Page 18 of Trust Issues
“Yes, I always need company. I’m sure Kyle is getting ready to take hours getting ready so I won’t even bother her.” It wasn’t like she wanted me to go anyway. She definitely wanted Cadence to go and she wanted to go so I didn’t get in the middle of it. I was glad they were becoming close.
The two left chattering away and I decided to get dressed. Naima already knew exactly what I’d do the moment I was left to my own devices. Getting dressed included tequila and pineapple juice. How else was I supposed to have fun on my date? I needed to pregame.
I poured a drink and turned on my nineties R&B playlist. So what if I was stuck on nineties music? It was arguably the best era for music.
I sipped my drink and danced around in my underwear until my glass was empty and I was trying to catch drops with my tongue. Once I decided I’d consumed enough alcohol, I got in the shower while SWV and Mary J. Blige played. I considered wearing my locs out on the date but I decided against it. Then an idea popped into my head.
When I hopped out of the shower, I rushed to my bedroom, dripping wet and naked. I grabbed my book of standards and wrote in it quickly before the thought evaporated.
After sex, I’ll take my wig off and see if he can handle the goddess underneath. If not, I can’t trust him.
I closed my book and jumped a little when there was a knock on the door. I hadn’t put a drop of shea butter on my chocolate skin and I was starting to get ashy. Whoever the hell was on the other side of that door was going to have to wait.
I did check my phone to make sure it wasn’t my date though I didn’t want him showing up early while I was still getting dressed. That’s why I liked to start getting ready ahead of time, so I could avoid shit like that.
When I checked my phone I didn’t see any texts or missed calls so once again, the person knocking on my door would have to wait. They knocked a few more times, trying to overpower my music no doubt, but it only made me turn it up louder.
Once I was dressed to kill in a yellow floral sundress that made my melanin pop severely, I pulled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun and snatched the door open.
“Max, why didn’t you just use the doggy door?” I frowned and walked away from the door, letting him in. The moment I turned away from him, my entire back heated up like the sun was staring directly at me. I looked over my shoulder to see if I could catch him staring but Max was nose deep in his phone.
I brushed off the feeling of being watched and went back to my bedroom. Max followed. “What do you want?” I grabbed a bottle of perfume from my dresser and sprayed my collarbones with jasmine and musk.
“Can I borrow a roll of toilet paper?” The words were stiff leaving his lips making me laugh.
“Did you just ask me for paper to wipe your ass, Max? Are youthathard up?”
“No. I forgot Owen took my fucking toilet paper and now I’m here because things are too pressing for me to go to the store.”
“Fine, Max. Take a roll. I want it back though,” I called after him as he dashed to my linen closet and took a roll. He paused right before he left and looked at me from head to toe. It felt like I was in front of the sun again.
“You uh…you going out tonight?” He asked. His voice was a wave of dark chocolate rolling over me.
I hated it.
“Do you have eyes? Of course I’m going out on a date. You think I look this good just for you to come over here and ask me for a roll of damn toilet paper?” I took my bun down and my hair tumbled to my waist. If I didn’t start putting it into braids, I’d never get my wig over them.
“What are you doing?” He asked when he saw me running my fingers through my locs.
“Getting ready to transform into a goddess with curly hair instead of locs.”
“Ah, it’s time for the wig to come out. Listen, here’s a tip…” He took a long-legged step toward me and I stopped raking my fingers through my hair. My heart thumped relentlessly in my throat as he stood inches away from me.
I gasped when his long, thick fingers threaded through my hair. He gripped a handful of locs in his fist and tugged until my chin pointed to the ceiling.
“Leave your locs out. If he can’t handle them…fuck him.” He winked at me and I tried to roll my eyes but it came off more like a flutter. “Now, don’t ever say I never helped you.” I had to catch my breath after he moved away from me.
He didn’t say anther word before leaving my apartment. I stood in the middle of the floor for a full three minutes trying to get myself together. I had to find my focus again and put him out of my mind. I finished braiding my hair and started pinning the braids down so I could pull my wig on over my head. It was one hell of a process and I contemplated not taking my wig off until Monday after work.
It took me twenty minutes to struggle that damn wig onto my head but I did it. Once I was cute with curls, I turned into Kyla who was ready for her date and not Kyle who was silently judging the date. My mind flashed back to moments before Max left and the way my heart thumped when he tugged on my locs.
Jesus, I was no better than Grady thinking about Maxwell when I didn’t have to. I shook the thoughts loose from my head like crumbs from a sheet and smoothed my palms over my bare shoulders. No matter how much I rubbed, the goosebumps wouldn’t go away.
My phone chimed with a text message and I plucked it from the bed.
Friday Date: I’m ten minutes away.
Me: Okay, awesome! See you soon.
