He stirred every fluid inside of me. I caved long before he reached me.
God, this man…
Is a work– of art.
The platter he held in front of me creased the corners of my lips. I peered at him under hooded eyes that displayed my hesitancy.
“You made this?”
“I did, and I’ve already chosen a movie so you don’t have to spend the rest of the night deciding.”
I paused, completely lost in his rounds. Though his mouth was moving and I understood each word that came from it, I was still struggling to get over his attempt at a decent meal for dinner.
“The chicken– you cooked it?”
He nodded proudly.
“In grease. You fried this chicken?”
I was impressed to say the least.
He shook his head. “Nah. The air fryer. My Moms said that’s about as best as I’m gon’ get on such short notice.”
“You called your mother?”
Shocked, I took the seat I was standing next to. Fohr took the seat beside me. He placed the platter between us.
“And told her I had a date, too. She helped me out a little. I’d already had it figured out for the most part. Just needed confirmation I was doing it the right way. I didn’t want you choking off uncooked meat,” he joked.
“I don’t eat meat, Fohr,” I replied.
“Which is why–” he paused, waving his hand over the rest of the options, “I made sure to get some things I knew you’d love on this platter. The chicken is for me, but I needed it to be perfect in the event you decided to bend your rules and take a bite.”
“Well, thank you, Fohr, but no thank you. I’ll have the veggie options and have some popcorn,” I explained.
“I figured.”
Carrots, celery, buttered popcorn, fries, and two peanut butter sandwiches circled the oversized plate. Though random, I had the urge to have a little of everything except the fries that I wanted Fohr to have with his chicken wings and ranch dressing.
Fohr slid from his chair and kneeled in front of mine. I observed, anticipating every move he made. Anxiousness grew in my belly as he looked up at me with his pearly white teeth on full display. He removed the dark brown platform mules from my feet and sat them beside me.
The dress I wore that matched my shoes in color rose slightly as he pressed the button on the chair to recline it. A thick gray blanket followed. His eyes never left mine as he leaned forward, palms pressed against my seat, and stared lovingly into my eyes.
Words were at the tip of his tongue. I could feel them as much as I could feel him knocking at my heart’s door, requesting access.
“Are you comfortable, Kit?”
“Yes,” I confessed. “I am.”
Avoiding my fate was no longer an option of mine. I was ready to face it head on. I was ready to face him head on. The newly acquired information removed the shackles that kept me bound and out of Fohr’s way. Now that I knew the truth about his breakup and the lifetime supply of condoms in the secondary master suite, things were different. I was different. And, he was different.
“Suddenly.” He chuckled. “It's not the movie I want to watch, sweet baby. It’s you.”
He bowed his head as his cheeks peaked and his skin turned a shade I’d never seen before. I slid forward in the chair, cupped his chin in my palm, and placed my eyes on his. It was my turn to watch him unravel. I waited patiently as he burst from the seams. When I felt like he’d had enough, I finally spoke.
“Then, it looks like you should’ve chosen dinner, Fohr.”
“I’m no good in the kitchen, Kit.”
