Page 27 of Continuum

“Do you remember my line brother, Demario?” he asked as he pulled off.

The only thing I remembered about his line brothers was that every single one of them was fine as hell. “No,” I answered.

“He’s on the planning committee for HU’s Homecoming and he said if I don’t come back for any of them, I need to come back for this one.” He glanced over at me. “Do you go to Homecoming?”

“I haven’t been in a few years. What about you?”

He told me about the last one he attended as we weaved through traffic and headed to the edge of town. As we pulled into the parking lot, I had to wipe the tears from my eyes from laughing so hard.

“You’re ridiculous,” I told him as we got out of the car. “I don’t even understand how all of that could’ve happened over one weekend.”

“That’s why I don’t come back too often,” he chuckled. “I don’t even drink like that anymore, but when we all get together…” He shook his head. “It gets crazy.”

“I see!” When he unexpectedly put his hand on the small of my back, the humor left my body. In its place, butterflies. I cleared my throat to refocus. “How did you find this place?”

“Demario told me about it.” He grabbed the door handle. “After you.”

I walked into the deceptively large restaurant and came to an abrupt stop. It was clean, simply decorated, and the smell of delicious food smacked me in the face. But it was packed. My stomach rumbled as I imagined what the wait time would be. I placed a hand on my belly as I turned to look at Kwame.

“I don’t think we’re going to be able to eat here today,” I mumbled as the hostess approached us.

“Maybe we’ll get lucky,” he said in a low tone.

I looked over at him.You certainly will.

“How can I help you?” the hostess asked with a big smile. “Table for two?”

“Yes, please,” Kwame answered.

She looked around and then pressed a button on her headset. After a quick exchange with someone on the other end, she flashed us a smile. “We have one table left but it’s an extra-large booth that seats six…” She scrunched her nose. “Would you be opposed to another couple joining you if someone else comes in? It’s highly unlikely since someone is bound to leave soon, but just in case.”

I looked up at Kwame and shrugged.

“Are you sure?” he double checked with me.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“That’ll be fine,” he told her.

With his hand on the small of my back, we followed the woman to our table at the front corner. After asking if I wanted to be on the inside or outside of the booth, he slid in, so he was closest to the window. I hesitated for only a second before he gestured to the space beside him with his head.

As I sat down, he whispered, “If they do seat someone with us, I don’t want anyone next to me but you.”

I bit down on my lower lip as I got settled in my seat. “I’ve never eaten next to someone like this unless I’m at a bar.”

He put his arm around my shoulders and leaned in close. “We used to sit this close during study sessions.”

I turned my head so that our faces were close and inhaled deeply. “Yes, we did.”

After putting in our order of chicken and waffles with the waiter, Kwame and I fell into an easy conversation.

“So, you’re single?” I wondered, thinking back to the comment Tara had made. “No girlfriend? No fiancée? No wife?”

His brows furrowed and he gave me a look. “I am single. I have no girlfriend, fiancée, or wife.” He turned in his seat a bit, putting part of his back against the window so he could really take me in. “You think I would lie about something like that?”

“I think there are plenty of men who lie about their relationship status.” I searched his eyes and exhaled. “No, I don’t think you would. But you don’t know until you ask.”

He smirked. “But I believe you asked me last night…”

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