Chapter 17
Later that night when my son fell asleep, it was just me and my thoughts. I laid back against the headboard, phone in my hand, thumb hovering over the screen. Her name sat there.
Gianna.
I stared at it.
Wondering what she was doing…
Who she was doing.
The thought came uninvited. My jaw tightened slightly as images I didn’t ask for started forming anyway. Her with another man. Laughing. Touching him. Letting him touch her.
She wasn’t mine, not even close, but the jealousy that crept in didn’t care about logic. It came fast and uncomfortable.
Was she on a corner?
Nah.
I shook my head, almost offended by my own thought.
She was too pretty for that. Too put together.
I exhaled slowly and pushed myself up out of bed, sliding into my slippers before stepping out onto the balcony.
The cool air hit me. I dropped into the chair, leaning back, head tilting up toward the sky.
“Dri…” I murmured softly. “I need your help, my love.” I dragged a hand down my face.
“I’m trying to do this whole dating thing, but I don’t know how to.
It seems cruel that the first woman I meet who I feel something for…
leads a life completely different than mine.
” I paused, swallowing. “But I like her. And curiosity is getting the best of me.” I huffed a quiet breath.
“I don’t wanna fuck this up, babe. I wanna do right by our baby boy.
I wanna move the right way.” My eyes closed.
“Guide me in the right direction, love.”
Silence answered back at first. Then… I felt a breeze, soft and warm. It brushed across my face gently like fingers grazing my skin. Or a kiss.
My chest tightened. And then I heard her clear as day, like her lips were pressed against my ear: Everything happens for a reason, my love.
My eyes opened slowly. A heavy breath left my chest. It felt like a sign. Permission. I swallowed, sitting forward and grabbing my phone from my lap. “Just do it,” I muttered under my breath. Before I could overthink it—I pressed call.
The phone rang twice. My heart started picking up, beating a little harder. I almost expected it to go to voicemail, so when the line clicked and her voice came through soft and smooth—I froze.
“Hello?”
“…Gianna?”
She sighed softly. “You should know, you called me.”
I huffed a quiet breath, rubbing the back of my neck. “Right. Right. My bad.”
A pause.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hello.”
Another pause settled between us—this one heavier. My mind scrambled a little, trying to figure out what to say.
“Did you call me to hear me breathe, Remy, or do you have something to say?”
I smiled slightly despite the nerves twisting in my chest. I rubbed over my chest trying to ease the nerves there. “I wanna apologize, Gianna.” I exhaled slowly. “For my reaction… and my words. I didn’t mean to insult you—honestly. I was surprised. I just… I wish I would’ve handled that better.”
Silence.
For a second, I thought the call dropped. I glanced at the screen—still connected.
Then I heard her exhale softly. “No man has ever done that,” she said. “Apologized. It’s usually much worse.”
My shoulders relaxed.
“Thank you for that.”
“Of course,” I replied, my voice steady. “You deserve respect regardless.”
“Thank you,” she breathed. “I wasn’t trying to hide it from you. I planned to tell you whenever we went to dinner.” There was honesty in her voice. She continued, “I don’t hide who I am, Remy. But this is why I don’t date. Men can’t handle it. And I don’t force them to.”
“And you shouldn’t,” I said.
Another pause stretched.
“Remy…why did you call me?”
I rubbed my beard slowly, staring out into the night.
“Honestly…” I exhaled. “I can’t stop thinking about you.
” I was never one for games and I wasn't going to start now. “Trust me, I’ve tried. And I wanna explore that… if you’ll let me.
” My grip tightened slightly around the phone.
“I still wanna take you to dinner. Talk to you. Get to know you. See if this connection between us is real.”
I waited for her next response, nerves fluttering all in my belly.
“You think we have a connection?” she asked finally, voice lower. I could hear it though, the smile in her voice.
I leaned back slightly in the chair, smiling. “You don’t think we do?”
“There may be… something there worth exploring," she replied quietly.
"One date, Gianna. If we don't enjoy each other's company, we can part ways amicably. Maybe even be friends."
She paused for a second. "Hold on, Remy," she replied.
I heard her shuffling in the background. Then a man’s voice—muted. My body tensed. I sat up straighter in the chair, jaw tightening as I strained to listen. Was that one of her johns? Tricks? Clients? Whatever the hell you called men like that.
She laughed softly and thanked him before returning to the conversation. "Sorry about that. I was craving tacos, so I'm stopped by my favorite spot."
I exhaled in relief. Damn, was I going to assume that every man she spoke with was a potential client?
"I would love to have dinner with you though." Her warm voice brought me back to conversation. "What do you have in mind?"
I leaned back again in my chair, head tilted back up towards the sky. "I wanna cook for you. Anything you'd like," I answered.
"Where would this dinner be taking place? I hope you don't think I'm coming to your crib."
I smirked. "Not at all. You're a lady. I can rent out a space just for us. I'll handle everything. All I need is your time, attention and a date." My mind was already moving—menu, setting, details.
"Okay," she breathed out. "This weekend. Friday night. 7 p.m."
I smiled "Perfect. I'll get right on that. Anything in particular you would like or any food allergies?"
"I'll let you do you. No allergies," she replied. "But…I really enjoyed that dessert you made me so…"
My smile deepened. "Say no more. I got you, beautiful."
"Good," she sighed softly, but it sounded content this time. "Good night, Remy."
"Good night, Gianna. Sweet dreams."
"You too."
The line clicked. I placed the phone back on my chest and closed my eyes. I couldn't deny that I was nervous about this whole thing, but something internally was pushing me forward. Like Boogie said—I had good discernment.
"I see you, Dri," I murmured to the sky. "I see you."