“I’m down.”
“Okay, I’ll text you the address, and I’ll meet you there.”
It was going to take me about twenty minutes to get to the restaurant, so I went to find something to wear. I wasn’t going to look homeless, but I for sure wasn’t trying to do too much. It didn’t take me long to decide on a cute little tennis dress from Alo. It was white and trimmed in navy. After brushing mascara onto my lashes and swiping gloss across my lips, I grabbed a pair of sneakers from my closet, sprayed some perfume, clasped a watch around my wrist and was ready to go. I had slicked my hair back into a ponytail after my shower, so I didn’t have to do my hair.
My thoughts drifted to Lucci. I hadn’t talked to him since I got home, but there was no need for me to call him when I was on my way to meet Gavin. I’d just call him after. Lucci and I were both thinking of one another because I had just fastened my seat belt when he called me. My belly fluttered because I wanted to talk to him, but I was scared to tell him that I was on my way to meet Gavin. But why? We weren’t a couple, and it wasn’t a date in my opinion.
“Hey.”
“Niggas hard headed as shit. I told you to text me when you landed.”
“I know you did, and I’m so sorry. My dad called me two seconds after I walked off the plane, and then my Aunt Torrie called. When I got home, I took a shower and got straight to work. I have new clients that are anxious to start the home buying process.”
“Sounds like you’re in the car. Where you headed? Leaving the office?”
“No, I worked from home today. I was just going to chill around the house, but I got invited out for a quick bite to eat.”
“With who?”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t really expect him to ask. “Um, this guy, Gavin.”
“Oh, that’s why you didn’t hit me up? You’re going out on a date?”
“No. He literally just called thirty minutes ago. It’s not a date. He’s new in town and just wants someone to show him around and hang with here and there. It’s strictly platonic. I gave him my number when we weren’t even speaking.”
“Gotcha. This how you get your lick back.”
His comment made me draw back with a frown. “Lick back? Are you kidding me? I just said we’re hanging out as friends. We’ve never been in a relationship, Lucci, so I can’t cheat on you. But I don’t want to have sex with anyone else. I don’t want to date.”
“But you can hang out with niggas?”
I released a frustrated groan. “Bro, you’re really blowing me. I told the man I was single, and he asked for my number. After we had sex in your car when he hit me up, no I didn’t say hey, we can’t be cool anymore because I’m having sex with someone. I planned to talk to him while we ate and let him know that I wasn’t looking for anything serious.”
Lucci chuckled. “This is the shit that I was talking ‘bout. That love bullshit will fuck you up every time. Fucking with a person because it feels good will have you in way more trouble than if you just found a solid muhfucka.”
“The fuck are you trying to say?” I snapped. “Please elaborate, so you can get cussed the fuck out.”
“I don’t need to elaborate on shit. I never had to worry about Kiandra going out and hanging with other men.”
“Well go back and be with Kiandra! She was the most loyal and solid person on the planet, and you weren’t happy with her ass! You not about to sit here and throw the next female in my face. Nigga is you cool?” my voice had risen at least two octaves.
“Enjoy your date, Breezy.”
The moment he ended the call, I screamed like a lunatic. Annoyed wasn’t even the word. It was obvious that being honest didn’t get a person anywhere. I should have lied and told him I was meeting one of the girls but nah fuck that. I knew he had just gotten out of a relationship, but if he didn’t want me saying anything period to other men, he’d better cuff me. That not exploring other options while single was lame as hell. No, I didn’t want anybody else, but what was wrong with hanging out with someone as a friend? If he decided next week that he wanted Kiandra back, I’d be looking stupid.
My mood was ruined, and I knew I wouldn’t be good company, but it was too late to back out. I didn’t want Gavin to view me as a person that played games. When I arrived at the restaurant, I left the engine running while I flipped down the sun visor to check my hair and face. After all the drinking I’d done in Bali, I didn’t want to see or smell any alcohol for at least a month, but I felt if I didn’t at least have a glass of wine to mellow me out, my mood might not be the best. I was still fuming. Lucci basically said had he stuck with Kiandra he wouldn’t have to worry about her hanging out with other guys.
I really wanted to check his location, go where he was, and smack fire out of him. But I wasn’t going back on my word to Gavin. My phone vibrated in my lap, and I saw a text message from Gavin that he had arrived. With a deep sigh, I closed the sun visor and exited the car. I spotted Gavin walking toward the door of the restaurant, and though he was cute, he wasn’t Lucci. I had to roll my eyes at my damn self. It was supposed to be fuck Lucci, and I was comparing Gavin to him.
When he reached the door, Gavin looked over his shoulder and spotted me. He held the door open, and I thanked him as I eased past him. Once we were seated, he started the conversation. “You’re not jet lagged?”
“I slept on the flight, so it was cool at first, but it’s starting to kick in now. I think as soon as I leave here, I’m going to head home and get in bed. How was your day?”
“It was good. My job is cool. I can’t complain. I’m starting to like Diamond Cove a lot.”
“That’s good.”
I hoped Gavin would keep the conversation very appropriate and platonic. If he started flirting too much or being sexual, I was going to hit him with the, ‘I’m not looking for anything and that includes sex,’ speech. For a split second, I thought maybe I should entertain him since Lucci was being an asshole, but that wasn’t what I wanted. I used to have the date them all mindset, but I already knew that as long as I had any interest in Lucci, another man didn’t stand a chance. Even when I was pissed with him, I knew that once the anger subsided, I’d be right back in his face and in his bed. I wasn’t folding first, however. If we spoke again, it would be because he came to me. And I was going to be sure to let him know that he didn’t have too many more times to throw Kiandra in my face.
