Chapter 8
“You didn’t get anything to eat,” Ahmad noticed. “You can’t drink on an empty stomach. Not that you were drinking much.”
My stomach rumbled as I nodded. “Yeah, I guess I’ll take a basket of fries.”
“Our wings are good, too.”
I shook my head. “You do not want to see me eat wings.”
“Well, I’d rather offer you wings than a burger.” He pointed to my striped dress. “Ol’ robble robble ass.”
I gasped as he made the unintelligible noise that the Hamburglar was known for. The unexpected joke caused a loud laugh turned cough.
“I hate you,” I told him with tears in my eyes. Wiping away any eyeliner that could’ve smeared, I couldn’t hide my amusement. “You’re really showing your age with the Hamburglar reference.”
He cocked his head to the side. “And yet, you knew exactly who I was talking about.” With a smirk, he tapped his hand on the bar and backed away. “I’ll put an order in for you.”
I rolled my eyes, but my cheeks hurt from smiling.
“What’s your name, beautiful?” a deep voice asked about a minute later as he took the seat next to me.
I glanced over at him.
He was cute and wore a nice suit.
“Aaliyah,” I responded. “And you are?”
He flashed a smile. “I’m Ray.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Ray.”
His gaze lingered on my lips. “The pleasure is all mine. I like to get to know the people I’m sharing space with.”
“Oh, we’re sharing space?”
“We are now.” He grinned. “I came in here to celebrate, and then I noticed this beautiful woman at the bar, so if you’ll allow me to stay in your presence, I’d say we are sharing space.”
“Hmm.” I gave him a skeptical look. “Okay.”
“Can I buy you a drink?”
I tapped my half-filled glass. “I have one, but thank you.”
“What can I get you?” Ahmad asked.
I did a double take. Damn! Did he sneak up?
“I’ll take a vodka martini, and you can get this beautiful lady another drink if she wants it.”
“I told you, I’m fine,” I replied with a soft smile. “But thank you.”
“You are more than fine,” Ray flirted.
Ahmad cleared his throat. “Okay, I’ll get your drink.” He glanced at me. “And your food will be out in a couple minutes.”
My eyes connected with Ahmad’s. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, thanks, man,” Ray added. “Now back to you…” He turned his attention back to me. “What are you doing here tonight? Looking all good and shit… you can’t be here all alone.”
“I had a date that ended early,” I answered honestly.
“What happened?”
“Why?”
“I have to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes he did on our date.”
Smiling, I shook my head. “What makes you think I’m open to a date with you?”
“Because you keep flashing that gorgeous smile my way.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Is that right?”
“Vodka martini,” Ahmad interrupted, sliding the drink in front of Ray. He gave me a look before adding, “Your food will be out in a few.”
Confusion caused my head to tilt as I held his gaze. “Thanks…” I said slowly.
When I tore my eyes from him, I found Ray staring at me. “Can I ask you a quick question?” He lifted his glass to his lips. “I wanted to at least buy you a drink before picking your brain, but here we are.”
“Picking my brain? What’s up?”
“I need a couple of suggestions. How can I move a random bar meeting to a first date with you?”
I let out a light laugh. “Okay.” I put my glass to my lips and took a sip. “That was kind of smooth.”
He turned on the barstool, so his body was facing me. “I’m real smooth if you give me a chance.” He reached his left hand out to briefly touch my arm. “Let me get your number, and I can show you how smooth…”
I noticed the indentation on his ring finger and sighed. “You know what would be real smooth?”
“What’s that?”
“Being faithful to your wife.”
His eyes widened fractionally. “Wh-what? Wife? What are you talking about?”
“Where does she think you are?” I wondered. He looked like he was going to try to lie and defend himself, so I continued, “I’m genuinely curious.”
He slid off the stool. “I don’t know what you mean, but I’m here to celebrate.” He picked up his drink with two fingers and pointed to me. “I thought you looked like someone I could celebrate with, but you’re on some other shit.”
“Everything okay?” Ahmad said in a deep voice as he placed my burger and fries in front of me.
“Yeah, this married man was just leaving,” I said loudly.
Sputtering, Ray backed away from me. “Yo, what is wrong with you? I’m not married.”
“Save your lies for someone who’ll believe them,” I called after him.
When I turned back around, Ahmad was staring at me.
“What are you doing?” he questioned.
My eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“These”—he made a slightly disgusted face—“men. These dates.”
I jerked my thumb backward toward the door. “That married man wasn’t my date!” I scoffed.
“But the married man before him was. And ol’ boy last week.”
My mouth hung open for a moment. “You think they acted like they didn’t have any sense before I agreed to meet them?” I asked incredulously.
“No, but I think you need help.”
“I don’t need help,” I balked.
He lifted his hands. “These dudes you keep linking with suggest otherwise.”
I felt called out. “Wow, okay, Ahmad.”
