“I can’t speak for all women. I don’t know how to respond when you express it the way you do.”
“Say, thank you. That’s it,” Kolby instructed and shrugged. “Let a man tell you how fine you are. If we don’t tell you, women start trippin’ and talkin’ ‘bout how we never say anything nice.”
Savvy giggled. “You can’t be further from the truth. Okay. I appreciate your compliment. Thank you.”
“There you go. Has anybody ever told you how cute your dimples are?”
“You keep the compliments coming, don’t you?” Savvy crossed her legs and sat back in her seat to get a better look at him. “Yes. I hear it all the time. I bet you do, too.”
“Yeah. One of my better features.” He wiggled his tongue in his cheek.
“I’m sure you’ve heard you favor a certain celebrity.”
Kolby shook his head and smacked his lips in defiance. “I know who you’re talkin’ about. I don’t look like that brother. He ain’t got nothing on me.”
“This isn’t a competition. You two could pass for twins, except Idris doesn’t have dimples.”
“He’s old.”
“He’s not old. I think he’s about my age,” Savvy exclaimed. “Wait. How old are you?”
“How old do you think I am?” Kolby smiled and turned to show his profile. “I know you’ve been trying to figure it out.”
“Boy. I don’t know. Tell me.” Savvy swatted him on his arm. She fought back a smile at the feel of his muscles.
“Guess,” he teased.
“Okay. Don’t get mad if I’m way off. I think you’re about…” Savvy squinted to study him. “Forty-five?”
“Not even close. I’m fifty-nine.” Kolby stuck his chest out with pride.
Savvy’s mouth popped open. “No way. You are lying. I can’t believe you’re almost sixty.”
“Ten more months and I’ll be an old man on paper.” He flexed his arms in a bodybuilder pose.
“I need access to your fountain of youth. You don’t even look like you’re fifty anything. I could’ve sworn you were still in your forties.”
“Thank you for the compliment. Okay. Your turn now. How old are you?”
“None of your business,” Savvy replied with haughtiness.
“Wait a minute. Why do women always hide their age? I told you mine.”
“You sure did. I’m not telling you my age. Forget about trying to find out.”
“Unh-huh. Okay. I see how you are.” Kolby tilted his head and peered at her. “You got something to be ashamed of or something?”
“Not at all. It’s not polite to ask a woman her age.” Savvy wagged her finger.
“Why is it okay to ask a man? Why the double standard?”
“It’s the way it is.”
“Okay. Well, my guess is…” He imitated the way she studied him. “Hmm. Not a day over thirty.”
“Boy, please. You know I’m much older than thirty.”
“You callin’ me a liar? I call it as I see it. You have good genes if you’re any older.” Kolby flashed a flirtatious grin.
“Beautiful all the way around.”
“Enough with the compliments. I’m getting a big head now.”
“You should.” Kolby leaned in and stared in her eyes. “Tell me somethin’. Are you single or do you have a husband waiting for you at home?”
Savvy hadn’t quite decided how much to share with Kolby. It had been a long time since she’d been in a serious relationship. All of her dates resulted in casual friendships. She squinted at him before responding, “Yes. I’m single and I don’t have any kids. Never been married.”
“No way. What’s a fine woman like you doing single?”
Savvy let out an exasperated sigh. “I wish I knew.”
“You must be playing hard to get. Or you probably expect too much from a man. You should’ve been married by now with at least two or three kids.”
Savvy sneered. “Why should I play easy to get or not have any expectations? A woman should have some level of standards, right?”
“I’m messin’ with ya. Don’t be so uptight with a brotha.” Kolby held his hands in front of himself as if to protect against her.
“Are you married? Do you have children?” Savvy shot the questions back at him.
“I had a wife. She had other plans. No kids. I didn’t want to bring them into this crazy world we live in. Do you come from a big family? You seem like you would be the oldest child.”
Savvy laughed. “You’ve got me all wrong. I’m an only child. Me and my parents.”
“I bet you were spoiled rotten.”
Savvy shook her head. She decided to change the subject.
“Since you’re asking me all of these questions, may I ask you something personal?”
Kolby’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I’m an open book, sweetheart. Ask me anything.”
“Tell me about the tattoos on your arm.” Savvy pointed to his left bicep. “Why do you have a picture of a revolver with six bullets dripping with blood above the name, Sanai?”
Kolby wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes appeared haunted by inner pain. The smile on his face dropped to a dark, smoldering look. He ran his tongue across his lips before responding. “My homegirl, Sanai, was murdered.”
Savvy slapped her hand to her mouth.
Kolby continued. “After leaving a party one night, her car broke down outside of Dallas on a country road. She tried to find help at a house on a ranch. Some hillbilly claimed he thought he had an intruder when Sanai banged on the door. He met her on the porch with a shotgun and put a hole in her chest.”
“Oh, no,” Savvy exclaimed.
“He murdered a woman who wasn’t even five-feet tall as if she were a threat. He got off. No conviction.” Kolby chewed his bottom lip in reflection. “I vowed I’d handle her killer myself even if it cost me my life behind bars.”
Savvy remained silent and listened. Sadness clouded her mind.
Kolby gazed at his tattoo. He massaged the gun on his arm with his hand. “These bullets represent each of the ones I planned to put into the killer’s body. I’ll never forget Sanai for as long as I live. I got this tat the day after I found out he wouldn’t do
