Page 90 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Stuck…?”

He held my gaze but didn’t say anything. I felt stirring within me, and a tenderness flooded my system out of nowhere.

Is he talking about his marriage? Oh, wait… no, he’s talking about his job. That makes sense.

After swallowing, I started to ask to get clarity. “So, you—”

“Sorry, I have to take this.” He grabbed his phone and put it to his ear before I could see the name that flashed on the screen. “Hello?”

I watched him look everywhere but at me as he gave short answers to the questions he was being asked. “Yes… Yes… Cool… Yeah, I’m leaving now… I love you, too.”

His wife.

“Sorry about that.” He slipped his phone back into his pocket. “I have to head out, so that’s the end of our practice run. I can get a box for the rest if you want me to walk you out?”

“No,” I answered. I needed time to gather my thoughts, and more importantly, I didn’t want it to look like I was meeting up with a married man. “I’m going to chill for a little bit.” I pointed to the fries. “And I want to eat these while they’re hot.”

He slid out the booth and stood. “You’re going to be okay here by yourself?”

“Are you going to be okay heading out by yourself?” I tilted my head to the side. “You need me to walk out with you?”

“Asshole Aaliyah is back.”

“Asshole Ahmad never left.”

He smirked. “I’ll see you Friday.”

Before he turned to walk away, I put the earbuds in the box and then tapped it. “This was really nice. Can I ask you a question, though?”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Why do you care?” I wondered. I slipped the gift into my handbag.

“Because I’m invested at this point.” He paused and then added, “And no one wants a front row seat to a shit show.”

My jaw dropped. “That was rude as fuck! My dating life isn’t a shit show.”

He frowned. “Isn’t it?”

“I hate you,” I giggled. “You’re living in the past, and even if itwasa shit show, it won’t be for long. I’m not giving up on what I want.”

“Good. You shouldn’t.”

“I’m not.”

“Listen to the playlist.”

“I will.”

He paused for a moment. “I love how you’re all in. You’re committed. You’re going for it. I respect that. I respectyou. I don’t know if it’s because you want to spite your family or if it’s because you really want a man, but watching you go on these dates reminds me to keep going.That’swhy I’m invested.That’swhy I care.”

“Ahmad,” I breathed, putting my hand to my chest. “That…” I poked my lip out. “I love that.”

“Now if only you’ll listen to me about these clowns, you’ll be on your way.”

“Here you go,” I groaned. “You see how you go from sweet to sour in one fell swoop?”

“You have to start taking my advice. I know things.”

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