Page 139 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Briefly. But my point is that both men look like Sexiest Man Alive contenders. I don’t think there’s going to be any jealousy.”

“We’re definitely circling back to the fact that you’ve seen the bartender shirtless, but my point was that if Ahmad wants to just be friends, he should have no problem seeing you with that fine-ass trucker.”

Shaking my head, I made a face even though she couldn’t see me. “I’m not trying to make Ahmad jealous. I respect what he has going on. We’re friends.”

“Nah, it’s more than that. I saw the way he was looking at you after that concert.”

“You mean when he called me the Pink Panther?”

“Pink Panther!” Nina squealed, laughing a little too hard and a little too long.

I stopped and put a hand on my hip, glaring at my phone. “All right, that’s enough.”

She laughed so hard she snorted, which caused me to laugh along with her.

“Anyway, Ty seems cool,” I announced, trying to shift the conversation. “He asked me ahead of time about my favorite drink and my favorite thing to eat at Onyx.”

“Oooooh, a man who is thinking ahead? I like that!” Nina exclaimed.

“I said the same thing to myself when he asked!” I pulled my outfit from the closet. “We’ll see if he actually comes with that energy.”

“Either way, you’re going to look good, and if it works, you’ll bring his superhero-looking ass home.”

“You know I don’t fuck on the first date,” I admonished.

“You werejusttelling me that you were tired of these first dates not amounting to anything because you were trying to get fucked on your thirtieth.”

“Yeah, but I’m not going to bring Ty home just to get my needs met. I need to have an actual connection with someone.”

“Well, all summer, you’ve been connecting, and that’s not getting your needs met. And why not see what’s up with a man who looks like a superhero?” She laughed to herself. “He looks like someone famous, but I can’t think of the name.”

My face twisted in confusion. “He does?”

“Yes! I’ll text you as soon as I think of it, but in the picture you sent, I immediately thought of the guy I saw in a movie. He doesn’t remind you of anyone?”

“No one I can think of. Hold on.” I pulled the phone from my ear and clicked on the picture I’d sent her. “I can see what you’re saying, though. He does have that really pulled-together, handsome look that a lot of actors have.”

“No, he looks like someone specific. Ugh! It’s going to bother me until I remember the man’s name.” She sighed loudly. “I’ll let you know when I think of it.”

“Okay, sounds good. And have fun on your date tonight.”

“It’s not a date. We’re just linking up,” she corrected me. “Unlike you, I plan to have my needs met tonight.”

I smiled. “Mm-hmm. Well, have fun linking up with yourdatetonight.”

“Goodbye, Aaliyah.”

“Byeeeeeee,” I sang in return.

I smiled. Nina could deny it all she wanted, but I knew she actually liked that man.

After the call disconnected, I took another glimpse at the photo of Ty.

With dark brown skin, bright white teeth, and a chiseled jawline, he looked good. But to me, he didn’t look familiar.

But I’m looking forward to getting familiar with him.

After showering, I spent the next couple of hours doing my hair.It was a mistake to start two strand twists prior to the date, but it was worth it when I achieved the final look.

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