Page 119 of Curvy Girl Summer

“And for our second time getting together and our first official date, this is the look I’m going for…” I announced excitedly as I turned my phone’s camera to the mirror.

“Yes!” Nina exclaimed. “That’s definitely the one.”

The forest-green silk dress with the thin spaghetti straps had a slit exposing my thigh. The ruching in the middle accentuated my waist, and the shade looked so good against my mocha-colored skin. The strappy black shoes with the cute black clutch completed the look.

I propped the phone up and then backed up. “Do you think it’s too much?” I wondered, striking a pose.

“For where he’s taking you? Absolutely not.”

Lennox was taking me to one of the trendiest spots in the city. It was hard to get a reservation, but somehow, he managed to secure us a table at Cloverleaf. With live music, cool vibes, and a celebrity chef, it was the premier place to be. Although it was expensive, I heard it was worth it. I’d never been there before, so my excitement was at an all-time high.

“You’re ready early, aren’t you?” she wondered. “I thought you were meeting him at eight thirty.”

“I am. But I’m heading over to Onyx first.”

Nina didn’t say anything, but the smirk on her face spoke volumes.

“What?” I pressed.

“You’re going to see Ahmad, the bartender you claim is just a friend, before you go on a date with Lennox, the man you claim to really like? Interesting.”

“How is that interesting? Just like I called you before my date, I’m doing the same thing with Ahmad.”

“Oh yeah, it’s the exact same,” she said sarcastically.

“It is! I’m just going to update him since he’s been an integral part of my dating process.”

“You could update him when you get back from your date… unless you don’t plan on coming back home tonight.”

I laughed. “I plan on coming back home because it’s the first time we’ll be on a real date. Last Friday, we met and had a great time, but this is the first official date, and I don’t want to send the wrong message.”

“And what message is that?”

“That I’m just looking for sex.”

“But you two talk all the time, why would he think that? You two have been getting to know each other, right?”

“Yeah… I guess I’m just not ready to take it there yet.”

I couldn’t put my finger on why I didn’t feel like I was ready to have sex with him. But I knew it wasn’t time.

“What are you doing tonight?” I questioned, changing the subject.

“I’m pulling up to my parents’ house right now,” Nina answered. “I’m not going to be able to do dinner with them on Sunday, so I told them I’d make it tonight.”

“That sounds nice!”

“Yeah, it will be. Dad put steaks on the grill. But let me tell you…”

She told me about her plans for the rest of the weekend and my jaw was on the floor. Nina was the epitome of fun; there was no doubt about it.

We concluded our conversation about fifteen minutes later, and five minutes after that, I was headed out the door. I still had about ninety minutes before my date with Lennox. And even though Nina’s words swirled around in my head, I still felt compelled to go to Onyx. It had become my Friday-night routine.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

I pushed the door open to enter Onyx, and my eyes widened at the crowd that had already gathered. It was barely seven o’clock, and the place was packed. A man I didn’t recognize greeted me when I approached the bar.

“Hi!” I flashed him a smile as I gestured around. “Something special going on tonight?”

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