21/Renee
I purposely showed up five minutes late because I wanted to make an entrance.
I parked on the side of the building so I’d have to walk across the parking lot.
If Kenny was sitting anywhere near the window watching, he was definitely about to get an eyeful.
I checked my makeup, cocked my black pageboy hat to the side, and smiled at my reflection.
Damn. Your ass is cute.
I chuckled and shut off my car. My cell phone rang before I could get out. Damn—I’m already late. I saw it was Kayla. Oh hell, Kenny could wait a few minutes more.
“Hey, want to go to the Martini Bar on Friday? Kim Massey’s playing.”
She’s a rhythm and blues singer from STL who we love. “Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Cool. I’ll holla at you on Friday.”
“Hey, Kayla—wait. You know Kenny Johnson?” After all, she’s from that po-dunk town.
“That’s my cousin.”
Nadine had suspected as much. I giggled. “Really? He’s going to be working on a car for Tamara.”
“Oh brother! And he’s going to be all over you. Hot. You’re just the way he likes his women.”
“Really?” Now that I found interesting. “I’m supposed to meet him for dinner in a few minutes. What’s he look like?”
“You’ve seen him before. He’s Marcus’s brother.” Marcus was her first cousin, and he wasn’t anything to look at. Glasses. Receding hairline.
“They look the same, only Marcus is older.”
“Well… I’m already in the parking lot at Country Kitchen and getting ready to walk into the restaurant and meet him now.”
“Oh boy! I can’t wait to hear how your evening goes. He is going to be on you, probably ready to call out from work and go home with you.”
We shared a laugh. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Nope. You need to call or email me tonight with all the details.”
I agreed, then hung up the phone.
I checked my lipstick one more time, and my nostrils, just to make sure there weren’t any boogers lurking around, then slowly climbed out of my car and sashayed toward the door in a pair of tight-ass jeans and matching jacket, rhinestone belt, black boots, and an off-the-shoulder black top that, along with a padded bra, made my boobs look perfect.
While chewing gum, I moved like I had all the time in the world… before stepping through the door and glancing around for him.
Oh, my goodness.
I spotted him sitting at a booth in the corner, and it took everything I had not to laugh. Kenny’s glasses were so big they were hanging on the end of his nose, and just as Nadine had warned, he had a big goofy-ass smile on his face.
He stood, close to six feet, and I noticed how skinny he was.
“This is going to be easy,” I mumbled under my breath. Like taking candy from a baby.
“Hello.”
“Whassup?” he said with a smile.
I slid into the bench across from him, and he sat back down. Kenny was staring so hard I knew he liked what he saw. He wasn’t ugly, in fact, he was kinda cute in a goofy Urkel kinda way.
And I do mean goofy.
His hair was thin and receding like his brother’s. All he needed was a piece of tape in the middle of his glasses and he would’ve looked like a straight-up nerd.
He was staring so hard his tongue was practically hanging out.
All I needed was for him to slobber… and I knew I had his homely ass.
“What’s wrong?” I finally asked. I already knew, but I needed to hear him say it.
“You’re fine as hell.”
“Thanks,” I said, grinning.
The waitress came and took our orders. He ordered a burger and fries, and I ordered onion rings.
That way he wouldn’t try to kiss me.
“I probably don’t look anything like you thought.”
“Actually… you and your brother look alike.”
“Oh yeah,” he said, all country and shit. “Everybody always says that.”
“Yes, except he’s darker than you.”
“I’m just an old country boy, that’s all.”
Yep. He was definitely that.
“But country boys are supposed to be some of the best men.”
My brow arched. “Oh really?”
“Yep.”
While we ate, he asked what I did for a living, and I told him. He admitted he wasn’t much of a reader, which I already knew. Then we talked about the people we both knew.
“I’m good friends with your cousin Kayla.”
His face lit up. “Oh yeah? Did you tell her you were meeting me tonight?”
“Yeah, and she said, ‘oh brother… you’re his type.’ ”
“My cousin ain’t lying,” he said with a goofy laugh. “I’m waiting for you to stand up so I can see that big ass again.”
I rolled my eyes, pretending to be insulted.
“You’re just going to have to wait until we get done eating.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep. You’re gonna have to wait.”
He laughed again. “What are you doing the rest of the night?”
“Lying across my bed… watching TV.”
He wet his lips. “I’m tempted not to go back to work and go home with you instead.”
Freak.
He couldn’t even wait for an invitation.
“Not tonight. I’m worn out.”
“Maybe another time?”
I nodded.
When we finished eating, I walked toward the register with him right behind me. I knew he was watching my ass, so I swayed just a little harder.
Oh yeah.
This is going to be easy.
After he paid, he walked me out to my car… then climbed in on the passenger’s side.
“When do I get to see you again?”
I shrugged, staring straight ahead. “I guess whenever you’re ready to pick the car up.”
“I can get it on Friday, but I don’t want to wait that long to see you again.”
If he thinks he’s getting some before he fixes my car, he better think again.
“Just give me a call.”
“Okay.” He glanced at his watch over the tops of his glasses. “I better get back to work.”
He didn’t move.
“I’ve got ten minutes to clock back in.”
“Then you better get rolling.”
He laughed nervously… then leaned over and kissed me.
Mmmm.
Not bad for a country boy.
“I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I nodded.
He climbed out, and I watched him walk to his truck as I drove away. I was already chuckling, reaching for my phone to call Kayla with the details, when the car behind me started flashing their lights.
I stopped at the light, and a truck pulled up beside me.
When I saw who it was, I smiled and rolled down my window.
“Yes?”
Kenny stuck his head out the window of a big Ford truck. “What time you going to bed?”
“Around midnight.”
“I’ll call you in an hour to make sure you made it home okay.”
I nodded.
The light turned green. I pulled off.
This… was definitely going to be easy.