“What’s the deal? I mean, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know. I’m just trying to figure it all out.”
“Did you hear from Brando today? Your face isn’t telling me any-damn-thing. Please don’t tell me he’s a hit it and quit it?”
“I mean, I don’t think so.” I shrugged. “He texted me a few times today while he was at work.”
“That’s promising.” Tami took her plate of food and sat across the table from me. “What about that other big nose, pale-faced joker?”
“Nick? Yeah, he ambushed me at my job this morning. He was in the parking lot waiting for me like a real stalker. I got out my car, and he was there.”
“Lord.”
“He walked up on me. Scared the shit out of me.”
Tami twisted her lips. “What he got to say?” She placed a huge fork-full of spaghetti in her mouth.
“Nothing really. He wanted to talk to me. I told him hell no. You know I don’t bring my personal business to work. My coworker Mark walked up and saved me. We went into the building and left Nick in the parking lot, looking stupid.”
“What are you going to do when he comes back around?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you going to listen to him?”
“I don’t know. What is there to say? You said he was seeing someone else? You said that, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, I said that.”
“Well, I can assume that didn’t work out. Why else does he have this burning need to talk to me after all this time? I don’t want anyone to want me because something else didn’t work out. I don’t want to be the fallback girl. I don’t want someone to be with me by default. I deserve better than that.”
“You do. Sometimes it’s hard to let go. I wouldn’t normally advise this because I think he’s shady as shit. But maybe you should talk to him.”
“What? Why?”
“Closure. Make him tell you the truth. Put his ass on blast.”
“I get it, but he was gone so long. His exit was so disrespectful. I don’t even feel like I owe him my time. It’s a little too late. What is he going to say— he’s sorry?”
“Maybe he will. Maybe he’ll lie. It’s no secret I don’t like Nick. I really want you to explore other options, but I think sitting down with him will be a good way to move on for good. Get all your questions answered. You need to know it was him and not you.”
“You’re right. If I get this over with he will be gone for good. He came to my job, so he really wants to talk to me. I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder waiting for him to pop out of a damn bush. I will talk to him.”
“Make sure you force him to be honest with you.”
“I can try.”
We both finished dinner. First, I unblocked Nick so I could text him. But what would I say. Hopefully, he had the same cell number. I went back to my bedroom and came up with a few text options.
Number 1. You can have your five minutes.
Number 2. If you want to talk, let’s talk.
Number 3. I’m ready to hear you out.
Number 4. Let’s meet up and get this over with.
I went with the last message and sent the text. I wanted to add, you heartless bastard, but I was trying to keep it classy, hold the bougee, ratchet, sassy, moody and nasty.
Missing You
My workweek went better than expected. There were no hiccups at work, and Mark was there to listen to me vent. He helped me decipher all the text messages that Brandon sent me throughout the week. I needed to calm my ass down, but there was a little bit of fire in me and I didn’t want it to burn out.
I even made an appointment to meet up with my ex on Saturday. I wasn’t ecstatic about seeing Nick. But I was super excited about my date with Brandon.
I couldn’t wait to see him Friday night. We talked on the phone every single day, but seeing him in person would give me a better perspective. It also would give me comfort. I wanted to know where this was headed.
It felt so good to be desired. I didn’t want to give him too much credit, but everything changed when I met him. I stopped daydreaming, and I started living my actual life. It felt great being in the moment.
Brandon made plans to go to a Mexican restaurant a few towns over. Brandon was picking me up. I had to admit, under normal circumstances I would never get into a vehicle with a man I’d only known for such a short time. But Brandon and I had skipped a few steps when it came to proper dating protocol. We had already slept together. We had so much sex that it was enough to keep me sated for the entire week.
The uncertainty of a new relationship was exciting. Brandon was coming to pick me up at seven. I wore my favorite yellow dress. Yellow made my dark skin pop. I always got compliments when I wore yellow. I wore my hair curly. I use my wand to make sure my curls were big and full. My make-up looked natural, but there was one thing missing. I searched my purse, then my other purse, and my make-up bag. I left my bedroom and went down the hall to Tamika’s bedroom.
“Hey!” I called out as I entered. Tami was painting her nails in bed. She’s ruined a comforter or two with bright-colored nail polish. She looked up at me with her observant eyes.
“Girl, its just a date. Why are you so geeked up?”
I rolled my eyes. I would have to learn to stop with the eye rolling. Maybe next year.
“I am not geeked up. I’m geeked on the regular level of geeked.”
“I’m just happy Brando is taking you on a regular date.”
“I’m happy you happy.” I smarted.
“We went on a regular date, two