Leaning over the bar, he grabbed my arm. His fingertips seared my skin as soon as he gripped me. Even if I wanted to get up and walk away from him and those delicious-looking fries, I was rooted in place.
“Don’t take it the wrong way,” he said gently. “All I’m saying is come out with me and the fellas tomorrow night. Eight o’clock at Lava. We have a section under Ahmad Williamson.”
I pursed my lips, but I didn’t say no.
“I think you’d enjoy yourself,” he continued.
“Are you trying to set me up?”
“No.” His answer was firm, almost sharp.
“Because after what happened a few weeks ago, I’m not interested.”
“A night out with some real ones might help you.”
“I don’t need help,” I repeated with a little less conviction.
“Being around men who know how to act could help you spot the ones you need to leave alone. And maybe being around some real ones will help you loosen up so you’re not sitting over here with your shoulders hunched up.”
“My shoulders aren’t hunched up,” I argued.
He lifted his shoulders to his ears. “Looking ass,” he joked.
My head fell back as I laughed. “I can’t stand you!”
Ahmad ignored someone trying to get his attention as he responded. “But you know I’m right.”
“Whatever.”
“Prove me wrong at Lava tomorrow at eight.”
I nodded, but I didn’t verbally commit.
He smiled. “Your food is getting cold.” He walked off to take an order.
I put some sanitizer on my hands and then popped a fry in my mouth. “Mmm.”
I looked down at the thick-cut fries with the array of seasoning on them.
“Good, right?” Asia asked as she handed the couple next to me two beers.
“Hands down the best fries I’ve ever had,” I told her.
“I told you,” Ahmad said, overhearing our conversation as he carried a case of something behind Asia.
I watched his biceps flex under the weight of the case before jerking my eyes to his face. “You did say I’d like them,” I admitted slowly.
“Stick with me. I’m right about a lot of things.”
“You weren’t right about the size of that shirt,” Asia joked.
I snickered. “Ahmad stay wearing OshKosh B’Gosh.”
“Gymboree!” Asia laughed loudly before heading to the other end of the bar.
“Baby Gap!”
Ahmad looked like he was trying his hardest not to laugh, which made me laugh harder.
“Both of y’all can kiss my ass,” he grumbled with a huge smile on his face.
I ate my food and spent the next couple of hours exchanging jokes and laughing with Ahmad. I had such a good time that when I got home that night, I found myself feeling light and happy. Even after a few bad dates, it didn’t feel as disastrous because of Ahmad.
I didn’t even bother to open the dating app on Saturday morning. I saw the numerous notifications and I sucked my teeth. Even though I felt like I thoroughly vetted the men I met up with, I still was choosing the wrong ones. Between a man who lied about his kids and a man who lied about his wife, I was just done with the app.
Maybe Ido need help.
Just the thought forced Ahmad into my mind.
He didn’t take a break to spend time with me at the bar, but every chance he got, he checked on me, he talked to me, he made me laugh. His personality was so different from what I thought when I first met him. His conversation was engaging and intelligent, his personality was honest and funny. And I hated to admit it, but I liked him.
Not like that,I assured myself.
It was just that Ahmad had the type of reassuring presence that filled me with a sense of calm. He was obviously attractive, so my body reacted to the sight of him from time to time. And he was honest, so his frankness cut a little deep sometimes. But underneath that was a comforting calmness that made me feel safe with him.
It was rare.
I liked it.
I liked him.
He made a big impression on me last night. So much so that I spent the majority of the day laughing at things we’d said and jokes we’d made as I cleaned my apartment.
My phone had dinged and beeped and vibrated all day, but it rang for the first time around four o’clock in the afternoon.
“Hello?” I answered as soon as I saw who it was.
“So, you’re going, right?” Nina questioned immediately.
Even though she was out of town, I’d texted her about Ahmad’s offer when I’d gotten home. I assumed she was asleep or busy since it was almost one o’clock in the morning and a man had taken her on a weekend getaway. Because of that, I figured she was going to send me a text in response. But it was just like Nina to jump right into it.
“No hello or nothing, huh?” I replied with a laugh.
“Nope. I only have a few minutes before he comes back to the room. And since there’s not much time, I’m going to give you some real talk. You need to go to Lava, and if I was home, I would be right there with you. You know who’s going to be there tonight?”
“No, who?”
“Terra-Cotta.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
Richland’s very own Terra-Cotta was an RB group that had been gaining national attention over the last few months. They were on the rise to superstardom, and they still did pop-up shows locally.
I was really looking forward to seeing them again live.
“You need to be there,” Nina reiterated. “You need to get out more, and this is the perfect opportunity.”
“I don’t know…” I kind of groaned as I pulled my legs onto the couch with me. “Ahmad is—”
“You said Ahmad’s sexy ass asked you to meet him in his section at Lava to see Terra-Cotta’s pop-up show,” she interrupted. “I’m not seeing the downside here.”
“Ahmad is married.”
