Page 86 of Rhet

I tap my phone sending a message to the flower shop.

“Roses cancelled. Question, do you need me at all this evening?” I ask.

“Why are you asking?” He frowns, as he opens his file.

Nope, I’m not going to tell him. “I have something important to do.”

“What’s so important?”

“It’s my personal business,” I counter.

“If that personal business affects me. Well, it’s now mine.”

“It doesn’t.” I should pick a new dress today.

He watches me with a steady eye. “Fine.”

I smile. “Great, enjoy your date.”

I start packing up my desk.

“Look, Zeeta about Sunday—” He begins to say something then breaks off.

“What’s wrong?” I wait for him to say something.

“Nothing. I want these fucking copies done then you can leave.” He gathers some file on his desk and hands it to me.

I take the copies and run to the printing room. I need to leave soon. I have big plans for tonight.

RHET

I’m not in the mood. I don’t want to go on this stupid date and charm a woman. Now I realize Dax is a genius. Why sit on stupid dates for free? Men should be paid for it. I need to tell Zeeta my parents will be coming for dinner tomorrow.

I pick up my phone to call, but I think it best to walk down to her place.

I take one more look at myself in the mirror, my cranberry turtleneck and gray pants look great against my tan skin tone.

A dash of cologne and I hurry down to Zeeta’s. It takes me five minutes to arrive. Most likely she’s on the couch watching some 90’s comedy. I knock on her door. I can see the shadows of my dogs.

“The door is open,” she shouts.

Let me be honest, I love opening this door, every time I do, it’s a different smell. Tonight, it smells like a crisp winter’s night.

I close the door behind me. My dogs come to my side like they only just remember who they belong to.

She’s still nowhere to be seen. Maybe she just got out of the shower.

“Hey, Zee, my parents are coming over for dinner tomorrow.”

I look around, there’s no popcorn and soda on the table. In fact, her TV that’s always on is off. What the hell is going on here?

“I need you to be there when they come.” I look around for clues.

“Oh great. I’ve never met them,” she shouts again. “Why do I need to meet them though?”

The truth is I have no idea why Zee needs to be there. I just want her there.

“Because I said so. My dad is crazy, but my mom is cool.” The word cool drops from my lips as I hear the soft clicks of shoes.

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