Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Not A Date

"Gus, my boy, I need to wash that blanket."

Attempting to pull the filthy fleece out from underneath him, the big guy rolls onto his back, sprawling out and letting me know that the laundry is going to have to wait for another day.

I give up, giving him belly scratches instead.

The bell over the front door catches my attention, but Charity is at the front desk, and she can greet whoever is walking in — she does that desk every day but Sunday, which belongs to church — so I bring my focus back to the lazy as hell yellow Lab on his back.

"Mr Zondi, welcome back," Charity says, causing my spine to stiffen and my stomach to fill with nerves.

I haven't seen or spoken to that beautiful man since the gala over a week ago, and that's because I'm scared. I'm scared that he truly is nothing like the things this country has decided about him. I'm scared that he's good. No, I _know_ he's good. I think I knew that before the Sikhona gala, but it was confirmed when I learned that the foundation was as much his creation as it was Sibisi's.

But I have no idea why he puts on a front for the rest of the world, pretending to be someone he's not. He claims never to lie, but that seems like a huge one, and if he can lie about that, is he lying about his feelings for me?

I'm scared, plain and simple.

"And who do we have with us today?" Charity asks.

"This is LJ, Mma Ngoepe," I hear Zondi say.

"Hi!" a small voice rings out, making me laugh silently as my heart aches. I stay quiet, unsure whether I want Zondi to know I'm here.