Page 18 of Isn't She Lucky
“Diedra, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
I take another sip, prompting my eyes to squint while my brows snap together, trying to steady myself. The burn meandered down my throat while the taste on my tongue remained strong and potent. I blink rapidly, shake my head, and wince. Placing the glass on the table, I say, “Okay, enough of all that.”
I clear my throat, release a long, slow breath to preface what I’m about to say, then just decide to go for it. “I know him, Diedra.”
“What! How? Who is he? I have so many questions.”
“You remember me telling you about the friend I had when I was growing up—the one I was really close with?”
“Yeah—the boy who kissed you?”
“Yes. Him. His name is Kasim Noble. He was my…date.”
“Oh, my God. Aren’t you lucky? You were so in love with him back in the day, and boom—here is your chance to reconnect.”
“Stop it. I was not in love with him.”
“You were. Every time I turned around, it was Kase, Kase, Kase. You used to talk about him all the time when we were in high school. We were freshmans. Remember?
Of course I remember. Kasim was my world for a good six and a half years – that is, until his mother came into the picture and ruined everything. Actually, I can’t put all the blame on her. He was just as much at fault. It was his words that hurt the most.
She continues, “You compared every guy who tried to talk to you tohim, and for some reason, they couldn’t hold a candle to Kasim.”
“You never did tell me what happened between y’all.”
“That was a long time ago, Diedra. There’s no need to rehash the past.”
“Okay, well, at least tell me about your date. I peeked over there at your table and saw you smiling frequently. I thought you were having a good time.”
“I mean, it was a good time. We talked a little about the past, about our parents—”
“Did you tell him you were obsessed with him and that’s why you don’t have a man to this day?”
With an eyeroll, I answer, “I don’t have a man because I don’t want one. I don’t have room in my life for one. They say you attract what you put out there into the world. Right now, I’m a hot mess—”
“Timeout. Hot mess how? You’re doing pretty good to me.”
“I don’t like where I am right now in life. It’s like I’m stuck in a rut and there’s no way out of it. I for certain ain’t about to attract no more mess to my mess. Now, if you would be quiet for two minutes, I can tell you about the rest of the date.”
“Fine.” She grabs a handful of popcorn, stuffs it into her mouth and garbles, “Okay, go.”
I suppose she’s using the popcorn to prevent herself from talking. Whatever works.
I say, “So, he paid for dinner—same as your guy. He ordered a bottle of wine, an appetizer, and we had our individual entrees. Oh, by the way, the restaurant was expensive as crap. I don’t know who organized this event, but they need to do better. We can’t be out here raising money for charity and going flat broke at the same time. I mean, come on.”
“I agree. I guess they just wanted to create an upscale experience, but they should probably find a restaurant with reasonable prices.”
Diedra attempts her drink again.
I say, “So, we were talking, you know…catching up, and then somehow, the conversation turned to money. I tried to change the subject, but he didn’t want to.”
“What was the money conversation about?”
“Money!” I say, then chuckle.
She says, “I know that. Be more specific.”
