Page 17 of Impacted by Love

Seeing the glow on Jarielle's face makes me slightly envious of her marriage and happiness. In times like these, I miss Roy and the comfort of having a man to gloat about. While being single isn't a consolation prize for Roy's betrayal, I do miss the ability to shop for garments to wear on dates with my man.

"What do you think about online dating?" I ask.

"What do you think about waking up in Hell?" Jarielle counters without hesitation, giving me an intense look.

Wrinkles stretch across my forehead, and my nose twists from Jarielle's outlandish question on the heels of mine.

"Why would I be waking up dead and in Hell, of all places?"

"Don't act like you don't watch Lifetime. Just last week, I was watching a movie where this woman met this man online who seemed like the perfect guy. It turns out he had a thing for sleeping with women after he mutilated and desecrated their bodies. One of the women he talked into giving him a chance had recently gone through a breakup after giving birth to her baby," Jarielle says with her brows hiking.

"You do know those stories aren't real, right? You also haven't given me any context for why I would wake up in Hell."

Jarielle rolls her eyes, causing a slight smirk on my lips while I wait for her to provide me with more details.

"Girl, bye. Lifetime be knowing. Your gullible ass would wake up in Hell for disobeying God's word. You're not supposed to be seeking a man. Your job is to trust God and wait for Him to send the man to you."

Proverbs 18:22.

It is easy for Jarielle to paraphrase the scripture that my conscience reminds me of while standing in this store shopping for attire for her honeymoon. She doesn't have a clue what it's like to still allow Rosalie to hum and vibrate her through the dark nights of singlehood.

Yes, I named my Rose toy. Since she and I are intimate, it's only right that we also be on a first-name basis.

While some folks in my church might frown about me having Rosalie, I think it's a safe way not to drop my cookie low and spread it wide for every Solomon, David, or Goliath who smiles in my direction. Plastering on the smile I don't feel or allow to reach my eyes, I pick up another dress that will be perfect for Jarielle.

Proverbs 18:22,even when it looks like it's not gonna happen. Activate your mustard seed faith over the situation.

"Why don't you try this one on? While I think it's cute, I need to see it on you to confirm if it's fitting for this trip or not," I suggest, ignoring the scripture repeat and mandate to accompany it.

"Hm. I see you trying to change the subject, but make sure you remember my words when you're at home with the Facebook dating page up on your screen."

Hm, with the hormones I'm suppressing, I'm not sure if your threat is the warning you think it is, bestie.

"Whatever," I respond to Jarielle's retreating back.

With my gaze on the rack, I search through the options mindlessly when my mind conjures up an image of Asaiah. Being near him alone in that elevator made me envision his face after showering and lying in my bed that night. The many ways I thought about him being the one to pleasure me had Rosalie working overtime. The remnants of my multiple orgasms had been enough to make a nun blush.

Forget the nun. I don't recall you repenting after cussing like you've been living on a Navy boat for two years.

My face and neck heat from the memory of how deep in the weeds I got while pleasuring myself while calling out Asaiah's name like he was in the bed with me. Even after releasing enough nectar to fill a pie crust, I still had to take a cold shower to cool down.

Now, God, I know I have no right to ask you for any favors, but if it be your will, can you move expeditiously with the man you have purposed for me?

* * *

It has been a long and exhausting day with multiple incoming patients requiring X-rays to keep me and my co-worker hopping. The kicker is that we both had to eat on the fly, which made me appreciate the packed lunch I had or might not have been able to eat. The bad thing is that I had to clench my thighs while consuming the repeat meal of what I fed Asaiah while we were stuck in that elevator. The memory of Asaiah's lips while chewing the bite I fed him had me imagining other places I would enjoy Asaiah's mouth. The beads of sweat on my forehead had been embarrassing when my co-worker had taken notice while trying to find out the cause when the office was an icebox. The last thing Judy needed to know was that my pearl was juicing and should be on ice.

Thankfully, this work day has come to?—

Asaiah.

My brain whispers when my eyes zoom in on Asaiah entering the hospital with a glower on his handsome face. The wrinkles on his forehead stretch wide across the surface, and his lips move, causing me to assess him until the white earpiece becomes visible.

I wonder who he's talking to because whoever it is isn't saying anything of merit if he's looking like that.

Feeling something magnetic and unexplainable, I head toward Asaiah while continuing to watch him intently. Asaiah's eyes connect with mine, preventing another collision between us while halting his forward motion.

"Uh, let me call you right back. Mhm. Five minutes," Asaiah says to whoever is on his line.

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