Chapter 24
Igot the idea from her. While we were on the boat, she said it was sad that we had to be in the middle of a huge lake to avoid a melee. She mentioned how she wished we could just be regular, anonymous people and go out on a regular date. That stayed on my mind because the part of me who wanted to be the giver in her life couldn’t let it rest. So, I went to work, enlisting the help of Bubbles and Rueben who were still in town on standby in case we needed them, and it turned out we did.
Bubbles found an event in NOLA along with our outfits, getting them overnighted to us. Rueben took care of our, yes…our, makeup—anything to make my woman happy…judge your mama—and we were ready. To some, we looked crazy, but at an EDM show, we fit right in clothed in fluorescent green, orange, and yellow. I had on orange leather pants and a zebra-print t-shirt with all three colors. My lady’s body was covered in body paint, her skin a canvas of orange, green, and yellow swirls, including her face. The important parts were covered in a tiny black bikini. Her Afro was wild and tinted orange. We were a spectacle and I liked it. I’m pretty sure Ishmia loved it.
Two black SUVs left my house via the rear driveway, one several minutes before the other. The first held only a driver, the back seats hidden behind heavy window tint. By the time the second car—our car—left, the crowd that had gathered outside my house the night of the gala had largely dispersed, and no one followed us. Ishmia was downright giddy when we arrived at our destination and finally made it to the front of the line. We entered the venue to loud, pulsing electronic music and chaotic lights. I was almost a million percent sure no one would recognize her here, and no one did. She looked so free with her eyes uncovered but closed as she jumped and bounced to the music, an ever-present smile on her beautiful face. She was art. I was art, and I was truly happy to see her happy.
So, I wrapped my arm around her waist, stilling her active body long enough to kiss her plush lips and whisper in her ear, “I love you so much.”
Grinning, she returned, “I love you more,” and after that, I watched her dance the night away.
Happiness looked good on her.