Page 16 of Free to Love You
“What da hell going on?” His voice was so authoritative. “Hope, what you doing here?”There’s that geechie.
Thankfully there were no customers in the bakery now. This was the first time that I had seen her since the incident.Why is she here?
“I’m tryin’ to understan’ dat myself. Ayriss ain’t wit’ ha so she ain’t got no good reason to be up in my establishment. She must wanna get her windows tinted.”What does that mean?Ms. Beauvia was mad. She was scary when she was mad.
Hope shook her head. “No, no! I just wanted to apologize to Lovina. That’s it.”
“Man, Hope, get yo ass outta here,” Erygon demanded. “Stop playin’ wit’ my girl.”
The dejection in her eyes was apparent. I gently grabbed his arm. He looked down at my hand then over his shoulder at me. “It’s alright. She can apologize.”
It seemed like she needed to give the apology more than I needed it. I would give her that grace. “Thank you, Lovina. I apologize for leaving you at the lounge. There is no acceptable explanation as to why I did it. I was just upset and envious that you had a chance with Erygon and I didn’t. I promise that I won’t be a problem in y’all’s relationship.”
“You damn right you won’t be a problem for my son and daughta-in-law. You gave your bullshit apology now gone somewhere. Only time I wanna see you in here is when you bringin’ my grand to me,” Ms. Beauvia said. “See, I stayed in my business for all dis time when it came to you, but you not gonna treat people wrong because you in ya feelings because my son ain’t want yo hot ass.”
Erygon tapped his mother’s arm. “Mama, chill.” His body turned and his eyes connected with mine. “Love, do you wanna say something to her before she leaves?”
Was there anything that I wanted to say to her? I had always been a forgiving person, but I had never experienced anything like this. “Hope, I’m sorry that things didn’t go the way that you wanted them to with Erygon, but that is not my doing or my fault. I have to believe that if he wanted to be with you that he would. As far as what happened, thank you for the apology.”
There was a still silence before it was broken by Hope. “You’re right, Lovina. If he wanted to be with me, there was more than enough time for us to be together. Erygon, I’m sorry for what I said when you came to my house.” She took a deep breath. “Well, I’m going to get out of here. I’m taking Ayriss to Maryland to spend time with my mama.”
She pivoted on her heels and was out of the door before anyone else could say anything. I wondered what she said to him that made her feel like she had to apologize. I watched as Erygon and his mother talked to each other. I guess it didn’t matter what she said.I have a date!
Date Night . . .
Excitement was all I felt tonight. When I told Beyuna that her cousin asked me out on a date, she was overjoyed. So much so that she flew in yesterday. Her, Ms. Beauvia, and Ms. Mercy treated my first date as if it was my prom. I guess it was fitting since I had never experienced either.
I loved that every time Ms. Mercy did my hair, she did it in a different style. Tonight, she had it back in a fishtail braid with curled strands of my hair hanging around my face. I wished I had my ears pierced to wear hoop earrings like Beyuna suggested, but one step at a time.
“Look at my friend! She looks so good,” Beyuna complimented. “Your hair is so cute. Next time, I’m going to get you to wear a little bit of makeup to highlight those gorgeous features.”
She tried to get me to wear it this time. I wasn’t ready for that. I did agree to wear a tinted lip gloss that was very subtle. It was flattering.
“Maybe if there’s a second date, I’ll know how to walk in a heel,” I said. “Oh, and maybe get my ears pierced.” There was this confidence building in me that I’d never had before. It feltdifferent when you were able to explore that confidence without being told that you were wrong.
“I see you tryin’ ta be grown. I’m not mad at it,” Ms. Mercy said. “Our girl growin’ up.”
Knock! Knock! Knock!Oh my God, he was here. Suddenly I felt nervous.
Beyuna answered my door. My breath hitched when Erygon walked in. He told me that we were going to dinner so we could focus on getting to know each other without distraction from other activities.
“Hey, beautiful. You look amazing as always.” His eyes roamed my body. It made me feel slightly uncomfortable but wanted. I loved that feeling.
I glanced down at my outfit for tonight: a pair of wide leg denim jeans, a white graphic T-shirt that saidI’m an angelin pink letters, and a black blazer to match my black booties. I discovered a few weeks ago that pink was my favorite color. “You look very handsome as well,” I told him once I finished admiring my outfit.
“You ready to go?” he asked. “Our reservation is in forty-five minutes.”
When he reached his hand out to me, I took it. Beyuna, Ms. Beauvia, and Ms. Mercy stood there with giddy smiles.
“Let me take a picture,” Erygon’s mother requested. When he fussed, she told him to shut up. She said that she wanted to record this memory for us.
I thought it was sweet. He stood next to me and pulled me into his side. The first picture was in that position. We took a second picture where he held me in his arms. Had I defied God because I liked the affection that he showed me? I didn’t feel like I was.Let the date begin.
"So, y’all can’t even show public displays of affection? What do y’all do to show that you like or love someone?” Erygon asked.
He took me to a Mexican restaurant. Since he asked me out on our date, he called me every day to talk. During one of the calls, I told him that I never tasted Mexican food. I was so excited when we pulled up to the restaurant. I loved that he was attentive.
I giggled. “In subtle ways like doing things for each other. We spend time together at a get-together that we have on Sundays. We also take buggy rides together sometimes.”
