Page 42 of Zimyra

He looks me up and down, then says, “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks,” I say, looking down at myself. I’m wearing a pair of black leggings, a fitted black low-cut blouse, and gold and black sandals.

“So, what’s this place?”

“The Promenade is a place that has a lot of different venues all around,” I say, walking. He falls into stride beside me. I continue, “There are restaurants, ice cream shops, bookstores, bars, escape rooms—it has everything.”

“Nice. We have something similar in Bridgeport. I never got a chance to visit, though.”

“Why not?”

“Work.”

“Work? You must’ve been working for more than one complex?”

“Uh…no. It was just a lot of work,” he says.

“Oh. Okay.”

“So, what were you meeting your friend out here for?”

“Dinner.”

“And thisfriendwouldn’t mind that you’re out here with me?”

I grin and answer, “No.”

I know I’m not answering his question, and I love it because he’s been trying so hard to determine what my relationship status is. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing. That’s what men do all the time, right? Keep their various relationships under wraps? Having one woman thinking she’s theonlywoman when she’s really one of a few. Yeah, he looks like that type. Definitely.

“Have you eaten?” I ask.

“No. I worked hard today. I preferred sleep instead of food, so I can definitely eat now. Any good spots out here?”

“Yeah. I was going to go to Canteen. They have the best barbecue salmon tacos.”

“That sounds different.”

“They’re really good if you want to try them.”

“Yeah, okay. Let’s do it.”

We head in the direction of the restaurant and once we arrive, he forges ahead of me and reaches for the door before I can grab it.

“Not this time. We’re not at Atlantic Properties. I get to open the doors now.”

“Thank you,” I say, biting back a smile as I enter. We’re quickly shown to a table and as we settle, he looks around the place.

“So—you said everything went well at work?”

“It did.”

“Did Mauricio ever show up?”

“No, but it’s all good.”

When the waitress comes by, I order a mango vodka cocktail. He gets a shot of Jack Daniels.

When the waitress walks away, he says, “You need a drink to talk to me?”

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