Chapter 32 Dawn
DAWN
When Troy popped up at the restaurant, I was totally unprepared.
My heart felt like it skipped a beat when I heard his voice from behind me.
I had talked my sister’s ear off the whole time we were getting dressed and on the way to dinner about how upset I was with the run in I had with his baby mama.
Even when Kevin started explaining to me the situation between Troy and that girl, I still was low-key in my feelings.
The crazy part was that Troy and I weren’t seriously dating, but we were in the beginning phase of getting to know one another, talking and flirting with each other a lot. I started to really like him.
We talked about all sorts of things; family, past relationships, wants and desires, etc.
So, to find out that he not only had a whole kid, but a crazy ass baby mama was a turn off to me, and that sucked because he never mentioned any of that to me.
It sucked because for the first time, I was starting to have feelings for him that I hadn’t felt for a man in quite some time.
That was very rare being that we had only been talking and not meeting up spending one on one time together.
After the baby mama and I got into it, I was cool with moving on from Troy but felt disappointed at the same time.
I felt like it was great that we fell out before things between he and I went to the next level because had I given him any cookie, I would have been fighting mad.
There was something about Troy that had my full attention.
He was a very sexy man. He could pass for Lance Gross’ brother except Troy was built bigger and taller.
His conversation was always good, and he made me feel wanted by how attentive he would be.
He was a great listener which was rare for a man, so I had high hopes for us.
Then being around Kevin and Ava, and watching their little love story unfold, made it harder because as much as I would say that I wasn’t a hopeless romantic, in a way I kind of was.
I just would say that I wasn’t looking for love as a defense mechanism to protect my feelings from getting hurt.
In just a short period of time, Troy had become someone who had the potential to hurt my feelings, which was why I was trying to convince myself to move on after the whole baby mama fiasco, to keep from getting hurt by him.
When he showed up to the restaurant, I wasn’t ready to face him just yet.
Kevin and Ava had me feeling like I should at least hear him out, so that was what I had planned to do, just not at that very moment.
I wanted a little more time to process it all because I wasn’t sure if I was up for dealing with all the drama that Troy had going on in his life.
I really liked him, but not enough to be miserable dealing with all his stuff.
But when I turned in my seat and saw his face then looked into his eyes, he had me gone…
again. As bad as I wanted to act like a hard ass, I couldn’t do it.
When he asked for me to come have a talk with him, I tried my best to play it off like I was unbothered when in fact I was smitten by the fact that he took the time to show up on my behalf to explain himself.
I appreciated that if nothing else ‘cause he could have been like fuck me and on to the next chick.
We ended up walking outside on the front patio part of the restaurant to chat in this small waiting area that had a bench.
“First, let me say that you look beautiful tonight,” Troy began, causing me to blush.
“Thanks,” I responded, trying to maintain my attitude.
“I’m sorry about what happened earlier. I should have told you about my son and his crazy ass mama, but that’s not my usual conversation starter.”
“I get that, but once you and I started talking on the regular, it should have come up. I get that it was still very early in our situation for you to feel comfortable, but at the same time, it looks like you’re trying to hide it by not mentioning it.
Our last conversations had been getting a little freaky.
Like I had the impression that we were close to going to the next level.
When were you going to tell me about your kid, after we took it there? ”
“To be honest, I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it because I remember you saying that one of the guys you used to talk to and how things didn’t work out because you were turned off by his baby mama drama.
I guess the fact that I really like you got the best of me, and I didn’t want to say anything that could potentially turn you off. ”
“So, you’re saying you weren’t planning on telling me then?”
“I’m saying I wasn’t planning on telling you until I knew for sure that things with us were going to another level.
We hadn’t even seen each other since the day we helped your sister move, and that’s a conversation I would have preferred to have with you in person.
That way I could look you in the eyes so that you would know that I was keeping it real,” Troy said as he looked into my eyes.
I could tell he was being truthful just by the way he was looking at me.
“I don’t have shit to be ashamed of when it comes to my shorty.
I take pride in being his pops, and I don’t bring women around him unless I’m in a serious relationship with them.
In other words, no other woman has ever met my kid. ”
“Wow, how old is he?”
“He’s two and a half.”
“Oh, wow!”
“Right, so that should hopefully get you to see that that part of my life I don’t play about. I haven’t been in a serious relationship since me and his mom broke up. I have dated women, but nothing serious came from it.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“Of course,” he responded.
“Is your baby mama the reason why you haven’t been able to maintain a relationship with anyone after y’all broke up?”
Taking a deep breath, I could tell that Troy didn’t want to answer that question.
Just in his unspoken response I already knew the answer.
“Honestly, yes and no. The women I have dealt with in the past were just a sex thing. I didn’t see much potential with any of them, and I’m partly to blame for that.
I say yes because since I wasn’t in a committed relationship, I did tend to go back and mess around with my son’s mom. ”
“Oh, see, hell nah!” I shook my head. “And that right there is the reason why I told myself that I didn’t want to date a man with baby mama issues. For some reason, y’all always run back to the baby mama, and that’s not something I’m willing to put up with.”
“I get that, and you’re right to an extent.”
