Page 18 of Curvy Girl Summer

“And the advice that your aunt gives you is invaluable,” Nina responded. “And I’m hoping that since you listen to her advice and she told you to get some new dick in your life, you’ll actually do it.”

Jazz burst out laughing. “That’s not exactly what she said.”

“But I’m sure it’s what she meant,” Nina reasoned. “I want both of you to reframe your thinking when it comes to dating. I’ve been telling both of you to get it together for years now, and this weekend, your mom and aunt also told you to get it together. That’s a sign!”

“I just don’t know—”

“You just don’t know what?” Nina interrupted comically. “Because dick is literally everywhere. What are you looking for? Big? Medium? Thick? Curved? What? There are so many men who would happily throw dick your way. You both could have so many options, but y’all aren’t dating right.”

“Well, I want good dick,” Jazmyn specified.

“And I want a good man,” I chimed in.

“Well, I can’t guarantee all that. You said you wanted dick, and you said you wanted a man. All I’m saying is that there are men out here, and you can’t discover if the man or the dick is good if you aren’t out there mixing and mingling.”

“I’m not trying to mix or mingle,” I complained, watching some of my coworkers enter the building. I lowered my voice, so I wasn’toverheard. “There’s got to be an easier way than dating. I want the shortcut. I just want to find my person and start our lives together.”

“How are you going to do that if you don’t date?” she questioned. “It would be different if you didn’t want the husband and the kids, but you do, so you have to get out there and date, Aaliyah.”

“Been there, done that. Don’t want to do it again,” Jazz interrupted.

“I was talking to Aaliyah,” Nina countered. “But for you, you need to get back out there and knock the cobwebs off your pussy! You’ve been saying since your spring break that when school let out for the summer, you were going to get your back blown out. But you ain’t been nowhere or seen no one to make it happen. As far as I can tell, your back is fully intact, and a lone tumbleweed is blowing right across that cat of yours.”

I had tears in my eyes, and my body was slumped against the steering wheel. I was cracking up.

“Not tumbleweeds, Nina! You’re going too far now,” Jazmyn protested, amusement in her tone. “And I’m going to be working on it once I get back in town. It’s about to be July. I still have two full months of summer left.”

Nina clicked her tongue. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you two! One of you wants dick. One of you wants a relationship. And neither one of you are out here doing anything about it. Just letting time, dick, and dates pass you by.”

“Nina, we get it! It’s too early in the morning for you to be coming at us like this,” I pleaded when I caught my breath.

“Well, rise and shine,” she laughed. “But let me give you some real talk—both of you have to get out of your own way to get what you want.”

Noticing the time, I opened my car door and eased out. “I hear what you’re saying, but—”

“Hello, Ms. James,” a familiar voice called out to me before I could finish my sentence. “I have a question for you.”

With my phone pressed to one ear, I hoisted my shoulder bag farther on my arm and turned my entire body toward the voice.Knowing I couldn’t finish my sentence, let alone finish the call, I smiled at the man who approached me.

“Hey, I just got to work, so I’m going to call y’all later,” I said as I watched my supervisor get closer.

They said their goodbyes through giggles, and I disconnected the call.

Shoving my phone into the side pocket of my bag, I flashed him a smile. “Good morning, Jeremy.” I waited until he caught up, and then he fell into step with me. “What’s up?”

“That was a great save you submitted last week.”

I nodded. “Thanks.” I glanced at him suspiciously. “I appreciate it.”

“I want to get your opinion on something.” He grabbed the door and held it open for me to walk through. “Or, more specifically, someone.”

My stomach turned at his request as we approached the elevator. “Opinion on what?”

“How do you think Grace Bowers is doing with the company?”

“Who?”

“She’s a new developer.” When the name and role didn’t ring a bell, he cocked his head to the side. “She’s the developer who created the design your team worked on.”

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