Page 21 of Zimyra

“But it can also be a roadblock.”

“A roadblock to what?”

Beaming, she raises her brows and says, “Love.”

“You know what—I ain’t going there with you this afternoon.”

She giggles and says, “I’ma go over there and tell him you requested that he join us.”

“Capri, don’t make me choke you out in this restaurant,” I say amused.

She falls over laughing. “Alright, girl. Jeez. I’ll leave you alone, but I doubt ifhewill with his good-looking self.”

“You think every man is good looking.”

“That’s because they are!”

“No, they’re not.”

“So, you don’t think your handsome maintenance man is good looking?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“I know you didn’t, but I’m asking. Do you think he’s good looking?”

“Yes, but the personality doesn’t match the face, so there’s that.”

“Really, now? We know enough about him to know we don’t like his personality. Hmm…”

“No—well, yes. He doesn’t pass the vibe check.”

“Oh,” she says. “I hate it when that happens. Or, perhaps y’all ain’t been vibing enough. I bet if you gave him a shot, y’all would hit it off.”

“No way.”

She smiles.

“Capri, stop the madness.”

“Nope. I am going to go on record today to say that this man—what’s his name, by the way?”

“I’m not telling you.”

“Whatever. That man at the bar is going to be yours.”

I eat my food and ignore her because this isn’t why I came to lunch. I wanted to clear my head of this guy and spend time with my girl talking about the usual – her ex, my mom, how my brothers get on my nerves, and our next steps in leveling up our lives. But, no. What’s His Face had to wreck that!

I don’t like this one bit. Since he walked into my office last Monday, I feel an interference in my life – one that nags me like a constant ache. I want my normality back. I don’t care if it is a roadblock or whatever Capri said. It’s my life, and it was fine just the way it was before Axel Jennings showed up.

CHAPTER 6

I fall right back intomy afternoon schedule after lunch. I like my job, but one aspect I really love is planning monthly meetups. I come up with an idea for community engagement and then email the tenants and put up flyers around the complex so they can sign up. All events take place in the clubhouse – a large room adjacent to the lobby where I work. This month, I decided on a paint and sip. I did one of these when I first started working here and it was such a big hit, I knew I would plan another one.

Dear Atlantic Tenants:

Good afternoon. I hope this email finds you doing well. Please be advised that our next community event will be a paint and sip coming up in two weeks. To RSVP, please respond to this email if you would like to attend. There will be plenty of food and drinks, so come hungry and ready to socialize and paint. The spots will fill up fast. All painting supplies will be provided. Hope to see you there.

6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

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