“The park was free. Coffee at Tasty Dog may have only taken five dollars out that man’s pocket.”
“Everything isn’t about money.”
“You telling me or you telling yourself?”
“Doesn’t matter, we are going on a proper date tonight to a Mexican restaurant.”
“That’s lovely, just make sure you are taking your birth control pills because I’m not going through that mess with you again. You pee’d on your hand, remember?”
“I didn’t forget. Brandon bought condoms.”
“Uh-huh, right? You so damn gullible. He did that to shut you up.”
Was she right or just saying anything? “Whatever, have you seen my Sugar Rimmed Gloss?”
“Yes. It’s in the bathroom.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You left it on the sink. I put it in the drawer.”
“Oh.”
“Are you coming home tonight, Princess Tiara?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What if he wants to go back to his place? Wait, does he have a place?”
“Yes, he has an apartment. I just haven’t been there yet.”
“You should try to see what it looks like. Does he have a roommate?”
“No, he lives alone. Right now, I’m more comfortable just going out and coming here.”
“Still be careful. He seems cool, but you still don’t know him. These men will switch up on you real fast, quick and in a hurry.”
“That’s true. Nick did.”
“Don’t even get me started on that fool.”
“I thought you said I should talk to him.”
“You should. I just don’t like liars.”
“Liars, what did he lie about?”
“That’s not even my business. That’s a conversation for you and old boy.”
“You are my friend. Why are you keeping secrets from me?”
“Nope, it’s not my place. I’m not trying to put anybody’s business out in the street.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way. I think this is really fucked up.”
“Fine, if he doesn’t come clean, I will tell you everything I heard about him.”
Tami and I were close, but we didn’t think alike at all.
“When I meet with him, you just feel it would be better for me to be ambushed? I’m supposed to go in there not knowing a damn thing about why he dumped me.”
“No, I already told you he was seeing someone. You know that much.”
“Did he dump me for this girl?”
“I don’t know. It sort of looks like that might be the case.”
“That’s really fucked up. That would mean he was cheating on me while we were together. I must be really dumb. I suspected nothing. I thought he was a wonderful boyfriend. I thought we had a future. We were together all the time. When did he have time to be sneaking around with some tramp?”
“I don’t know. Ask him.”
“The whole thing just pisses me off. I didn’t think he was that type of guy. Literally, you can’t trust any of these men. I didn’t see any signs. I’m glad I’m seeing Brandon.”
“Why?”
“Because now I won’t fall for any of that bullshit that might come out of Nick’s mouth. He really hurt me. I met Brandon, and it’s like that hurt almost got cancelled out.”
“They say to way to get over one man is to get under another one.”
“Whoever said that mess was a goddamn genius.”
“Send me text if you spending the night out. I need to know you’re safe.”
“I’m coming home. I’m not about to be acting like a hoe.”
“I think that ship has already sailed. But fo’ real ain’t no such thing as a hoe. Grown ass single women can sleep with grown ass single men.”
“Whatever, I’m leaving in five minutes.”
“Okay bye.”
I left Tami’s room and scurried down the hall to the bathroom. My lip-gloss was right in the top drawer, just like Tami said.
* * *
There was more traffic than I thought there would be. The thirty-minute drive was smooth and only made better when Brandon let Jill Scott drift through his truck speakers. I’d never been to Perla Negra Mariscos restaurant. I was just happy Brandon could pick an eatery without asking me to do it for him. One of Brandon’s positive qualities was he knew how to take charge. I found that extremely sexy.
I had never seen him in going out clothes so I was pleasantly surprised when he was wearing a pair a black jeans and I long sleeve dark gray shirt. He was even wearing nice shoes. I was impressed. He cleaned up well.
As we entered there were people standing in the vestibule. He held my hand and smiled at me. Our magnetic connection set my heart blaze. He wasn’t perfect and something about that made him special, better. My ex was perfect, and he turned out to be a whole snake. But I wasn’t going to think about that boa constrictor tonight. I planned to focus all my attention on a man that was solely focused on me.
Brandon pulled me in for a quick kiss on the lips. He followed up with a tight hug. His neck smelled of cologne or maybe aftershave. I could never tell the difference. But he smelled really good.
The restaurant was dimly lit. It was a small, elegant place with a modern feel and minimal decor. The waitress seated us at a table near the window. I zoned out as she went on about the specials. As soon as she was gone I opened my menu.
“I know I said it in the car, but you look nice.”
“Thank you.” He looked good too, but I didn’t want to say it right after he’d said it to me.
“That dress on you is yummy. Yellow is your color.”
“Thanks.” I’d heard that a thousand times, but hearing it from Brandon felt different.
We sat in silence as we both looked over the menu for a few seconds.
“You see anything good?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“I’ve never been here before. I took a look at the online menu so I think I know what I’m going to try.”
“You do? What’s that?” I leaned close to the table to hear him better. As my breasts pressed into the table Brandon’s eyes went from my eyes to my boobs.
“The sirloin steak.” He muttered. His eyes found their way back to me.
“That sounds
