Page 20 of Trust Issues
“Your woman? I don’t belong to you and I damn sure don’t belong to the gargoyle across the hall. Now, we can stop this date right here if you’re letting me know you’re possessive. I refused to be possessed. I’m too much for one person to possess. Experience? Yes. You can experience me all day. Possess? Own? Never.” I stared Austin down until he cracked, letting a sheepish grin spread across his face.
“I-I didn’t mean it like that, Kyla. I just don’t want you to be…”
“I do what I want. We’re not together let alone exclusive. You need to acknowledge that you understand before I go anywhere with you.”
“I get it. I’m sorry. Forgive me?” Little did he know, it didn’t matter how fine or tall he was. It didn’t matter what his credit score looked like or how he treated his mother, I was over it.
I agreed to forgive him but only because I wanted a free dinner. After all, food was my love language and Austin was about to become fluent in that shit. I was going to order damn near the whole menu and I dared him to say something about it.
“Uh huh. Forgiven.” I was lying but he didn’t need to know that.
“Are you gonna put the flowers in water?” He quizzed.
“Sure.” I handed them to Max and he laughed before taking them into his apartment.
Once I was done biting Austin’s head off, I took a moment to notice how fine he was in real life. He looked even better than his pictures. I used to Facetime all my potential dates to make sure they weren’t catfishing me but I stopped that shit when I realized they expected me to show them my titties or…other things. If they weren’t who they said they were when they showed up, I closed the door in their faces and went on about my evening.
That’s why backup was always a necessity.
“You look nice tonight, Austin.” I stopped right in front of the concierge desk and clasped my hands in front of myself.
“Thank you, Kyla. Hey, I’m sorry about that back there. I guess I got carried away thinking about what could be and I didn’t want anyone to be able to ruin that. You have my full apology. Let’s go have dinner. Let me spoil you and make up for it.”
“I’m here for the spoiling me part. I think I’ll be taking my own car instead of riding with you. If you don’t mind.” His light brown face fell into a hard frown.
“You don’t want to ride together? Isn’t that a part of the mood for going out on a date? We ride together and share conversations on the way to dinner.”
“It sounds cute but I learned from my last date and I’d rather not. People who go out on blind dates don’t ride together. I hope it’s not too weird for you.” What I really meant was I hope it’s not going to stop you from treating me to dinner.
“I guess it’s not,” Austin said slowly. After my date with Grant, I realized that if I didn’t like a guy, I’d rather not be held hostage in his car. Driving my own car made me feel much more comfortable and safe.
Mark eyed me from behind his cozy little concierge desk and I shot him a warning look. He knew better than to make a remark while I was getting ready to go out. Austin held the door for me and we walked outside.
“So I guess I’ll meet you at the restaurant,” he said.
“Yeah, I’ll see you there.” I flashed him a smile and made my way to the garage. I’d never felt more at ease riding in my own damn car. I turned on a little Sade and pulled out.
It took me thirty minutes to get to a restaurant that was fifteen minutes from my house because of the Friday traffic around Tysons Corner. Needless to say, I was already pissed off when I pulled into a parking space. It was a damn miracle that I found one because the parking lot at the restaurant was packed.
I sent Austin a text when I shut the engine off to see where he was. It took him ten damn minutes to text me back.
Friday Date: I’m so sorry, Kyla. I can’t do all the crowds. I can’t find anywhere to park.
Me: I’m literally sitting in front of a vacant spot. Just drive in and park.
Friday Date: I don’t live far from the restaurant. Why don’t we do dinner at my place? I can cook for you.
Me: Absolutely not. I don’t know you well enough to trust eating at your house, Austin.
After that text, he called me. I stared at the phone for ten seconds before reluctantly answering it. “Hello?”
“Kyla, let me make you a nice pasta dinner complete with Prosecco.”
“No thanks. We had dinner plans at a restaurant and that’s what I had my heart set on. That’s what we agreed on.” I drummed my yellow nails on the steering wheel to keep from driving to his house and choking him.
“I get it. Miss Kayla Bradshaw attorney at law. What we agreed on is what we agreed on but can’t you be a little flexible?”
“Flexible?” I laughed in his damn ear and shook my head. “Look, this has taken up more of my time than I bargained for. I’m going home.” I ended the call and backed out of the parking space.
