hours.

"For what?" she asked as she returned the smile.

"For being here, for being a friend to me even though I screwed it up."

"You didn't screw up anything. We just fell into a trap set by Tameeka and her minions and we let it ruin us. It's not our fault."

 He chuckled lightly before he brought his lips down to hers in a quick kiss. Naomi pouted and he laughed again. "There was a time when you would have slapped me if I kissed you. I know you don't remember much from our first night together at that party, but that kiss was something I couldn't forget. It was something I had been wanting to do for a long ass time."

"How long?"

"Since the day I met you." 

Naomi's eyes widened in surprise at his answer. "Freshman year?" 

"Yea. I thought you were one of the beautifulest girls I'd seen that day. And when we became friends, the more I wanted to. But then you had your eye out for Charming, so I knew I had no chance..." he said as he rolled his eyes but he still had humor in them. "So I kept myself busy with Tameeka."

Naomi swatted his arm playfully. "You ass! Why didn't you tell me?" All that time Darryl had been after her attention and she never had a clue.

He grinned as he brought his lips to her neck, "Would it have made a difference?" His hands grazed her bottom--forgetting that she was still in her panties. 

Naomi scoffed, "Um, yea. It would have definitely gave us more time together. And saved us from the crap we've been through."

She hadn't expected him to stop and stare up at her with solemn eyes and worried if she said something wrong. "What?"

"I might have to move." he replied.

"Move where? With who?" Naomi asked confused. She didn't like the thought of him leaving so soon after they started working things out.