2 | Simone #2
I still don’t know how it happened so fast. One minute, we were talking in the quad, and the next, I was about to hop into Samaj’s car like this was totally normal.
It wasn’t wise. At all. I barely knew him.
I swear this was not like me at all. But the crazy thing?
I felt comfortable. Safe, even. Somehow, being around him felt easy—like my instincts had already settled on trusting him before my mind finished questioning it.
As caught up in the moment as I was, I still sent my location to my cousin Emaree just to be safe.
He opened the car door for me. The soft thump of the door closing made everything feel real. I buckled my seatbelt, glancing around.
Thank God the inside was clean, and the faint scent of his cologne still lingered. I didn’t know much about cars, but I was pretty sure this one wasn’t cheap.
I’d noticed him pulling up a few times and admired it from afar. It was the kind of car that fit him. Clean, confident, captivating. I tapped my nails against my thigh and glanced his way.
“So… what’s your playlist like? Because if you’re about to subject me to some mumble rap, please tell me now so I can put my headphones on.”
He looked at me like he was offended. “I only listen to real music over here, sweetheart.”
Sweetheart?
Yeah, I could get used to that.
“Well,” I said, lifting my chin, “I’ll be the judge of that.”
He smirked, turned the car on, and let the first song load.
“Where are we off to?”
“Let’s go to the mall.”
He nodded his head and began to back out of the parking space with one hand on the wheel. As soon as the music started, I knew he wasn’t lying about his taste. Boyz II Men flowed through the speakers. Then Usher. Then Brandy. Then Mary J. Blige.
All classics. I tilted my head at him.
“Let me find out you’re a lover boy. I would’ve never guessed.”
He scoffed. “I wouldn’t say all that.”
“Mm-hmm,” I teased. “There’s nothing wrong with loving love.”
He cracked a smile as I started singing along to Monica’s song Love All Over Me.
“Maybe we should just let her sing it.”
“Don’t do that because I know I sound good. I’ll have you know I was in the church choir for five years,” I said proudly.
“You and I both know that doesn’t count. Everyone was in the choir growing up in church.”
“Sounds like a hater to me.”
He shook his head, trying not to laugh. “I’ll let you have that.”
“Smart man, because this wasn’t a fight you were going to win,” I shot back before I could stop myself.
His eyes flicked toward mine, just for a second, but long enough to send warmth through my stomach.
“That’s cool. When it comes to you, I think I’ll be a lover not a fighter.”
The first place I took us was a giant candy store that looked like a dentist’s worse nightmare. We worked our way through the entire store, and every now and then I’d glance over at him. Seeing the joy on his face melted my heart.
“We’re getting all this?” I asked, eyeing the mountain of sweets he loaded into the basket. He nodded once.
“Shiloh didn’t discriminate when it came to candy.” So, I helped him load even more candy. Rainbow belts, sour gummies, Nerds, M&Ms—anything that made his expression ease just a little.
Standing in line, I started mentally calculating the damage. At this rate, I was about to move money from my savings to my checking just to survive checkout.
“Girl, put that wallet up. There’s no way you really thought I was letting you pay for all of this.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” I said as I shoved my wallet back in my purse. This was my idea, but the way my bank account was set up, I had no plans on buying up half the store.
After we made our way out of the store, I immediately started shoving candy into my oversized purse. He stopped mid-step, one eyebrow raised as he watched me.
“Girl,” he said slowly, “what you up to now?”
I didn’t even look at him. “We’re sneaking all of this into the movies,” I said, with all seriousness.
His lips twitched like he was trying and failing not to smile. “Oh yeah? So, what, you a professional smuggler or something?”
“Why else do you think us ladies carry these big purses?” I shot back. “I could probably run a whole cartel with this thing.”
That did it. He let out a real laugh deep, and warm, the kind that felt good in your chest just listening to it. He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“And what if they check your bag?”
“They won’t,” I said confidently, zipping my purse closed.
He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering just long enough to make my pulse jump.
“I bet with that pretty face of yours, you get away with a lot, huh?”
I smiled sweetly and adjusted my purse on my shoulder. “You’re catching on quick.”
He shook his head, still smiling. We bought tickets to the only action movie playing, two fountain drinks from the concession stand and took our seats in the back row.