“To an extent? You just admitted it!” I defended, rolling my eyes and sighing.
“Yeah, ‘cause I’m keeping it real with you, but let me finish. I used to run back to her, but not anymore.”
“So, YOU say. That ain’t what I heard.”
“What did you hear?”
“I heard her clearly refer to you as her man.”
“Ah shit, you should disregard everything you heard her say earlier. For one, I’m not her man and haven’t been for a minute now.
Yes, I used to still fuck with her, but I been stopped, and I don’t intend on messing with her like that again.
She and I are cut from a different cloth.
That’s something I knew from the start, but she ended up getting knocked when we first started messing around, so I tried to make things work for the sake of our son.
Was I wrong for doubling back and hittin’?
Absolutely! But I can sit in front of you today and honestly say that’s something you would never have to worry about if you and I hook up. ”
“I don’t know ‘cause we haven’t hooked up, and I’m already dealing with her bullshit.”
“About that, I was at her house visiting my son because she won’t let me take him for any one-on-one time without her being present.
That’s just her way of trying to control shit.
She has no real reason to feel like I can’t take my son with me, but I have something for that.
I plan to take her to court for my rights to have visitation with him.
The thing with her is she is a true bitch in every essence of the word.
I hate that I have to talk about her like that since she is my son’s mom, but it’s the truth.
I won’t lie and say that moving on and not giving her this good dick hasn’t been hard for her,” he continued to explain, causing me to stir a little in my seat.
“She is having a hard time accepting the fact that I’m done with her.
So, what she did today was her way of being messy and fucking up what I have going on.
I’m really attracted to you, Dawn. I wanted you to be mine from the moment I first saw you, and I don’t mean just in a sexual way either.
I wouldn’t be here trying to explain shit if I wasn’t feeling you something serious.
The ball is now in your court. If you want to see where things can go between us, then you’re going to have to trust me and have a little patience while I figure things out between me and Monica. ”
“I don’t know. It takes a strong woman to be okay to deal with all of that.”
“It does, that ain’t no lie, but that’s what I have going on.
I hope that you’re up for the task. I promise you’ll see that it’ll be worth it at the end of the day.
I’m not going to allow for her to ever disrespect you again.
I can’t promise that she won’t try but just know I won’t tolerate it.
I checked her ass about it earlier, and that’s part of the reason why I’m taking her to court for visitation rights.
I’m doing my part to minimize having to deal with her entirely. ”
“Right, but in the meantime, until you get your visitation rights, you’re going to have to visit your son at her house, and I don’t know how I feel about that.
Especially knowing that you have double backed and kept fucking her since y’all broke up, and she feels like you’re her nigga.
I would be super uncomfortable with you chillin’ at her crib alone. ”
“I can respect that, and I will try to figure all of that out. I promise that I will communicate with you about what is going on that way, you won’t have to feel uncomfortable.
I want you, Dawn. There is something about you that has me gone, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you mine.
I just need for you to trust me. I know that’s asking a lot right now, but I promise you I won’t let you down. Don’t you want me?”
“I mean, I was open to seeing where things were gonna go, but—”
“Was? So, you don’t want to give us another shot?”
“I don’t know. Can I have some time to think about it?”
“Yeah, and while you’re thinking about everything, think about this.
” Troy leaned into my personal space and locked his lips with mine.
Giving me a slow, sensual kiss, this public sign of affection had me speechless.
His soft lips tasted like Double Mint gum and Carmex, a combination that wasn’t my favorite until that very moment.
“I’m not letting up until you agree to giving us another try,” he said, once he removed his lips from mine.
He had me sitting there with my lips poked out and half open. How could I say no after a kiss like that?
“I guess we can see where things go. But if that crazy ass girl comes at me sideways again, I promise things aren’t going to be good for any of us. You may even rethink how you feel about me ‘cause I ain’t nothin’ nice, and I don’t tolerate disrespect.”
“As you shouldn’t.” Troy giggled. “Now, come on with your tough self. Let’s go celebrate your sister and maybe later we can spend some alone time.”
“We’ll see about all of that,” I responded as I followed him back inside then headed for our table.
As soon as we made it to the table, the waiter came up and took Troy’s drink order, and we all ordered our entrées.
“So, is everything cool now?” Ava asked.
Kevin was sitting there with a big smile on his face. “I’m glad y’all talked. Sometimes all it takes is a little conversation to get back on track.” Kevin said.
I gave him the side-eye in a playful way.
“If it weren’t for you, I’d be fucked,” Troy said. “’Cause Dawn had me on block and every damn thing.”
“Damn right, after all the foolery that took place earlier, I was done, hunny.”
“Well, I’m glad y’all talked and got things worked out. Now we can finish this double date and celebrate for real tonight,” Ava said.
We continued to enjoy our conversation over drinks and great food.
I was so happy that Troy showed up and we were able to talk things out.
Although, in the back of my mind, I was still kind of leery about the whole baby mama drama, and curious to how he was going to control her.
I had a feeling that Miss Monica was going to cause some serious problems with me and Troy, but like he said, the ball was in my court.
After that kiss though, I couldn’t help myself.
I needed to see what he was working with that way I would know if he was worth all the drama or not.