I looked over at Jabari, whose eyes were on me. He had a smile on his face as he stared back at me.
“Amina, are you serious? Ain’t that some sort of HIPAA violation? You can’t get into a relationship with your patients.”
“He’s not my patient, Gio.”
“Patient, family of patient, patient friend, or whatever, you shouldn’t be doing it. What if your job finds out? Then what?” Gio fussed.
Jabari chuckled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t know or if they’re waiting on me to send the next floral arrangement that had the entire unit smelling of flowers. They know, and I think, if anything, they are happy for Amina.”
For the second time since we arrived, Jabari had shut Gio up. The server returned with our drinks. Danita ordered the family-style entrée for the table. Once the order was placed, Gio started asking his questions again.
“What do you do?”
“I’m a chef, but I’m opening a new restaurant. Next time you come back to the States, your tab is on me,” Jabari stated.
“Oh, so at least someone is working on their goals. When is the opening?”
Jabari chuckled. He caught the shade, along with Danita, because she stared a hole in the side of Gio’s face.
“Soon... soon, but brother, let me ask you something, man to man, nigga to nigga. What’s the problem with Amina’s grown ass dating? She pays her own bills, doesn’t need a man for shit, works her ass down to the bone, but that’s not good enough for you. As a big brother, leader of this family, you spend a lot of time criticizing instead of uplifting. You continue to beat into her head that her career should be her only focus, not realizing your sister is going to die a one-hundred-year-old lady with eighty cats.”
Danita giggled, and I kicked her again.
The entire interaction between Jabari and Gio had me sitting on the edge of my seat. I fiddled with the ring on my finger, praying and hoping the interaction didn’t go left.
“Your sister is an amazing-ass woman. She’s got me looking at shit differently. I tell her all the time she has a spell on me because I’ve never felt like this about a woman, let alone a woman about her business. I’m locked in on your sister, andyou’re gonna have to get used to it, or we can keep doing this premature banter.”
Gio’s face was still. He had no expression. Danita did all she could to not look in their direction. She looked all around the restaurant.
Jabari placed his hand on my knee and rubbed it. “You good?”
“I’m good.”
He lifted my hand and kissed it. We sat in awkward silence before Gio spoke up.
“You really like Amina, don’t you?”
“Very much so. She’s beautiful, and I mean that inside and out. I’m blessed that I finally met her. I was hesitant because my mama just be doing shit, but this is one time I can say my mama was right.”
“Aw,” Danita gushed. “Y’all finna make me cry.”
Here I was, letting a single tear roll down my face. Jabari had done his big one tonight, and I was beyond impressed. I couldn’t contain the feelings that rushed over me. I leaned over and pecked his lips.
“I love you?—”
I froze. I’d always thought about what it would be like when I told Jabari I loved him for the first time. My heart raced as we stared at each other.
“I love you too,” he expressed, smiling and then pecking my lips.
I didn’t care what Gio said or felt. My man had me feeling good all over. I was ready to wrap dinner up and get home to be back in my man’s arms.
“I love this for you, Amina,” Danita said. “You look happy, baby girl.” She looked at Jabari. “Thanks.” She winked at him.
We enjoyed our drinks, conversing between the three of us, while Gio sat there in his feelings. Ten minutes later, the server had returned with our food. She placed the family-style entrees in the middle, and we dug in. Jabari fixed my plate first and then his. Even though I had my own plate, he fed me from his. I giggled and fell all over him as he continued to make me laugh and blush.
Gio cleared his throat, causing Danita and me to huff and roll our eyes.
“Don’t ruin this moment, Gio,” Danita warned.
