When we pulled into the parking lot of the mall, she said, “Ooh, are we going shopping?”
“We are. I need to know your sizes and style for future reference.”
Enjell eyed me skeptically before chuckling and nodding her agreement. I got out and walked over to her side of the car. After she was out, she asked, “So you have this and the Charger. Do you have any other cars?”
“Nah, just these two, but I want a pickup truck as well.”
“Typical. I bet once you get it, you’ll all of a sudden have work to do around somebody’s house.”
I laughed because that was the same thing that happened to my cousin and friend when they got their pickup trucks. We walked hand in hand into the mall and ended up staying for just over an hour. She ended up getting a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps that I couldn’t wait to have dangling from my shoulders, along with a couple of dresses. After I took her to Elite’s jewelry store, we’d head to the actual date location.
“I know I told you I like gifts, but I don’t want you to think you have to always buy me stuff,” Enjell said.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to love you the way you want to be loved. If that’s buying you shit and bringing you flowers, that’s the literal bare minimum that I can do.”
I saw her blushing out of the corner of my eye as she remained silent. After several seconds passed, she asked, “So how can I make you feel loved? With what kind of service?”
“Bringing me lunch that day had me smiling all day. Stuff like that works. I don’t think there’s a specific list. Just… whatever you feel led to do, I’ll appreciate.”
Her eyes rolled as she smiled. “So, cook for you. What about your home? Is it in order while you’re gone? You do your laundry and keep the house clean?”
“It’s fairly easy to keep it clean because it’s a small loft. Laundry is a different story. I do have a habit of letting that pile up because I have so many clothes to choose from.”
“Okay, I’ll handle that. You can either give me a key or bring me your dirty clothes before you go to the station, then pick them up when you’re getting ready to head back home.”
I looked over at her, and it was my turn to do so silently. I wanted to tell her she didn’t have to do that, but I appreciated the gesture. The rest of the ride was spent vibing to the music that played. We both liked old school music, gospel, and R&B. I liked true Hip Hop, not a lot of the mumble rap that was popular today. The playlist we were listening to was a mix of Tupac, Nipsey Hussle, and Kendrick Lamar. I was surprised she knew and could rap along to as many of the songs as she did.
That made me like her a little bit more.
“Hmm…” Her curiosity piqued as we headed toward the event center. “What’s in here?”
“You’ll see in a moment.”
“Ugh.”
I laughed and led her inside. For our first date, it was important to me that it be something recreational. I didn’t think the classic dinner and a movie would have been awkward, but I wanted something that wouldn’t feel overly intimate to keep her out of her head. Getting her to even agree to this was a surprise, and I didn’t want her to feel like things were moving too fast between us.
For the next six hours, we had an immersive date that included candle making, a cooking class, and a three-course dinner that we prepared for one another. I already knew she could cook from the lunch she prepared, but having a meal fresh from her hands tasted like a true gift. If she wanted to get serious with her cooking, I’d back her 100 percent. I told her as much, making her smile.
“This was really fun, Dejvi. It was the perfect first date. You combined cooking with two of my favorite hobbies and doing them with you made this even more special.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Does that mean I earned a second date?”
“Yes,” she cooed before taking a sip of her wine.
“What opens you?”
“Hmm?” Enjell asked, looking up at me with those dark, slanted eyes that kept me hypnotized.
“What makes you melt?” Her mouth opened and snapped shut. “How do you like to be pleased?”
Her hand covered her throat as she chuckled quietly. “You mean sexually or in general?”
“Both.”
“In general, I love an intentional man. A considerate man. One who pays attention. Those three things are like an umbrella that cover a whole lot more. Sexually… you did a lot of what I like that first night. We did a lot, so it was kind of all over the place.”
We shared a laugh, and my dick started to harden as something in the pit of my stomach stirred.