Page 54 of The Cask

As I set my GPS for Soul Café, I had a few different emotions tugging at me and I wasn’t sure what to do with that. Turning my music up, I sang along with the song so I could ignore the inner monologue that was nagging me. When I found a parking spot, I sauntered into the restaurant and headed straight to the bar. I kept my head on a swivel to see if I spotted Omari anywhere. I let out a sigh of relief and then planted myself at the bar.

“Can I take your order please?” the bartender asked me.

“I’ll take a bottle of water and the menu please,” I replied with a smile.

I didn’t plan on eating anything, but I was going to order for as long as it took. Ten minutes later, my house salad arrived at the same time Omari walked in with a gorgeous woman on his arm.

“Business dinner, my ass,” I muttered as I watched how familiar they were with one another.

I ordered fried pork chops, greens, and macaroni and cheese as I watched the vibe between Omari and Olivia. At one point, she reached over and got something off his face.

My plan was to walk over there and ruin his date. My plan was to tell Olivia how we were on a date when she called on Monday and how right before their date, he was telling me how I was the only one he was interested in. My plan didn’t factor in how I would feel watching the whole thing play out.

“Wow,” I muttered under my breath.

My throat burned, my chest hurt, and I felt queasy.

But I couldn’t look away.

I needed to see it. I needed the reminder of who he was to me, what my objective was, and what I was doing with him. I let the pretty words and the sexy kisses, and the toe-curling orgasm take me out of the game. Tears pricked my eyes. Not because Omari was on a date, but because the more I thought about how sincere he looked when he was feeding me lies, the more foolish I felt.

Since they had stopped the laughing and joking portion of their date and looked to be in deep conversation, I knew something was about to happen.

Oh no the fuck he didn’t.

The air left my body when he got up from his side of the table and took the seat next to her. He pulled her into him, and she was hugging him tight. Grabbing my food and leaving a generous tip, I walked toward the exit. I waited until I was at the door to call him.

My hand was shaking as I watched him not make a move toward his phone. I saw it on the table, and I was sure he saw it, too. Biting my bottom lip, I had to make a decision on what I was going to do and how I was going to handle the situation.

I took a picture of him embracing the woman and then I shook my head and shook it off.

This is who he is. Not the pretty words. Not the grand gestures. This right here is who he is. And this only adds to the reason why he has to go.

Chapter Eleven

Ididn’t bother to block him because I wanted to see when he called. I wanted to know what he had to say even though I had no intention of responding to his calls or messages.

Omari Fortune:I just got home. Dinner ran a little later than expected. Give me a call whenever you’re free.

Omari Fortune:I’m heading to bed. Just wanted you to know you’re on my mind. Goodnight.

Omari Fortune:Good morning, beautiful.

Omari Fortune:Everything okay?

My cell phone rang, and I stared at Omari’s number before placing the phone back on my desk. With pursed lips, I continued typing out the email to the singer that would be featured for my new Wine Down Wednesday event. Five minutes later, my phone rang again. When I saw who it was, I answered.

“Hey, Alexis!”

“Hey…” She dragged the word out longer than necessary. “Do you have a minute?”

“Yeah. What’s up?”

“It’s one of those things that you have to see. Can you come upstairs for a minute?”

“Yeah, I can come up. Let me hit send.”

I ended the call and then sent the contract. Turning off my space heater, I dropped my phone in the pocket of my cardigan and headed upstairs.

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