“Girl, he invited you out with him and his boys. He didn’t invite you to sit on his dick. Go to the damn lounge and stop playing.”
“He’s married.”
“Maybe his wife will be there. Or maybe he invited you out because he thinks of you as one of the boys. Or maybe he wants you to meet one of his boys. Or maybe he wants to fuck you and he’s just like these other cheating-ass dudes. Either way, you need to focus more on what you want and how to get it. Get out of the house. Go to Lava. See Terra-Cotta. Meet some men.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Nina!”
“You’re laughing because I’m right. You claim this man is just your friend.”
I readjusted my position on the couch and placed my feet on the floor. “He is just my friend.”
“So, I don’t see a downside. Friends hang out.”
I silently pursed my lips.
She was right.
I wanted to go, and if I were being honest with myself, I’d been trying to talk myself out of it. But Nina was absolutely right. Ahmad was a friend who invited me out to do something that was definitely up my alley. There was no legitimate reason for me to not go if I wanted to go.
“Hey, I thought I had a few more minutes,” Nina said suddenly. “I’m touching bases with my girl. I’ll meet you in the shower.”
I knew she wasn’t talking to me, and I heard a deep voice reply in the background. She laughed at something before she came back to the line. “Hey, I’m back.”
“You sound really happy right now. I see the Fun One is treating you right,” I speculated, using the nickname she gave him.
“Absolutely. Details to come. But in the meantime, text me a picture of what you’re wearing to Lava.”
“I didn’t say I was going,” I protested quickly.
“Yeah, but we both know you are. Text me your outfit. Byeeeeeeee!”
I laughed. “Goodbye, Nina!”
We hung up, and I immediately went to my closet to figure out what I was going to wear. After making a final decision and sending a photo to the group chat, I started working on my hair. When I was fully dressed and ready to leave, I admired myself in the mirror.
I look good,I thought as I did a little spin.
I snapped another picture and sent it to the group chat so Nina and Jazmyn could see my finished look. They said I was dressed like I had a hot date. I told them I didn’t know what Ahmad’s friends looked like, and I doubted that one of them could be my next boyfriend. They said I was giving date vibes, and I almost reconsidered my outfit.
Those were not the vibes I was trying to give.
I could still hear them teasing me about me trying to seduce Ahmad and his friends as the car I was in pulled up to Lava. I climbed out of the back seat still shaking my head at their jokes. Looking around, I was so glad I didn’t let them get in my head.
I wiggled my toes in my gold strappy sandals before thanking the driver and closing the door behind me.
“I fit right in,” I mused as I flounced out the white minidress.
My outfit had a flowy skirt that showcased my thick thighs and pretty legs. The sweetheart neckline was subtle in the way it brought attention to my cleavage. But the color against my skin was the main reason I wore it. It was a hot, late-July night, and almost every woman I saw in the parking lot and in line was wearing a short dress or short shorts. Legs were out everywhere. Skin was definitely exposed.
I took a picture of the line and sent it to the group chat before slipping my phone into my gold bag. When I got to the front, I showed my ID and asked them to point me in the direction of the sections.
“Whoa,” I uttered as I entered the main space.
People were everywhere.
But it was crowded without being packed. I could easily maneuver through the crowd but not without brushing into someone. The DJ didn’t have the music that loud, so there were some people dancing, but it seemed that most people were talking. The lights were bright, and the energy was positive and light. I could tell it was going to be a good night, and I’d just arrived.
I followed the directions the bouncer gave me and climbed the steps to the platform. As soon as I reached the top step, I stopped. Before I got a chance to survey the scene, I saw a tall man with broad shoulders and a sponge-curl fade with his back to me.
I knew it was Ahmad without him having to turn around. He was at the end of the walkway talking to someone I couldn’t see. He had on black pants and a black short-sleeved collar shirt with stripes. My eyes danced over his muscular arms as he pointed to something, and I inhaled deeply.
Get it out of your system now.
The man looked good. I didn’t even have to see him from the front to be taken by him.
“Hey, angel. You looking for me?” a man in the first section asked.
I shifted my attention to a short but cute man in a white shirt and white linen pants.
“We match,” he pointed out as he rose to his feet and opened his arms. “So, if you aren’t looking for me, you should be. Because I got room for your thick, pretty ass over here.”
The three men in his section snickered at his antics.
“I’m good, but thank you,” I replied.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, she’s sure,” a deep voice answered for me.
My head snapped toward it, but I already knew to whom it belonged.
Ahmad’s voice sounded like thunder as it rumbled over the velvet rope toward the man in white. He looked good as he drew closer to me. The shirt was just as stylish from the front as it was from the back. I wasn’t sure how he did it, but somehow, he looked even better outside of Onyx.
As he reached his arm out to me, I glanced at how his tattoo snaked down his bicep. He slipped his hand to the small of my back as he took his final step.
As soon as our eyes locked, my heart thumped in my chest.
Well, damn.