“Amina, are you still there?”
I didn’t realize how quiet I had gone.
“I’m still here.”
“Thank you for telling JaBria to clean up after herself. But most importantly, thank you for rushing over here to them.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Ahh, my heart is relieved,” he stated. “I thought I was going to fight tooth and nail to get an acceptance from you.”
“Just because I said you’re welcome doesn’t mean I’m not still salty. You really had me twisted. I didn’t deserve the attitude, nor did your mother.”
“And you’re right, which is why I’m reaching out to make things right. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Clearly.”
Despite being a loving person, I was a grudge holder. There were cases where I hadn’t talked to people in years. Then there were other people whose apologies I accepted but hadn’t fully forgiven yet. It was something I was aware of, and my siblings gave me slack about it, but I couldn’t shake the trait.
The line went awkwardly quiet again before Jabari spoke up.
“Um... if you weren’t too busy in the next few days, I was wondering if you would allow me to take you out to dinner. You know, to make sure my apology hit home. I wouldn’t feel right knowing that I put a foul taste in your mouth about me.”
“There is no foul taste. Actually, I find your self-awareness impressive. You put your pride aside and took accountability. However, once I’ve been handled a certain way by a person, it’s hard for me to be around them.”
“Thank you. Mama raised me to look at things from everyone’s point of view. I can right my wrongs, but I can’t have you still feeling some type of way about me.”
“I don’t hate you, but I know how to handle you now.”
“Today was busy with the restaurant and stuff. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s beautiful that you have a career and are a successful entrepreneur, but family comes first in my eyes, and I would’ve never acted that way toward them.”
He sighed. “It’s the stress of being an entrepreneur. I’m just a businessman, learning how to juggle family in the mix of all that.”
“So, what do you say? Let me take you out to dinner to show you I’m not this jackass that I accidentally painted myself to be.”
I sighed. “I don’t know. I hear you, but I’m not sure about dinner. Let me think about it. How about that?”
I could tell Jabari was smiling when he answered from the perkiness in his tone. “Okay, bet. I’ll take that. I hope to hear from you soon.”
“One can only hope.”
He laughed. “I feel you. Oh, by the way, I really like the look outside of the scrubs. I mean, you’re beautiful in your scrubs, but the relaxed, messy bun in your hair made me do a double take in a good way.”
My core warmed up. Jabari calling me beautiful was not on my list of things to do today, but I wouldn’t lie. It felt good knowing he saw me as a beautiful person.
“Thank you for the compliment. I’ll call you if I’m up for dinner or whatever.”
“That’s cool. I’ll take that. Have a great rest of your day, Amina.”
The way he said my name sent chills up and down my spine.
“You too, Jabari.”
I quickly hung up the phone and let out the breath I was holding. I needed advice. Jabari was doing something to me in different ways. On one hand, he had me irritated by his behavior, but then he had me feeling things in my soul. I immediately picked up the phone and called Danita, confused about how toaddress these emotions. She answered the phone on the third ring.
“Sister, what’s going on?”
