Page 132 of Curvy Girl Summer

“No, ma’am,” she interrupted. “I told you to go on a date with the other one—what’s his name? Jerome?”

“Tyrone,” I corrected her.

“I told you to go on the date with Tyrone so you could check out your other options because Lennox isn’t working. You said he only talked about himself.”

“I know. I’m going to let him down after he gets back from his business trip. I can’t take another date with him. I can’t believe I used to think that we had great conversations when it was just this man telling me his life story.”

“Good! You need to see what’s up with someone else and quick. What about one of Ahmad’s friends?”

Just his name coming up unexpectedly made me clench.

“I wouldn’t go there,” I replied.

“Why not? You need to tell the bartender that if he puts you in the friend zone, you’re going to end up in his friend’s phone.”

I laughed so hard. “What is wrong with you?”

“A lot, apparently. I had to tell this man that he needed to enjoy me while he had the chance because I’m a one-link wonder.”

“Yeah, you have lost your mind,” I snickered. “But I admire that about you.”

“What are you going to do about Saturday, though?” Nina asked.

“I’m going to see what Tyrone is talking about, and if it works well, I’ll just ask him if he wants to be my date for Saturday. If that doesn’t work out, I will figure something out.”

“I have no doubt you will. Oh, girl, let me call you back. My insignificant other is beeping in, and we have plans for Thirsty Thursday.”

I love Nina so much!

“Okay, I’m going to bed, so call me tomorrow,” I said.

“I’ll call you nice and early. I want to know more about this Tyrone character, and I want to know the latest with Ahmad.”

We said our goodbyes, and then I immediately went to sleep.

I woke up feeling much better than I had when I went to sleep. After a long, hot shower and a big bowl of cereal, I slipped into my favorite bright pink pantsuit and paired it with a sexy black camisole underneath. I spent an exorbitant amount of time on my hair, and I even glued on some lashes.

“It’s a new day,” I told myself, checking out my reflection in the mirror. “And I look good.”

I took a step back and eyed my shoes. They were sexier than my typical work shoes, but they were comfortable, and I felt like being a little extra today. With a glance at the clock, I realized that I was going to be late.

Opening the front door, I was startled by an envelope sitting on my welcome mat. I looked around, not seeing anyone. Cautiously, I leaned down and picked it up. Opening it carefully, I caught a glimpse of a card. The sound of my heart thumped in my ear as I backed my way into my apartment. My body knew who it was from before my mind even registered it.

I peeked inside enough to see Ahmad’s name at the bottom of the card, and I shut my eyes tight.

I can’t do this,I thought with a shake of my head.Not right now.

I was already a few minutes behind schedule, so instead of reading the note right then and there, I stuffed the envelope in my bag. I wasn’t going to get my emotions all stirred about. Rolling my shoulders back, I marched out of my apartment and to the elevator.

When the door slid open, it was a little crowded. If I hadn’t spent that extra time on my hair, I would’ve just taken the next elevator. But I needed to get to work. I stepped inside and counted five people in there already—including Ahmad.

My eyes widened when I saw him in the back corner, almost directly behind where I was about to stand. Holding in a gasp, I immediately spun around and faced the front.

I’ve never seen Ahmad in my building, and all of a sudden, when I’m trying to avoid him, he’s right here!

Even though there was someone between us, I could feel Ahmad’s eyes boring into the back of my head. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I shifted uncomfortably and stared at the floor numbers as they lit up. Soft jazz music and the gentle buzz of the elevator descending were the only sounds that filled the small space. I shifted my gaze to the metal door that reflected the blank stares of almost everyone in the elevator—except Ahmad’s.

His eyes were trained on me. His gaze swept up and down my body. I knew I was being watched, but I was unnerved as I watched him watching me. I took a deep breath and shifted my eyes to my reflection.

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