My purse sat open between us as we passed candy back and forth without a care in the world.
Me tossing him sour gummies and him passing me anything chocolate—it all felt natural.
After the movie, he drove us to our next location, McDonald’s.
“I don’t know why but this was his spot,” he said as we pulled into the drive-thru. “Shiloh stayed ordering the whole right side of the menu.” I smiled. “First a bunch of candy and now greasy food. We might as well go out with a bang.”
We sat in the parking lot eating chicken nuggets, fries, and Oreo McFlurries while going back and forth between casual conversation and laughing at stupid TikTok videos.
When God nudged me to leave that little note on Samaj’s windshield, I never imagined it would lead to an actual conversation—let alone us spending an entire afternoon together the very next day.
It felt surreal, like one of those divine setups you don’t recognize until you’re standing in the middle of it.
From the moment we started talking, the conversation flowed effortlessly, as if we were catching up after years apart instead of meeting for the first time.
There was no awkwardness, no forced small talk. Just ease. Comfort. Curiosity.
We talked about everything and nothing at all.
Our majors, our families, childhood memories, favorite foods, the random things that made us laugh.
His voice was calm and steady, but there was depth behind it, like he carried stories he didn’t share lightly.
And for the first time, I found myself wanting to know every single one.
My phone suddenly started buzzing in my lap.
GiGi.
“Oh shoot,” I groaned, glancing at the screen. “I forgot I’m supposed to take my GiGi to the grocery store.”
“Say less. Let’s get you back,” he replied, shifting gears and pulling out of the parking lot.
The drive back to campus was quiet in a comfortable way, sunlight pouring through the windshield, music playing softly in the background. We were sitting at a red light just a few minutes from the school when I noticed a man standing on the median, holding a cardboard sign asking for help.
Without hesitation, I reached into my purse and pulled out a five-dollar bill. My parents and GiGi had always taught me to keep cash on hand for moments like this. You never knew what someone was going through, and it didn’t take much to show someone a little kindness.
I rolled down my window and waved him over.
Samaj glanced at me. “You know nine times out of ten they just blow that money on alcohol or drugs.”
I turned to him, not offended, just thoughtful.
“Maybe. But maybe not.”
The man approached cautiously but hopeful.
“Hey,” I said gently. “What’s your name?”
“Tommy.”
“My name is Simone. It’s nice to meet you, Tommy.” I handed him the money. “I don’t know your story, but I just want you to know Jesus loves you, and I’ll be praying for you.”
His face softened, a small smile breaking through.
“Thank you. I appreciate that.”
With the window now rolled back up, I continued,
“That might be true, but it’s more than just giving them money. It’s an opportunity to show love and plant a seed. There’s a scripture—Proverbs 19:17. It says, whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord. That always stuck with me.”
He nodded slowly, taking that in. “I’m not gonna lie… I never thought about it like that.”
I glanced over at him. “Yeah?”
“I like that perspective,” he said.
I smiled. Our eyes met for a second longer than necessary, something unspoken passing between us.
In that small moment, stopped at a traffic light, a simple act of kindness hanging in the air, I felt like God was weaving something quietly and intentionally.
Like maybe the seed I just planted wasn’t just for Tommy but maybe it was also for Samaj.
We arrived at the school shortly after, and when he put the car in park, it suddenly felt too quiet.
“So…” he said, rubbing the back of his neck, “Is it okay if I get your number?” His voice was calm, but his eyes gave him away.
I smiled. “Sure.” I added my number to his phone and handed it back to him. “Thanks for today,” he said softly.
“Anytime.” He waited until I was safely inside my car before pulling away.
By the time I got home to pick up GiGi, she was already on the porch waiting with her purse and her attitude.
She got in the car and squinted at me. “What got you smiling so hard, little girl?”
I laughed at how nosy she could be. I chose not to tell her.
“Nothing, GiGi. Let’s go. You know traffic is crazy around this time.”
She smirked. “Uh-huh. You ain’t fooling nobody.” But I couldn’t stop smiling. All the way to the grocery store, I kept thinking about him.
His laugh. His quiet strength. The softness he didn’t show everyone else. And the way just being with him today felt right.