Page 12 of Owen's Heart

OWEN

Saturday Night

I blow out a long breath as I drive up to Mildred’s white clapboard home with black shudders. It feels like I’m back in school and about to hang out with Rania. The old house still looks as inviting as it did years ago when I was eager to spend time with the smartest girl at school.

I walk up the paved sidewalk toward the porch. Rania meets me at the door wearing a beautiful blue jean dress and black heels. I smile, knowing that she would look stunning in anything. Tonight is no different.

“Hey, I saw you pull up,” she says and offers me a smile along with her greeting. “Give me just a second to grab my purse, and I’ll be ready to go.”

“I’ll be right here,” I tell her and glance around the tidy living room, hoping to spot Mildred.

Rania comes back to the door with her purse in hand. “Are you looking for something?”

“Is Mildred home?” I ask, checking on my one and only true ally in my long-shot quest to get Rania back.

“No, she’s not here. She’s staying in the rehabilitation center to help her recover from surgery, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right.” I snap my fingers. “I hope she gets well soon because I can’t wait until my friend gets home. I’ve been thinking about her.” Having Mildred around lifts everyone's spirits in the town, especially those who come through her cafe's doors. So, I do want her to have a speedy recovery.

“That makes two of us. I miss her too,” Rania acknowledges.

I motion for Rania to walk ahead of me to the car, unknowingly torturing myself with the sight displayed before me now. It’s enough to make a grown man cry. Her voluptuous hips sashaying from side to side drag up the lust I thought I successfully pushed down. But hell no, until I can claim the lovely black queen walking toward my car, I’m still just as fucked as I was before she accepted my offer for a date.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her as I open the door to let her in.

“Thanks. You’re not too bad yourself,” she replies with a coy grin.

With Rania secure inside my Jeep, I rush around and slide into the driver’s seat.

As soon as the engine roars to life, she asks, “Where are we going?”

“Well, I was thinking that it’s been a while since we’ve been to KimberLia’s,” I begin.

“KimberLia’s, wow! You’re right. It’s been forever since we have gone there.”

“It’s been a long time since we have done anything, Rania.” Thoughts of the one time we made love cause my rogue lower region to twitch with an understanding of this statement.

“True,” is her one-word answer. Rania takes her attention back from me and starts staring at the passing roadside scenery.

Craving to have her brown eyes trained on me again, I remind her, “We have some great memories at KimberLia’s. Great times.”

“I know,” she says and steals another glance at me. She appears to be thinking about what she wants to say next. Finally breaking the silence, she asks, “Did you miss me after we broke up?”

“Every damn day.” My response is just as blunt as her question. I let her know, “Not one day went by that I haven’t thought about you. I think of you, even more, knowing you’re back in Prattville, so thanks for going out on this date with me.”

She opens her mouth, then snaps it shut. She wants to say more, and I want to hear what is on her mind. Correction, I need to hear what’s on her mind.

“Tell me what you’re thinking. Don’t shut me out.”

“We’ll get a chance to talk more over dinner. There’s no need in crashing the date before it begins,” she warns with a piercing glare into my eyes.

I train my eyes back on the road and agree, “Fair enough.”

When I pull up to the restaurant, I rush around to help Rania out of the car. Gentlemanly, I place a hand on the small of her back and walk her into the busy restaurant. I am happy when she doesn’t protest me helping her inside.

A smiling hostess greets us at the door and walks us to our seats. I have reserved a quiet area near the back of the restaurant, where we can have some time to catch up without too many disturbances.

Once seated and our drinks ordered, I admire how beautiful Rania looks under the dim lighting. Gosh, she is so lovely.

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