Page 26 of Ms. V's Hot Girl Summer

“Nah, but I like this slightly more relaxed version of you, for real. Thanks for that.” Orlando pulled up to a little variety shop on a road with several small-town businesses. We both descended the car and continued to trade jokes, the vibe between us relaxed.

“So, you think we can find your girl here?”

“She is not my girl, and her name is Maria. But no, I don’t think we will find her here exactly. Her grandmother said she’s been doing different work here and there, but she did not mention a retail shop.”

“So why are we here?” I removed my sunglasses at the same time he removed his.

“Because this is where they sell bus tickets, the owner is also a travel agent on the side. If anyone can help, it would be her.”

“Smart… I wouldn’t have thought of a travel agent, even with what I do; I guess it’s such a dying art. How did you know about them?” I stared.

“You know this device they callsmart phone? And in there, it has a website called Goo—”

“Don’t you even think of finishing that sentence.” I shook my head, holding back laughter. Who knew? High school banter still did it for me. Maybe it was because we both knew that age was but a number between us, and maybe I needed to stop thinking in clichés before I got myself in trouble with this man.

A tinkling bell went off the moment Orlando pushed the door open, giving me the honor of walking in first. He was a gentleman, true and true. His momma had done right by him. I said so, and his face twisted but then cleared up with a big smile.

“It’s all I know to be.” He kept cheesing. We kept cheesing at each other. Even as my cheeks started shaking, I held the grin. It felt so natural, so right to hang out with him. Without the boys around, it allowed me to see Orlando the man, not the mentor, not the twenty-five-year-old man—just Orlando.

“Good afternoon, how are you? I’m Delilah,” a Black woman who appeared to be in her fifties greeted us. She broke the spell and we both acted like the teenagers currently in danger of being grounded for the whole summer.

“We’re good thanks, Delilah! Appreciate you asking. I am Orlando, and this here is Trinidad; she is trying to get back to New York today or tomorrow, and we were hoping you could assist her?”

The woman’s smooth features went from serene to “yikes” in less than five seconds.

Damn.

“That is going to be a hard one, ya’ hear? This busy, busy season right now. I know the flights are all booked up from Ofele airport. And the bus rides to the closer towns are all booked up too. But I can search for you. It is going to take me a while, though. Do you want to wait? We have a little cafe next door; it’s owned by my man.”

Just as Delilah finished her sentence, a man walked into the shop. He was probably younger than me, tall and husky. He grumbled, “Good morning,” made a straight line behind the desk, and hugged Delilah. I didn’t see the resemblance, but based on the age difference, he must be her son or something.

“This Mikey, my man. He owns the shop next door. Why don’t y’all sit over there and give me a half hour or so to make some calls?”

Oh, this was her man—her man. This lady could probably be in her fifties. Orlando bumped into me, and I was startled out of my reverie. I looked up at him to find him frowning at me.

“Oh, we get that reaction all the time. Don’t worry, Orlando. The folks in the town are all used to us, but new folks take time to adjust. Usually, people assume Mikey is my son. Can you believe that? Well, technically, he could be with our twenty-year difference, but who cares? I never had children, so no one can tell me, ‘He’s as old as…,’ and Mikey doesn’t want any kids, so he doesn’t mind being with a mature woman. I would think you two would understand.”

Delilah smiled serenely and accepted a kiss on her cheek from Mikey. Then she proceeded to giggle. The woman wasgigglingin the middle of her business. At first I didn’t understand why until I realized we couldn’t see Mikey’s hand, the one closest to Delilah, hidden by the desk.

Oh…well, good for Delilah. They exchanged a few hush words, and finally, the invisible privacy wall they created by being next to each other was lowered to include us again.

“So, the boss says y’all need a cup of coffee?”

“Oh, we need more than that? I’m searching for a family member, too, and I was hoping y’all could help?” I stared at both of them, and their faces grew pensive.

“Yeah, for sure. I mean, I was born and raised here, so if there is anything I can do, I will be glad to do so,” Mikey said with his deep, husky voice and such a kind smile I could understand everything Delilah saw in him.

As if pulled by magic, my gaze switched to Orlando’s, and momentarily, the air grew still around us. His intense regard mesmerized me. Those damn pretty brown eyes seared me, and a myriad of emotions flickered through them as he studied me. I tried to understand what he tried to say with his looks, but my body responded quicker than my brain. A rush of heat traveled from the top of my head down to my feet and back again to settle in my core. It had been years since I felt flutters in my stomach, and pressing against my belly didn’t stop the giddy feeling one bit.

“Oh, look, love, they got it too!” Delilah said to Mikey, effectively busting my bubble.

“Ah, got what?” I hated that my voice shook.

“That magic between you,” Mikey explained in a bored tone, as if I should already know it.

“It’s Ofele, you know, and with carnival almost starting…this is how the two of us got together; when Ofele Carnival was only locals and a few out-of-towners, he invited me to a fete.”

“Whined her and juked her up the whole night. She went home with me that night.” Mikey winked. Delilah tittered and hit his bicep.

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