Chapter 11 Let Me Take You Out
Champ
I was expected to leave when I woke up this morning. Lydea would realize we made a mistake last night, or she got what she needed, and I’d dip. I’ll take breakfast instead though.
In the light of the morning, she’s even prettier. Her skin shines as the sunlight filters through the window of her kitchen. She’s wearing yellow again. It must be her favorite color. It works for her.
“So, about last night,” I begin after I sit at the table.
“What about it?”
Lydea scoops some eggs onto her plate and grabs an English muffin from the pile. It really looks like IHOP up in here. She cooked every breakfast food imaginable.
“I’m just wondering how you feel about it.” I shrug, trying to not be too serious. I’m really asking where we’re going from here.
“I got up and made you breakfast, didn’t I?” She says over the mug of coffee she cradles in her hands.
I laugh. Facts. I’m asking simp questions when the evidence lay right here across her kitchen table.
“My bad.”
“Are you only cool at night?” There’s a sly grin on her face.
“Wow, shots fired this early in the morning?”
“You’re right. Let me let you reset.” She waves her hand in front of her.
“Ha!” I clear my throat. “Morning, Sunshine!”
“Good morning, Champ. Did you sleep well?”
“Better than I have in a long time.”
Her eyes meet mine. “Same.”
“Just so you know, all of my rideshares with pretty, single women end this way, so don’t get your hopes up.” I work hard to keep the edges of my mouth from curling up as I lie through my teeth.
“Funny! All of my rideshares with handsome single men do too. Bet we’ve got the same body count.”
I almost choke on my water. “Damn, you’re spicy.”
“You like it?”
“I do.”
She settles in her chair across from me. Her robe slips off her shoulder, making me realize I might have a shoulder kink. I shake my head and focus on the plate of food in front of me, feeling a bit nervous now that it’s the light of day. I really like her, but I don’t know her at all.
The easiest thing to do to calm myself down is eat, so I stab my fork into the most perfect looking scrambled eggs and take a bite.
“How are they?” She smiles at me with her fork mid-air.
The eggs, like the woman appears to be, are perfect, but messing with her is fun. I frown as I chew and swallow forcefully.
Her head tilts to the side and she leans forward to look at my plate. That’s when I crack a smile.
“Wow, you’re spicy this morning too!”
“Your food looks and tastes delicious...just like you.”
She smiles at me, then looks back down at her plate. I let the silence of our eating stretch between us. The food is damn good, and I worked up an appetite last night.
I steal a glance in her direction, and she’s watching me. My nerves immediately melt away. She likes me too. I’m so used to being casual with everyone. Never on the lookout for love. Just moving from one dollar to the next. I feel myself wanting to slow down.
I’m not in love or anything like that, but she makes me feel something different. Hopeful. Curious even.
“When’s your shop opening?”
“Next summer. I didn’t get paid for my last rideshare, so now I’m behind in my savings. Gotta delay it now.”
She bursts out laughing. “You were one ride away, and you chose ass over cash. That’s on you, Champ.”
“It was worth it. I can always move in with my mom.”
“Aht aht! I can pay you right now.” She reaches for her phone, and I grab her hand.
“It’s all good, Sunshine. I actually have a plan. I reached my financial goal a few months ago, but doing rideshares keeps bringing me money.”
And now it brought me her. I keep that part to myself because I don’t know her like that to be claiming her...yet.
“I have a few spots picked out. Got my order for equipment in my cart. I’m ready.”
She nods. “What’s stopping you from starting sooner than later?”
“I’m not sure. I know I want a certain vibe. And a certain type of service. It takes time to build that kind of thing.”
She leans forward, nodding as I speak. “What kind of vibe?”
“Familial. I want it to feel like you’re at home or chilling with your boys, but not trying to be all fancy with those ring lights everywhere and a bunch of men with big egos and IG dreams.”
She smiles. “You got this all figured out.”
“It’s my livelihood. If I want to live it and love it, I have to start it off right.”
She tilts her head to the side, her smile never leaving her face.
“What?”
“I never met a guy like you.”
“No girl has ever made me breakfast the next morning.”
She frowns. “Really? But you put on a breakfast-worthy performance last night. Are you usually terrible in bed?”
I shake my head at her. “You’re a problem.”
“And you like it.”
I do.
“Let me take you out tonight,” I tell her. “On a real date.”
“Yesterday wasn’t a date?”
“No, it was me being nice to the girl after her bad date. Let me know you how it’s done.”
That sunshine smile appears on her face, then she gets up and comes to sit on my lap. “Sure, pick me up at 6.”