Page 43 of A Table for Two
She smiled. She loved her girls. “Thanks. See you in a bit.” She stuck her feet into her shoes, grabbed her purse and keys, and set out. Once there, she parked in the driveway, headed up the walkway, and rang the bell. The door opened almost immediately.
“Come on in, girl.” Natasha hugged Serenity and pulled her inside her house, leading her straight to the kitchen, where Dana stood at the counter pouring three glasses of wine.
Dana handed Serenity a glass. “Here. From the way you sounded on the phone, I figured you could use this.”
“I can,” Serenity said, accepting the glass.
“What’s up?”
“He took me on a picnic at Crystalwood Lake.”
“I can’t remember the last time I was there,” Natasha said. “It’s so far out, I forgot about it. How in the world did he find it?”
“He and his friends were exploring the town, and he happened upon it. I have to admit, it was the perfect place to have some privacy. We didn’t see more than five people the entire time.”
“Did you have a good time?”
Serenity didn’t know where to begin or how to describe the time she had. “It was…he…”
Dana ran a comforting hand over Serenity’s back. “I get it, Sis. Gabriel seems to be one of the good ones.”
“He cooked all the food, and oh my goodness, the man’s fried chicken and potato salad arebeyondamazing.” He’d given her the rest of the food to take home, including a few of the divine chocolate chip cookies they didn’t end up eating. “It was one of those dates that you always wished you could have, but with the man you love. But that’s not what this is, and I’m not sure if I should keep hanging out with him in that way.”
Natasha sat at the kitchen table. “I don’t understand the problem. We all agree that he’s a good guy, so why wouldn’t you want to spend time with him? And who knows, he could be feeling the same. We always talk about men not putting themselves out there for a woman and expecting her to do all the heavy lifting in a relationship. Now when one comes around willing to do just that, you’re backing away. Don’t let what Lloyd did keep you from exploring what could be with Gabriel.”
She took a sip of her wine. “I hear you, but I still don’t think I can let myself get that close to a man again. This thing, or whatever it is with Gabriel,” she said, waving a hand, “won’t ever be anything more than what we agreed to because he’s not staying.”
Dana frowned. “What do you mean he’s not staying? Andrea said he was moving here to help Ms. Della.”
“According to him, he plans to talk her into moving back to Atlanta with him at the end of the summer.”
“Wow. And wait a minute. What did you mean by ‘what we agreed to’?”
Serenity took a deep breath. She hadn’t planned to tell them everything, only she couldn’t stop the words from coming. “I told him we could go out sometimes until he leaves.”
Natasha chuckled. “I hate to tell you this, but if you keep hanging out with that man, it’s going to lead to more than justhanging out.” She made quote marks in the air.
“Tell me about it,” she muttered. Her body tingled with the remembrance of how his mouth and hands had set her body aflame earlier. The afternoon sun beating down on them had nothing on the heat Gabriel could produce in her.
A grin played around the corner of Dana’s mouth. “I was hopingyou’dtellusabout it. Obviously, Gabriel can do more than plan a good date.”
“He kissed me.”
“Well, that explains your confusion,” Natasha said with a little laugh. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to keep hanging out with him without falling for him?”
Dana crossed her arms. “Inquiring minds want to know.”
Serenity waved them off. “Of course. He agreed that we’d keep it light. No ties or commitments. Just a couple of friends enjoying each other’s company. He doesn’t want a relationship any more than I do.” She mentally shook her head as she recalled him sharing how his ex-girlfriend made a play for his best friend. She still couldn’t imagine why.
“Is he one of those commitment-phobic men?” Natasha asked with a raised eyebrow.
“No.” She hesitated. “I’m going to tell you something, but I will hurt the two of you if you breathe one word.”
Dana and Natasha stared eagerly.
“He had a bad breakup and isn’t willing to put his heart on the line. The woman came on to his best friend and cheated with two other men.” She wondered if it had been one of the two men she’d met. Gabriel hadn’t said, and Serenity hadn’t felt comfortable enough to ask.
Natasha shook her head with disgust. “Again, women always talking about not being able to find a good Black man, but then get one and do the stupid.”
