Page 37 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Ahmad!” the woman with the Afro puffs called out.

“Duty calls,” he told me before heading over to the woman. “Yes, Asia?”

“Someone is here to see you,” Asia replied, pointing to a pretty woman.

I took a sip of the Malibu sunrise and smiled. It was the same thing I’d ordered the week before. Glancing over in his direction, I smiled.

“Hey, Ahmad,” the pretty woman greeted him. “You’re looking mighty good behind that bar.”

“Oh, shit, Shanita! What’s up?”

“You tell me!” She cocked her head to the side. “And while you’re at it, I’ll take what you made for the girl you were flirting with over there,” Shanita stated, pulling my attention from my thoughts. “She’s cute.”

I followed the voice and happened to make eye contact with Ahmad in the process.

“Nah, that’s the homie right there,” Ahmad corrected her. Pointing to me, he continued, “Aaliyah is drinking a Malibu sunrise.”

“Well, I want what she has.” She smirked. “But you already know that.”

He chuckled to himself and shook his head.

I looked away immediately.

They were extremely comfortable around each other. She was flirting, and he was eating it up. There was something about the way they engaged with each other that made me feel like I was watching something more. The familiarity felt intimate.

Is that his wife?

The thought stopped me mid-sip.

As he made her the drink, I pretended I wasn’t trying to listen to their conversation.

“You were on my mind, so I wanted to pop in and check on you,” she said.

“I’m cool. How was your day?” he asked in return.

“Great. Busy,” she told him before a wave of people came to the bar for drinks.

By the time the people had dispersed, I’d missed part of what they were saying to one another.

“I’m not ready. I’m good off that.” Ahmad held up his left hand with his wedding band prominently displayed. “Drop it.”

My head quirked curiously as I eavesdropped.

“Ahmad,” she said gently. “All I’m saying is that—”

“Shanita,” he interrupted. “I love you. But I’m working. Let’s talk later, okay?” He moved to the other end of the bar to take an order.

I snuck another glance at the woman and saw her looking at me with a knowing smile.

I quickly shifted my gaze and took another sip.

Definitely must be his wife.

The fruity cocktail was delicious, and when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I noticed the stress and anxiety had melted from my face.

Everything is going to be fine. Donte is going to be fine. The date is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.

“You look better,” Ahmad commented when he made his way back to me.

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