Chapter 22

A couple of days passed, and things had settled down—for the most part. The fight was old news now, the block party was just a memory, and Selena had been back on her usual routine.

Filming content, running errands, editing videos. Staying in her lane.

But Von?

He was still on her mind.

Not that she'd admit it.

She told herself it was just because their conversation had stuck with her, the way he moved, the way he looked at her like he already knew something she didn't. It wasn't about him—it was about the moment.

At least, that's what she told herself.

She was mid-edit on a new vlog when her phone lit up.

Von: You home?

Her heart did a little flip, but she ignored it.

Selena: Why?

A few seconds later, the dots popped up.

Von: Come outside.

Selena stared at the message for a second before shaking her head.

He was bold.

Pushing her laptop to the side, she got up and grabbed her slides, slipping them on before heading to the door.

The moment she stepped outside, the sight of that black Camaro parked in front of her place made something stir in her chest.

Von was leaned against the driver's side, a blunt between his fingers, his expression cool as ever.

Selena folded her arms. "You just pulling up to my spot now?"

Von exhaled smoke, his eyes dragging over her before he smirked. "You answered, didn't you?"

Selena rolled her eyes but stepped down off the porch, walking over. "What you want?"

Von pushed off the car, flicking the blunt before looking at her. "Hop in."

Selena raised a brow. "You still ain't answer my question."

Von licked his lips, nodding toward the passenger seat. "You asking too many. Just get in."

Selena hesitated for a second, but curiosity got the best of her. With a small sigh, she pulled open the door and slid in.

The second the door shut, the smell of cologne and smoke filled her nose, the low hum of music playing through the speakers.

Von climbed in next to her, resting his arm on the steering wheel. "You been chillin'?"

Selena glanced over at him. "Yeah. Why?"

Von smirked. "You stay tryna figure out why I do shit."

Selena shook her head. "Because you don't ever just say what you want."

Von chuckled, tapping his fingers against the wheel. "Maybe I just wanted to see you."

Selena paused for a second, caught off guard by his honesty.

She searched his face, but he wasn't playing—he was dead serious.

Something about that made her chest tighten a little.

Von reached into the center console, pulling out another blunt. "You smoke?"

Selena smirked. "You already know I do."

Von nodded, pulling out a lighter. "Aight then."

A couple minutes later, the blunt was burning slow between them, smoke swirling in the air.

Selena leaned back against the seat, exhaling smoothly. "So, what you been on?"

Von took a pull, letting the smoke roll from his lips before answering. "Same shit. Just handling business."

Selena nodded, watching him. "You always 'handling business.'"

Von smirked. "And you always got questions."

Selena shook her head, taking the blunt from him. "Because you don't ever answer them."

Von watched her for a second, then said, "I do. Just not the way you want me to."

Selena sucked her teeth but didn't argue. He had a point.

They sat there for a moment, passing the blunt back and forth, the silence between them comfortable.

Finally, Von spoke. "You like it out here?"

Selena glanced over at him. "Baton Rouge?"

Von nodded.

Selena thought about it for a second. "Yeah. It's different, but I like it. It feels..." She trailed off, trying to find the right word.

Von studied her. "Like home?"

Selena hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Maybe."

Von nodded like he understood exactly what she meant.

The air between them shifted, something quiet settling in.

Selena tapped the ash off the blunt, her voice softer when she spoke again. "Why you really pull up?"

Von exhaled smoke, resting his arm on the window. "Told you already."

Selena turned to face him fully. "You don't just 'wanna see' people. That's not how you move."

Von chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "You think you know me now?"

Selena smirked. "I think I know enough."

Von leaned in slightly, his voice lower. "You sure about that?"

Selena held his gaze, her pulse kicking up just a little.

Von let the silence hang between them for a second before licking his lips and looking away. "You hungry?"

Selena blinked, thrown off by the sudden change. "What?"

Von nodded toward the street. "I was bout to grab something to eat. You coming or not?"

Selena hesitated for half a second before shrugging. "Yeah... I guess."

Von smirked and started the car.

Selena shook her head, biting back a smile.

She should've known he'd have her outside again.

Days passed, and somehow, Selena found herself around Von more and more.

She wasn't even sure how it happened.

At first, it was just him pulling up randomly, smoking with her, keeping the conversation light. Then it turned into late-night drives, grabbing food, sitting in his car for hours talking about everything and nothing.

And now?

Now she actually looked forward to his texts.

Von: You up?

It was almost midnight when her phone buzzed, but she had been up editing anyway.

Selena: Yeah, why?

Von: Come outside.

Selena shook her head, smiling slightly. He had a habit of doing that—just showing up like he already knew she'd say yes.

And the crazy part? She always did.

Sliding into her slides, she grabbed her phone and stepped outside. Sure enough, that black Camaro was parked in front of her place, Von leaned against the hood like he wasn't in the middle of disturbing her night.

Selena folded her arms. "You love pulling up unannounced, huh?"

Von smirked. "You love coming outside."

She rolled her eyes but walked down the steps anyway. "What you want?"

Von nodded toward the passenger side. "Get in."

Selena gave him a look. "Where we going?"

Von exhaled a small laugh, shaking his head. "You ask too many damn questions. Just get in."

Selena hesitated for half a second, but they had done this enough times for her to know he wasn't about to tell her until she got in the car.

With a sigh, she climbed in, pulling the door shut as Von slid behind the wheel.

He glanced at her, his grill flashing as he smirked. "Seatbelt."

Selena sucked her teeth but clicked it in place. "You act like you a safe driver or something."

Von chuckled low as he pulled off, the streetlights casting a glow over his face. "Something like that."

They ended up on a back road near the water, parked under the glow of the moon.

Selena sat with one leg tucked under her, a blunt between her fingers as she stared at the water. "I didn't even know this spot was out here."

Von leaned back against the headrest, watching her instead of the view. "You ain't from here."

Selena smirked. "And you don't ever take people out here, do you?"

Von's lips twitched, but he didn't answer.

Selena exhaled smoke, shaking her head. "Figures."

A beat of silence passed before Von spoke again. "Why you move out here?"

Selena glanced at him. "I told you already."

Von shook his head. "You told me what you do. I'm asking why here."

Selena was quiet for a second, staring at the smoke curling in the air. "...I needed something different."

Von nodded like he understood. "You running from something?"

Selena smirked. "Maybe."

Von's eyes didn't leave her face. "You ever gon' tell me?"

Selena turned to look at him fully. "You ever gon' tell me why you always so quiet?"

Von smirked slightly but didn't answer.

Selena shook her head. "Figures."

Von watched her for a long moment before he leaned forward, plucking the blunt from her fingers. Their hands brushed, and for some reason, that small touch sent heat creeping up her neck.

Von noticed. His eyes flicked to hers, amusement flashing across his face.

Selena looked away quickly. "You annoying."

Von chuckled, bringing the blunt to his lips. "And you nosy."

Selena sucked her teeth. "I just like knowing who I'm around."

Von exhaled smoke, tilting his head slightly. "And who am I?"

Selena bit her lip, watching him. "Still figuring that out."

Von smirked. "Good luck with that."

Selena rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile creeping onto her lips.

The night air was cool, the music playing low through the speakers, the tension between them thick but easy at the same time.

Selena didn't know what this was between them yet, but one thing was clear.

She wasn't in a rush to figure it out.