Page 18 of Nostalgia
Darren-Hell yeah!
Ian-Can I bring a date?
I rolled my eyes at the last one, though it wasn’t all that surprising. Elise’s cajun food was a dream come true but was I ready to face them all? Tomorrow was the funeral and I didn’t know if my mental health could handle all of them with their families and love.
I typed quickly on my phone before I could change my mind.
Me-Can I bring a date, too?
I pocketed my phone right after Elise sent back a GIF of a child freaking out saying YES!! I contemplated turning off my phone after that because it wouldn’t stop buzzing with text messages. I never brought anyone to the gang get-togethers when Elise cooked. This was going to be new, but I wanted a fresh start. I didn’t know why but after seeing Aiyanna not backing down from anyone or anything, I thought why not?
I silenced the group chat and hit Aiyanna’s number. “This call could not be completed as dialed, the number is no longer in service.”
I frowned but I still remembered where she lived. She could stop by unannounced at my house with food, maybe I could do the same with a proposition for food?
* * *
I knocked on Aiyanna’s apartment door and immediately heard cussing on the other side. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to stop by a woman’s house unannounced.
The door swung open a few seconds later. Aiyanna ducked away before I could get a good look at her. Her dark hair was twisted up on top of her head and she was wearing pajamas. When she turned around it took everything in me to stay right where I was. Her face was swollen and red from crying. Her eyes were bloodshot and her lips trembled.
“Are you okay?” I took a step toward her and thought better of it.
She nodded. “Yeah, I just have to deal with a few things.”
I shoved my hands into my pockets and looked around her immaculate apartment. “I know you aren’t having the best day, but I was wondering if you would like to go on a date-” I stopped. Could I categorize it as a date? Would she accept if I called it a date? “Uh, would you like to go somewhere with me this evening to eat really good food?”
Her dark brows inched up her forehead. “Yes, like a date?”
I opened my mouth but nodded instead.
She smiled before her face went horrified. “I look awful! When would we be leaving?”
“Maybe in a few hours. I can come back.” Then I remembered why I had come over to begin with. “Your phone was disconnected?”
Her face went pale. “I had to change my number.”
“Does it have to do with your family that keeps calling?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I talked to my brother last night.”
“Take your time getting ready, I’ll come back later.” I walked to the door but she rushed to my side and grabbed my hand.
“No, I won’t be long. If you want you can watch tv or something.” I smiled and went to her couch as she retreated to her bedroom. “What should I wear?”
“Anything that makes you comfortable.”
Tv didn’t really interest me. I flicked through the channels to appease Aiyanna but couldn’t focus on anything. After thirty minutes I turned it off and looked around her apartment. Her little plants were growing on me as well as the fluffy rug in the living room. Her kitchen was fully stocked for whatever occasion and I wondered how such a small woman could eat so much food. The thing that shocked me the most was the lack of alcohol. There wasn’t a bottle anywhere. I didn’t mind that at all, I actually preferred it. Her door swung open and I leaned against the counter like I hadn’t been going through her cabinets.
“Busted,” She giggled. It was a pretty sound and it did something to my insides. I tried to push the feeling away, it was strange and didn’t feel like it belonged yet.
She wore ripped skinny jeans and a black tank top. She had covered the redness on her face with light makeup but I wondered how she had managed to get rid of the swelling. I could imagine my dad making a joke about how women were actually witches with how they transformed themselves. I swallowed down the pain of the thought and tried to think of what was happening now. The pain was no longer welcome here.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Aiyanna
I didn’t knowwhat I expected as a first date with Derek but meeting all of his buddies wasn’t it. When we had pulled in at his apartment complex I had thought he had forgotten something, but no. He walked up the stairs instead of behind them and tapped on the first door. Anxiety filled my body as Elise pulled the door open. Derek turned back toward me, took one look at my face, and laughed.
