“What do you call it?”
“I don’t know . . . not getting too comfortable.”
I shook my head because she had me fucked up, and I told her exactly that.
“You got me fucked up.”
I moved my chair back, stood, removed the smock, and headed for the door.
“Rowdy, wait. Where are you going?”
I didn’t stop until I was outside, and Noelani wasn’t far behind me, still wearing the smock.
“Go back inside and finish your shoes. I need a minute.”
“Rowdy, I?—”
“Give me a minute.” The firmness and bass in my voice startled her. “My bad. I’ll be back inside in a minute.”
She nodded solemnly and went back inside. This was one of those times I wish I had a mature male in my life who I could go to for advice. I thought Noelani and I were on the same page after she tried to ghost me, but clearly, we were going into this with different mindsets.
I paced back and forth for a minute before deciding to call my uncle. He was married for twenty-two years, but I wasn’t aware of him dating anyone seriously in the ten years since his wife died. Hopefully, he could still give me some advice.
“What’s up, Nephew? Everything okay?” he questioned when he answered the phone.
“Everything is good, for the most part. I, umm, I need some advice.”
“I’ll help you if I can.”
“I’ve been seeing someone for a few months, and she just said some shit that pissed me off.”
“Okay. I take it you like this young lady, and things between you two are serious.”
“Yeah. Or at least I thought so.”
“What makes you think differently now?”
I shared the details of the conversation between Noelani and me. He listened without interruption, waiting until I was done to give his thoughts.
“Women are strange creatures, Nephew.”
“No shit.”
“Have things been going smoothly between you up until this point?”
“We had a slight hiccup when we first met, but it’s been cool since. She invited me, Ma, and Mina over for Sunday dinner, and I met her whole family.”
“Already? You’re moving fast, but that sounds promising.”
“We are, and I thought so too.”
“Do I hear a but coming?”
I sighed because I felt like a bitch out here talking to my uncle about my damn feelings.
“Sometimes, it seems like she’s trying to slow things down.”
“How so?”
