16. Blessing
DATE NIGHT
“Okay, wait, let’s take one together,” I said to Saint, motioning him over.
We were getting ready for our date, and I couldn’t resist snapping some photos of my outfit.
I wore a cute two-piece set with a bright red and orange abstract pattern, accented with gray and coral.
The top was a fitted cami crop with thin spaghetti straps and a deep V-neck, showing off my cleavage perfectly.
The matching high-waisted skirt hit just below my knees.
I finished the look with gray strappy heels.
My hair was styled in an updo bun with a curled bang sweeping the left side of my face.
I kept my makeup light and natural. Earlier today, he gifted me diamond earrings and a Cartier Love bracelet and necklace, so I decided to wear them tonight.
Saint was wearing a nude turtle neck sweater that was tucked into a pair of brown slacks.
He paired it with brown designer loafers with the matching belt.
He had a silver iced-out Cuban link chain around his neck with the matching bracelet on his wrist. He looked so fucking good.
I set the timer on the digital camera and walked back over to him.
I placed a hand on his chest, posing next to him. His arms went around my waist.
After we finished taking pictures, he led me out to the garage.
“Oh, I finally get to play passenger princess!” I squealed as he opened the passenger door to his space gray Lamborghini Urus truck.
The windows were so tinted, I doubted anybody could see inside the car.
There was a bouquet of orange roses sitting in the passenger seat.
I picked them up as I slid inside. The leather seats felt so good against my skin.
Saint chuckled as he got inside. “Shit, I’ve been ready to get behind the wheel again. I’m glad I finally can. I bought this truck right before the season started and only got to drive it twice.” I watched as he pushed a few buttons and started the car.
“I can tell. It still has that new car smell.”
“What you wanna listen to, baby?” He asked, going to the music app on the car screen.
I scrolled through the music selection before deciding on Wale’s Wow… That’s Crazy album. “This is probably one of my favorite albums he’s dropped.
“I didn’t expect you to be a Wale fan.”
“Why does that surprise you?” I asked. I pulled the digital camera from my purse, looking at the pictures we’d taken before we left. I had to admit, we looked good as hell. “I can’t wait ‘til I can publicly post you. We look so good.”
He shrugged, “A lot of people don’t name Wale as their favorite. I fuck with his music. He’s definitely in my top five. You can publicly post me; you’re just scared to take the risk. I don’t like being a secret, but I’m not going to trip about it. I know your reasons.”
“I can’t lose my job, I have a daughter and sister to take care of. I can’t always depend on Messiah. He has his own life.”
“If you lose your job, you’ll forever be taken care of.”
“And if we don’t work out? Then what?”
“You can’t think negatively like that. I told you I’m not letting you go. I got y’all. I could be paying all your bills right now, but you won’t let me.”
“Cause things could change. I don’t want to depend on a man.
I hear everything you’re saying, but Saint, we’re not even in an official relationship yet.
Now let’s change the subject, I don’t want to ruin the mood.
” He nodded, placing a hand on my thigh.
We spent the rest of the ride in a comfortable silence.
We reached our destination fairly quickly. Saint exited the car and circled around to open my door. He extended a hand to help me out.
“Aye, don’t scratch my shit either.” He warned the valet, passing him the key along with a tip. He placed his hand on the small of my back, leading me into the building. The restaurant was dimly lit with R&B playing softly.
“Good evening, Mr. Simmons, your table is already ready for you. You can follow me.” The hostess said, motioning us towards a set of double doors.
The doors lead to an elevator. Saint grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers as we entered the elevator.
She pressed a button, taking us up to the rooftop.
I released a quiet gasp as the elevator doors opened.
There was a single table with two chairs placed right in the middle of the rooftop.
A bed of rose petals surrounded the table.
A single candle sat in the middle of the table.
There was a small stage to the left where a jazz band was playing music.
“Saint… this is beautiful.” I gushed as he pulled my chair out. I sat down, allowing him to push me towards the table. He took a seat across from me.
“Your waitress will be with you shortly.” The hostess said before turning to leave.
“Did I tell you how gorgeous you look tonight?” Saint asked, reaching across the table for my hand. I placed it inside his as my cheeks heated up.
