Chapter 6 #2
“The men you’ve dealt with so far,” he corrected.
“But shit, I’ve never had an issue with taking directions from a woman.
” He started putting the dishes away, using the few I’d been able to put away the day before as a guideline.
“That’s part of being a good man. You’ve got to know when to lead and when to follow, love. ”
I smirked at that but didn’t comment. I just started taking things out of the box I’d just opened.
“So, if we were leaving the spot tonight, where would you want to go?” He grabbed another box.
“I’m pretty food motivated,” I admitted.
“What kind of food? Wait,” he smirked, “Let’s call out our favorites at the same time.”
“Okay,” I chuckled as I collapsed on my coach.
“One… Two… Three… Chinese food!”
“Sushi!” I yelled at the same time.
“Alright. Chinese food and sushi. We can make something shake with that.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Alright. Let’s go into the real deep shit.”
“Let me hear it.”
“Horror movies or comedy?"
I didn’t hesitate. “Horror.”
“Good answer.”
“Alright. Jazz or classical?”
“Jazz, easily. I mean, I’m really an R&B type of nigga, but I can fuck with some smooth jazz when I’m smoking or riding around at night.”
“Smoking what?” I peeked over the back of the couch.
Arris looked back at me.
“Not fucking crack,” he deadpanned and I laughed immediately.
“I mean, I figured that.”
“Then what kind of fucking question was that, Dyani?”
“Cigarettes or weed?”
“Weed.” He turned back to his box and I went back to unloading mine.
“Crack was a crazy leap,” I muttered.
“That question was crazy itself,” he countered. “But alright, what’s the last song you listened to on purpose? I mean a song you actually looked up.”
“‘Little Things’ by Ella Mai, I think.”
“Let’s see what’s up.”
I looked over at Arris while he pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped along the screen. The song came on quietly and he raised the volume.
“Perfect timing.” I reached into the box and lifted my little speaker. “You want to connect?”
“Yeah. Let me get that.” He walked over to grab it and restarted the song once he was connected.
We listened to the song in silence while we worked. I sang parts of it to myself quietly while I mapped out where I wanted things to go. I smiled when I caught Arris bobbing as he moved from one box to another. He paused the music once the song ended.
“Word? That’s how you coming?” he joked.
“For the right man.”
“I feel you.”
“Alright. So what about you? What’s the last song you listened to on purpose?”
“Big X The Plug. ‘Planting Seeds’.”
“I’ve heard it, but you can play it anyway.”
“I’ve got you.” He started the song and I looked around when I heard my phone ping. “I sent you a link for a playlist. Queue music up for us to unpack and I’ll queue some up too.”
“Do you want to bring me my phone to do that?”
“Yeah. I can. Where is it?”
“Somewhere on the kitchen island.”
“Alright.” He rummaged around for it and walked it over.
“Thank you, baby.”
“Baby, huh?”
“You want me to call you sweetheart like you call everybody else?”
“Everybody else, huh?”
“Hm.” I unlocked my phone and looked at his message.
He chuckled. “That’s that southern drawl, baby. Don’t be jealous.”
“Never that.” I waved him off.
“Good.” He looked me up and down and licked his lips but didn’t say anything, just headed back to the kitchen.
We both added songs to the playlist and let it shuffle, adding new ones every time we thought of one.
We yelled things out at each other across the space between us, joking and laughing throughout.
Arris finished the kitchen and joined me in the living room.
He dug lightbulbs out of a box and put one in each of my lamps then joined me on the couch.
He took over opening the boxes and I just put things away as he handed them to me.
When we finished, we moved to the bathroom. Arris sat on the side of the toilet and kept me company while I found space for all my makeup, towels, and hygiene products.
We gravitated to my bedroom next and Arris focused on hanging up the clothes that needed to go into the closet while I focused on the things that needed to be folded.
We were more than halfway done when knocking echoed throughout the apartment and I froze. I looked back at Arris then toward the front door. I stood still for another second. Knocking sounded again.
“You gon’ get that?” he asked.
“I mean, I’m not expecting anyone.”
“What that mean?”
I shot Arris a look but headed to the front door. He trailed me. That knowledge made me less anxious to just yank the door open. I opened my mouth then slammed it shut and elbowed Arris who chuckled.
I accepted the bags from the delivery man in front of me.
“Thank you,” I said.
“No problem.”
“Good looking out, bro.” Arris handed him a ten then stepped out of the way so I could go back into my apartment.
