Page 54 of Out of Bounds
“My baby didn’t want to go out on stage looking like a clown.”
“Right.” He chuckled. “I’m glad you made it.”
“Me too.” I patted his hand. “Me too.”
Maddie Claire and her dance company put on an amazing performance. Their first show was dedicated to Michael Jackson. My baby’s solo was to “Rock With You,” and she killed it. When she finished, everyone was out of their seat, applauding.
Because she had an incredible performance, we decided to go out to eat as a family. Koya, Deuce, and Jrue had all come to see her perform. Jream was the only one missing, and that was due to her not being able to get out of work.
Kreed had called ahead and got us a private room at Morton’s Steakhouse. Everyone had eaten and was now sitting around the table talking. Kreed and I were even talking. As of lately, our conversations were geared directly towards the kids or something to do with them, but tonight, we’d been kicking it like we did back in the day. Our past was still there, of course, but it didn’t dominate the space. Instead, we chatted like old best friends because, after all, that’s what we had been to each other for years. Us being able to converse without the tension made things less awkward at the table. Everyone wasn’t on edge as they had been these past few months when around us. It proved we could continue doing things as afamilywithout there being any awkward energy.
Rising from my seat, I tossed my napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back. I’ve gotta use the restroom.” I excused myself and exited the dining room. I’d been sucking down dirty martinis since we arrived, and they were starting to tap dance on my bladder.
Immediately after using the bathroom, I stood at the sink and washed my hands. After combing through my hair with my fingers, I pushed the door open and left the restroom.
“Excuse me,” a deep baritone-like voice called out, snatching my attention away from the ground. Had he not spoken up, I would’ve run right into him.
“Oh, my bad.”I laughed subtly. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s okay.” He chuckled and held his hand out. “Lamar.”
“Masai.” I met him halfway and placed my hand in his outstretched palm.
“Pleasure to meet you, Masai.” The way my name rolled off his tongue was sensual. My eyes did a quick dip before they fully took him in.
Lamar was at least six-foot-one, and his skin was the color of espresso. His skin was deep, smooth, and dark, almost mimicking a shadow. He had a set of pearly white teeth that almost looked like a perfect set of veneers, but I could tell by the slight crook in the bottom row that they were his.
“Pleasures all mine.” I smiled and stepped around him.
“Masai…” At the call of my name, I stopped and turned toward him, listening for his next words. “If I’m being too forward, please tell me. Are you spoken for? Because, if you’re not, I would love the opportunity to get to know you.”
The words “I’m married”were on the tip of my tongue, but that was no longer my truth. Instead, I pushed out, “Not spoken for, but I am newly divorced.”
“I see.” He nodded. “My offer still stands. I would love to get to know you, even if it’s on a friendship level. You can even take my number and reach out when you feel like you’re ready.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I left my phone at the table.”
“Good thing I have mine.” He smirked and fished it out of his pocket. Holding it out, he added, “I’ll text you so you can have my number, and again, you can reach out when you’re ready.”
Taking the phone out of his hand, I went to his address book so that I could lock my number in. My fingers hesitated, and not because I was scared. Giving my number out wasn’t just flirting or the possibilities of dating; it was about me recognizing what all of this meant. I wondered if it was too soon, or if I was even doing it for the right reasons. But the moment I typed my name and number in, I felt something inside that I hadn’t felt throughout this whole process. I felt powerful; shit, I felt alive. Not because I’d given a complete stranger my number, but because a complete stranger hadaskedfor my number. I saved my contact and handed Lamar back his phone.
He took one glance at the screen and smiled. “You’ll be hearing from me, Masai.”
“I look forward to it.” I blushed before making the final trek back to the table.
“You good?” Kreed asked when I returned to my seat.
“Peachy.” I smiled and hopped back into the conversation at the table. My night had been made in more ways than one.
Sitting on the couch, Koya passed me a glass of champagne and tucked her feet under her. “Okay, so now you can tell us what you’ve been hiding for the past month.”
I giggled, ready for some girl chat. “The night of the Maddie Claire’s dance recital, when I went to the bathroom, I met a man. And not just any man… I met Lamar Young.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?” Koya pondered.
“Because he’s a sports analyst for ESPN.”
“Oh, bitch! I knowexactlywho that is. That’s who you’ve been sneaking off to talk to?”
