Page 77 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Lots of good qualities.”

“He’s sexyandhe’s funny. He really called your ass the Pink Panther.” She snickered. “That was funny as fuck.”

“It wasn’tthatfunny.” I rolled my eyes with a smile. “That’s how it is with him, though. Just nonstop jokes and good vibes.”

“I saw a spark between them jokes, though.”

“You didn’t see no damn spark!”

“I did!” She tightened her grip on my arm. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off of you.”

“He was roasting me.”

“Nah, but hewantedto roast you.”

“What?” I sputtered, making a face. “What does that even mean?”

She wiggled her eyebrows. “Oh, you know.”

Laughing, I swatted at her. “You always make everything sexual!”

“Everythingissexual. And if you didn’t see that man checking you out, you are blind.”

“First of all, he’s married. Second of all, I’m not his type.”

“What’s his type?”

“His wife,” I answered. “And India Davis.”

“You know what? If that was his wife, she kinda looks like India Davis. She has the same shape,” she pointed out.

There was a tightness in my chest as I nodded.

I’d noticed that, too.

“But you know what else I find interesting?” Nina continued.

I cleared my throat. “What’s that?”

“There might be trouble in paradise.”

My face crinkled in confusion. “Huh?”

“Ahmad was over here talking to you while his wife continued walking.”

“She was obviously looking for their ride.” I shrugged. “And I’m sure she trusts him. I’ve witnessed him turning down women and respecting his marriage.”

“But he also gave you this”—she shook the umbrella—“on some knight-in-shining-armor shit.”

“He also offered to watch my back while I meet random men from the internet. He’s just a good guy.”

“And the most damning evidence,” she continued as if I hadn’t combated her other arguments. “You two have crazy chemistry.”

I thought back for a moment. “Our friendship is why we have chemistry. We’re really comfortable with each other. That’s all.”

“Nah, this was not friendship chemistry. This was romantic chemistry. This was sexual chemistry. This was AP chemistry.”

I laughed it off. “You are seeing what you want to see. This man was literally with a woman, and he faithfully wears a black band on his left ring finger.”

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