Page 17 of Trust Issues
“When your date takes you out to eat or to a play or wherever yall are going.”
“I’m treating,” she said with raised eyebrows.
“Wait…what?” Naima frowned.
“Girl, no.” I groaned. “You don’t ever offer to treat on the first date. What the hell is wrong with you?”
“It’s not a big deal. It’s not like I don’t have it.”
“Cadence, that’s not the point. Did you offer or did he imply that you should treat him?” Naima asked.
“He didn’t imply but he did talk about how women were so busy mooching off of men that they forgot men were people who liked being treated too.”
“Oh my god, and you fell for that shit? It’s fine if you offered to pay for the first date. You’re a grown woman and you can do that but if he’s whining about not being treated…no. He’s a bum, don’t go anywhere with him, Cadence.” I waved my hand in the air and looked at my phone. I had a few hours before my Friday date, Austin, would be there to pick me up. So far he’d made it past the preliminaries and made it to the actual date. I’d see how well he did after tonight.
“I already set the date up, Kyla.”
“Tell him to pick you up from here. Wait…heispicking you up right?” I had to ask since she was clearly setting up a date with a bum.
“Yes, he’s picking me up and I’m treating. I still don’t get what’s so wrong with that.”
“You can’t trust a man who drops hints like that,” I fussed.
“Wait,” Naima interjected. “Did you initiate the date, Cadence?”
“No. He initiated. I offered to pay.”
“Well, I’m gonna have to side with Kyle on this one. Whoever initiated the date bears the burden of paying. It’s dating etiquette.” I couldn’t believe Naima actually sided with me. Normally, she kept everything diplomatic and fair. I guess that was the fair move though. James asked Cadence out so he should have paid.
I held my finger in the air and said, “You’re training him to let you handle everything already. You’re not going to be able to trust him. Now, he’s going to think that whenever he needs something, he can call on you and you’ll take care of it for him.”
Cadence sat up and fluffed out her thick, curly hair. Naima watched her, interested in what she would say. Her brown eyes lingered a little longer when Cadence nibbled on her bottom lip.
“What’s wrong with helping out your man though? James kind of has a point. He said women are so used to being taken care of that they forget men need help sometimes too.” Naima and I both made disapproving noises with our lips sealed shut. I stood to my feet and anchored my fists to my hips.
“Helping outyourman is light years away from helping outaman, okay? James is just a man right now.”
“So what do I do then, Kyla? I’ve already made this date with him. I don’t want to be a flake.”
“Go out with him. Learn your lesson. I bet when you get back from the date you’re going to realize a man like that can’t be trusted. I’ll bet you the McKinley divorce case that James lives with his parents.” I said with a jab of my pointer finger. Cadence’s brown eyes grew wide and I smiled. I had her. I knew it.
“Fucking deal.” She hopped up and we slapped hands.
“God, why do I feel like you made a pact with the devil?” Naima asked Cadence.
“Because she did.” I gave my best evil laugh and Cadence shook her head.
“He doesn’t live with his parents. He already told me what his address is. So, I want that case turned over to me by Monday, Kyla Bradshaw.”
“Not so fast Cadence. Give me his name. Full name. Or do you know it?”
“I don’t know his last name…yet. I’ll ask him while we’re out and I’ll text you.”
“Deal,” I nodded, shaking her hand.
“Okay you two, I have to run a few errands for this red carpet event tomorrow night in New York.” Naima sighed and stood to her feet. Cadence smiled softly and rocked back and forth like an excited kid.
“You need some company? I don’t have to be ready for my date with James for another couple of hours.”
