Page 7 of Isn't She Lucky
She’s still in a trance with the guy – doesn’t even respond to me.
I snap my fingers. “Diedra!”
“What?”
“Stop staring at the man and place a bid before that unhinged lady over there gets him.”
She blinks and tosses up her paddle. “Three-fifty.”
“We got a bid for three-fifty—do I hear four hundred?”
“Four hundred,” Ms. Unhinged says.
Apparently, Diedra ain’t the only one who has a thing for chocolate.
“Five hundred,” Diedra yells.
“Five hundred. Do I hear five-fifty? Going once, going twice…congrats, bidder 788!”
“Yes!” Diedra says. “He’s all mine, and I didn’t have to spend a thousand dollars.”
The shade…
Her chocolate man blows a kiss her way, takes a bow and walks off the stage.
I glance at my watch. I’m growing increasingly nervous about going to dinner with Kasim, but I have a plan. I’ll let him carry the conversation until I’ve downed a drink or two. Liquor makes me chatty –so I’ve been told– so hopefully after I’ve consumed some alcohol, I can loosen up a bit, talk to him, and then get home by eleven.
I’m exhausted.
Exhausted and edgy about playing catch-up with an old friend, because can I even call him that? Afriend? Friends don’t do what he did to me.
Gosh, I should’ve never agreed to this.
If I wasn’t here, I would’ve already showered with my lavender body gel and would be lying in bed wearing nothing but a pair of panties, watching House Hunters until I fell asleep.
But I am here, and I should make the best of it, right?
It’s for them doggone children.
2.
I arrive atEssence of Noir, already not liking how fancy this place is. It’s black – the tall walls, the agate tables, the extravagant upholstered chairs, and hints of black in the carpet that remind you of marble. Gold sconces decorate the walls. Hanging from the ceiling are gold chandeliers – not above every table, but enough to keep the light ambient. Personal. Romantic?
Ugh…
This is sonotthe vibe I was hoping for.
Wine glasses, white cloth napkins, and silverware are on the tables – even the ones that are currently unoccupied. It reeks of pretentiousness, high society, and Baccarat. I don’t even like the name.Essence of Noir.Who named this joint? It doesn’t even sound food-related. It’s just a bunch of…a bunch of…boujeeness.Sounds like the name of a boutique that sells gently used Birkin bags and Louis V stuff for about the same price as retail. I doubt I’ll get a hearty meal here. Something that, in my mama’s words, will ‘stick to ya bones’.I can eat like a rabbit on a diet at home,andit’s cheap! This is not the kind of restaurant I’m used to. If I don’t see a blackboard with drink specials written in differentcolors of chalk along with dinner specials, I know I’m at the wrong place.
And this is the wrong place…
The lobby is jumping. Most of the people are from the charity event, but then there are some who are not. And everybody’s dressed to kill – to eat very little and indulge in spirits and conversation. I suppose if I drink enough, I’ll forget how hungry I am.
I look around for my bearded company. The crazy thing is, I’m almost positive he won’t recognize me. I hardly recognized him. It was his eyes that ultimately triggered my memory. I will never forget the way they used to comfort me. The way they used to make me feel. He’s definitely not teenage Kasim anymore, orKaseas I used to call him.
And where is he?
He’s incredibly fine, so I shouldn’t have a problem weeding him out of the crowd. Plus, there’s that emeraldgreen bowtie he had on. I suppose he could’ve changed clothes, but there was no need. He was dressed so fly, changing probably would’ve been a downgrade.