“You did actually. Like a million times already.” I giggled.
His thumb brushed my knuckles as he stared directly into my eyes.
“Remember that day your car battery died, and we sat on the couch talking ‘til roadside assistance came? You mentioned how much you loved saxophonist covers. So, I had my assistant find the best saxophonist in the city. Hired him and his band to play for us during dinner tonight.”
“I’m surprised you remembered that..” I said, turning to look away from him. I felt my eyes start to water. I quickly blinked the tears away.
“Don’t start crying, Bless. I just wanted to show you that I listen when you talk.” He said, chuckling.
“Hey! I’m Sug. I’ll be your waitress for the night. Can I get you two with drinks?” The waitress greeted us, placing a basket of bread and butter on the table, along with two glasses of water.
“I’ll have a glass of Hennessy on the rocks, and she’ll have a blueberry lemon drop.”
“Great, have you had a chance to look over the menu?” She asked, writing our drink orders on her notepad.
“Can I order for you?” Saint questioned.
I nodded. “Alright, for me, I’ll take the 12-ounce ribeye, cooked medium with the garlic and herb lobster tail.
For the sides, I’ll have the seafood mac and broccolini.
For her, she’ll have the Parmesan-crusted salmon, wild rice, and the broccolini.
Matter fact, get her a side of the seafood mac too. ”
“Got it. I’m going to grab your drinks from the bar, and your meals will be out shortly.” She responded before leaving.
I swayed in my seat, dancing to the music the band was playing. “All that sounds so good. How’d you know what to order for me?” I said, reaching across the table, grabbing a piece of bread. I moaned as I took a bite of it. It was so warm and sweet.
“I come here all the time with my mother and Serenity. I usually get the salmon. I know how much you like parmesan crusted food, so.” He shrugged.
I snickered, “You think you know me?”
“I do. Blessing Nicole Carter, 25, born March 18th. Favorite colors are orange and baby blue. You love Criminal Minds and The Parkers. Your toes are always white. You love pasta and lemon pepper wings.”
“I guess you know a little something.. You’re so attentive. Why the hell are you even single?” I asked. The waitress returned with our drinks, assuring us that our meals would be out soon.
He shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. “Some women don’t know a good man when they have one. My last two relationships just didn’t work out.”
“Who were you with before Mariah?”
“I was with my ex, Kynnedi, for almost 3 years. We broke up right after I got drafted. She was the one I thought I’d be with for the rest of my life, but I guess I wasn’t what she wanted.
I’d planned on proposing to her. One day, she came to me and told me she couldn’t be with me anymore cause she didn’t love me the way I loved her.
Shit broke my heart because I was ready to give her the world.
A few weeks later, she popped out pregnant and engaged. ”
“I should beat her ass for hurting you. Some bitches are so ungrateful. At least she left before you proposed.”
“Yeah, shit, it was her loss. She reached out to me after I got injured, but I never responded to her.”
The waitress came back, placing our meals on the table. She made sure we didn’t need anything else before leaving us to ourselves.
“Is Sage’s father the only relationship you’ve been in?” Saint asked as he cut into his steak.
“Nope. Before him, I dated this local scammer named Tae. We had a pretty good relationship before he got locked up. I don’t do the whole “holding it down” thing, so we broke up, and I eventually dated Seven.
Messiah did not want me fucking with him.
Mainly because of our age difference, and he thought he’d distract me from school.
He did, but I still graduated from college with honors. ”
“You got a thing for street niggas, huh?” He said, chuckling.
I laughed, rolling my eyes. “My daddy was a street nigga. I wanted a man just like him. I couldn’t help it. I watched how he loved on my mama and wanted the same for myself. He was one romantic ass hood nigga. Straight out of an urban romance novel.”
“I get it. I be forgetting you’re Big P’s daughter. You were close to your pops?”
“Mhmm. We all were. Me and Journey were his princesses. He spoiled the hell out of us. Anything we wanted, we got it. I was driving a brand-new BMW my senior year of high school. He started my obsession with jewelry. My daddy set the standards for me when it came to men. I fucked around and had a baby by the wrong man, but I learned from that.”
“Do I meet the standards?”