While We Wait (One Shot Anthology)

Promise (Erik Stevens)

The door slams shut, echoing through the house and Erik pokes his head out the room, the pitbull Killmonger doing the same.

"ERIK!"

He looks down at Killmonger who looks up at him.

"Should I go down there?" He whispers.

Killmonger gives a soft bark.

"But I don't want to die!"

Killmonger seems to shrug before they hear Jovan stomping up the stairs.

"Abort! Abort! Come on!"

Erik yanks Killmonger into the room making the stunned pitbull give a yelp as he closes the door as quietly as possible. He locks the door as he and Killmonger hide behind the desk. The door knob rattles and they hear her growl.

"Erik...open the door."

Killmonger and Erik look at each other before they heard a click and the door swings open.

"I'm too young to die!"

Killmonger wiggles away, appearing in Jovan's eyesight. He barks as she kneels to his level, petting his head.

"Where's Erik Kill?"

Erik quietly says a prayer that he doesn't expose him. He feels a wet nose on his arm and he opens one eye to see Killmonger siting there as Jovan stands there. Erik slowly looks up and smiles.

"Oh, hey babe. I didn't know you came home."

"Don't hey babe me. You didn't do what I asked you to do!"

Erik slowly stands before seeing her eyes are red and see the tear tracks on her face.

"Wait: were you crying?"

Her anger is immediately gone as she turns away. She rubs her face as Erik pulls her into a back hug.

"What happened? Parents?"

"Parents. Siblings. I'm over it."

"Do you want to talk about it or should I assume the role of punching bag?"

"No...it's not fair to use you as a punching bag."

"But you could. I could do even more than be a punching bag," Erik says with a wiggle of his eyebrows and Jovan roles her eyes but gives a small smile. Erik grins as he kisses her cheek. "Come on. Let's order some takeout and then sit in the garden. You can tell me everything."

Jovan nods.

"Go shower and change. I got a new hoodie—"

Jovan is gone and Erik chuckles. It's so easy to make her happy.
🍷 🍜
"So what happened?" Erik asks, slurping some of the ramen noodles into his mouth as Jovan sighs, tapping her chopsticks against the bowl. They're in the backyard which Jovan has transformed for the colder temperatures, planting shrubs and trees that can withstand the upcoming winter. She leans back.

"I need to move out. That's what."

"I keep telling you to move in with me."

"Erik..."

"I can afford to pay the bills and you know it. That's your damn pride."

"You don't get to talk about pride."

"I think I do. I am the leading expert in it after all."

Jovan smiles as Erik smirks, stealing a piece of her roll and she gives him the evil eye.

"But pretty much I ended up blowing up at my little sister and now I'm the bad guy cause my mom thinks she did something wrong in raising us and my step-dad...ugh just fuck him. So now she wants to do family therapy."