Page 15 of Free to Love You
I laughed and kissed her on her cheek again, then headed back to the kitchen. I looked down at my attire before I stepped in. I was still in my business attire without the jacket.
I stood in the doorway of the kitchen to take her in. A smile rose to see that she was still wearing her hair out. It was sitting on top of her head in a messy bun. Another change that I noticed was her clothing. She still wore a long dress. Now it was a common maxi dress that you would see on females with three-quarter sleeves. Her back faced me.
“You look beautiful, Love,” I complimented.
Her body stiffened. Her breathing hitch was noticeable. Her turn around was slow and dramatic.Oh, she’s wearing lip gloss now.“Hi, Erygon. How are you doing?”
“I’m good, Love. How are you? I smell you’re making my favorite cinnamon rolls.” My ass had those damn apple cinnamon rolls at least three times a week. She’d started making these chocolate, peanut butter rolls that were good as hell too.
Everything about this woman was radiant as fuck. It was crazy because we were polar opposites. Most would think I wanted a woman that was more worldly. I wasn’t sure if that was the correct adjective, but it was the one that fit most right now. Most would think that Hope was more my speed. In my younger years, I would agree. She did fit the street life that I used to live.
“I’m doing very well. I start school again really soon, so I’m excited about that. Your mother helped me enroll at Trident Technical College,” she revealed.
Both of my brows rose. “Oh, that’s what’s up. What degree are you shooting for?”
She wiped her hands on her apron. There was this spark of something in her eyes, but I wasn’t sure what it was. “Oh, um, I’m actually trying to get my G.E.D. We only go to school until the eighth grade. I want to eventually go to culinary school.”
Now that was something that I did not know. “Oh, okay. Let me know if you ever need a study buddy. I’ll help you in any way that I can.”
“I’m sure you don’t have time to help me being a doctor and all. Thank you though. Oh, and if I didn’t thank you for helping me when the lounge situation happened, thank you.”Did she just blush?
I walked closer to her. For her comfortability, I didn’t get into her personal space. I stopped just short of it. “I don’t care how busy I am. I will always make time for you. Plus, I just accepted a new position that will give me more personal and family time.” I took another small step toward her. “You know one of the first things that I want to do with that personal time?”
Her nervousness played on her face. It was cute. I hoped that eventually she felt more comfortable with me so she wouldn’t be nervous around me. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to take you on a date.” I held my finger up because I saw no thank you about to leave her kissable lips. “I know how you feel about being alone with a man. I was thinking that our first date could be me, you, and Ayriss. We could do something kid friendly.”
To this day,I didn’t know why Hope left me at the lounge. I didn’t do anything to her to make her do that. She never gave any inkling that she didn’t like me, but clearly, she didn’t. That was fine. I was used to people not liking me. What was not okay was thinking that you could treat me wrong. I was meek and quiet, but not a push over.
When Erygon showed up at that bathroom door, I wanted to kiss him. I could tell that he came straight from work. I appreciated him and his mother because they made sure that I was alright. Ms. Beauvia insisted that I stay in her house instead of my apartment. I didn’t mind at all. As much as I loved my apartment, I loved her house more.
One major change that resulted from my visit to the lounge was my wardrobe. I wanted to change it, but I still wanted to honor my modesty. I already had a few outfits that I ordered. Beyuna and Ms. Beauvia helped me order more. Beyuna even flew in for a few days to take me shopping. She worked remotely so she had a lot of autonomy.
I’ve taken a liking to wide leg pants. They flattered my body and weren’t too form-fitting to make me feel uncomfortable. I also liked to wear my hair out now. All this time I never thought that the outfits I’d worn since I was a child made me hot. Now that I didn’t wear them, my body told me differently.
It was crazy that I couldn’t get Erygon off my mind and here he was asking me on a date. I had only been asked on a date once when I was sixteen. I said yes, but he canceled not even a day later. “I was thinking that our first date could be me, you, and Ayriss. We could do something kid friendly,” Erygon suggested.
“Oh, okay. I don’t think that I saw this coming.” I really didn’t. He was so close to me. I wasn’t uncomfortable since I had been close to him that night at the lounge.
I thought about his offer to take me out. It was so sweet that he was willing to include Ayriss to make me feel comfortable. That meant a lot. “So, you gonna let a nigga take you out, Love? I want to get to know you so we can get this relationship started.”
I started to choke on my spit. He rushed over to pat my back before he found my cup so I could drink some water. Once I cleared my cough, I gazed at him. “You want a relationship with me?”
“I don’t waste time when I want something, Love. I know you’re new to this and we’re going to take our time. Just know when we get to the end of this, we’ll be together. So what you wanna do?”
I felt intoxicated by his confidence. I also felt nervous. “Um, I’m surprised that you are not more geechie than you are. Youhave the twang but it’s different. Compared to your mother you talk very proper.”Why on earth did I say that?
He laughed. “I’ll take that as your nervous response. Just so you know, I can be as geechie as the next nigga. When I’m with my people I am.” He stepped into my personal space. “You want your man to be more geechie?”
What do you say to something like that? His claim of being my man was a lot. I wasn’t sure how I felt about feeling that I liked it. “I would like to go on a date with you. Um, Ayriss doesn’t have to come with us.”
His head bucked. “Oh, you must like me. You’re willing to be alone with me? I like that, Love. It all starts with trust.”
His smile was so beautiful. For the first time, I realized what he wore. “Oh, you look nice today. Did you have something to do?”
“I did. I secured a job that will allow me more time for my family and the woman I want to be a part of my family,” he responded. “I love that for us.”
My cheeks rose and shoulders lifted. Before I could say anything, I heard Ms. Beauvia cursing. My head snapped to Erygon. His face was tight, rightfully so. I followed him as he walked to the front.