He pushed the door shut and we made our way to the island for me to set the bags down. Arris started pulling things out immediately. There was a wide array of Chinese food, sushi, a chocolate cake, and surprisingly a vase.
“I got you some cooked rolls and some raw ones,” he explained as he spun around to put water in the vase.
“Thank you, Arris.”
“No problem.” He set the vase in the center of the island.
I watched while he grabbed the flowers, cut the bottoms, and arranged them in the vase.
“What do you think?” He took a step back.
“I think it looks amazing,” I said. “They’re beautiful.” I looked them over slowly.
“Good. Now, let's get to the next best part.” He opened the cabinet, grabbed two plates, and offered them to me. “I provide the food. You plate it.”
I giggled but took the plates. He had a point, especially since I’d accidentally recruited him for free labor.
“So when I buy the food you’ll plate the meal?” I asked as I set the plates down and opened one of the containers.
“Dyani, if you ever call yourself buying me dinner, we gon’ have some mothafuckin’ problems.”
“So, you’re one of those men?” I teased.
Arris grinned. “What does that even mean?”
“You think a woman’s place is in the kitchen or what?”
“Hell nah,” he chuckled. “I believe a woman should be wherever she wants to be, but I also believe my woman should want to take care of me just like I want to take care of her. I cook and clean and I don’t have a problem with that.
If you cook, I’ll do the dishes and I’d hope that shit goes both ways, which is cool.
But having a woman swipe her card for a meal we’re sharing while I just stand there is fucking crazy to me.
We’re not doing that shit. If I can’t afford dinner, I don’t need to be fucking dating.
There’s some shit I just don’t think women should do.
That don’t mean they can’t. It just means I’m not supporting it. ”
“So swiping my card for food while we’re together is on that list. What else?”
He didn’t hesitate answering, “Pumping gas, cutting grass, and taking out trash at the bare minimum.”
“All valid because I don’t want to do that shit anyway.” I shrugged.
We both laughed.
I plated our food and we sat beside each other at the island. I had Arris try some of the uncooked rolls he picked out. He made it clear that the potstickers he’d gotten were the best the city had to offer. I told him about the art I was looking for. He told me about the tattoos he’d done.
When we finished eating, we took the chocolate cake and gravitated to the living room where we collapsed onto the couch.
I hadn’t even realized I was tired until I woke up, leaning into Arris with his arm draped over my shoulder and a completely different movie playing.
I didn’t bother getting up. I just slid further down on the couch and snuggled my head back against his side.
When I woke up again it was to Arris carrying me to my bedroom. He set me down lightly on my bed and I blinked up at him in a daze.
“Get some sleep. I’ll lock the door on my way out, alright?”
“Mhm.” I climbed to my feet, still half asleep. “Thank you for everything.” I yawned and rubbed one of my eyes.
“You’re welcome, love.”
“I’m serious. Thank you for the flowers and hanging out and helping me unpack and dinner.”
I lifted my arms and Arris closed the space between us so we could hug.
“Anytime.” He wrapped his arms around me firmly and I resisted the urge to snuggle into him.
“The next date will be better,” I offered.
“So there’s going to be another date?” he asked.
“Be for real, Arris. Do you even count tonight as a date?”
“As long as I get to chill with you, we can call it whatever you want, but ay, I’ll make sure we actually get you out the crib next time.” His hands trailed from my back to my hips and he looked down at me. “I can’t have you thinking I’m ducking smoke from Darryl or some shit.”
I scoffed.
“That was never a thought.”
“Good.” His thumbs traced little circles on my hips. “Well, come on and give me a kiss so you can get some sleep.”
I smiled as I tiptoed to kiss him. His grip on my hips tightened and he pulled me flush against him. Then he leaned in and kissed me. My arms tightened around his neck and I pushed myself even closer to his body.
The kiss was over too soon though and he pecked me again immediately after.
“Goodnight, Dyani.”
“Goodnight, Arris,” I echoed. “Text me and let me know when you get home safely.”
“Alright.”
He kissed me one more time then let me go.
He pivoted, but instead of climbing into bed, I followed him to the front door.
He threw it open and looked out before stepping out.
I reached for his arm and his eyebrows fiddled together when he turned around.
I stole a quick kiss from his lips. He chuckled. I giggled.
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye, love.”
I watched him double check that the door was locked before he walked out and pulled it behind him. Then I headed back to my bedroom, shed my clothes, and collapsed into my bed with a smile on my face.