Knox’s Prologue
I had to admit, I wasn’t expecting the event at the Black Elm Art Institute to be such a dope experience. The music ranged from old school blues to new school rhythm and blues, and quite literally everything in between.
To my surprise, the DJ played a fifteen-minute steppers set. Stepping was popular in Chicago, where I was from, but clearly, people on the West Coast were familiar with it, because the dance floor was packed, and Skye gave me a run for my money.
Servers walked around with trays filled with light bites and glasses of wine throughout the evening. Highboy tables were strategically placed throughout the space for those who weren’t dancing or walking around.
After we danced a bit, we found a highboy to chill at with some appetizers and wine. I watched her while she ate and sipped her wine. She was so damn pretty, I could hardly take my eyes off her when I was in her presence.
Skye sported what the ladies called a teeny-weeny afro. It was curly, and her hair looked soft, but I’d never had the pleasure of touching it. She must have gotten her eyebrows done weekly because they were perfectly arched.
Her almond-shaped eyes were framed by long lashes, her cheekbones were high, her nose was slightly broad, and her beautiful, thick lips were always glossy. I could look at her all day and never tire of seeing her face.
“You know something?” she asked.
“I know a lot, but what do you want me to know?”
“If you’re not saying something borderline inappropriate, you’re staring at me.”
I chuckled because she spoke no lies.
“Is that what you think?”
“It’s what I know, and if you’re not saying something borderline inappropriate, I’d bet my last dollar you’re thinking it."
I released a laugh deep from my belly that time because she had me pegged.
“My bad, Skye. For some reason, it’s hard not to express myself around you, but I’ll work harder at keeping my thoughts from slipping out of my mouth.”
She shrugged. “I’m used to it now and find it quite humorous.”
“Humorous is cool, as long as you’re not offended.”
“No, I’m not offended. To be honest, sometimes I think it’s cute.”
“I’m a grown ass man, Skye. Nothing I do is cute.”
She laughed.
“It’s cute to me.”
“You’re cute to me . . . beautiful, really.”
She looked away from me, blushing as she sipped her wine.
“Thank you. So, are you ready for football camp?”
“Using football to change the subject, huh?”
“No. I genuinely want to know if you’re ready.”
“I am. The team has been working hard, but most of it’s been individual work. I’m excited to get them on the field to see what they can do.”
“I don’t know about the other players, and I’m biased, but my nephew is the truth. If the rest of the team works as hard as Nyeem, you’ll have one helluva season.”
“You might be biased, but me and Kilo peeped Nyeem’s skill and work ethic the first time we saw him work out. Honestly, we could see it in his high school film.”
“I’m excited about his first football and track seasons.”
“So am I. Is Stokely an athlete like his mother?”
“He ran track in high school but was just average. He honestly only did it to keep in shape. He’s very much into fitness and health and is studying kinesiology.”
“What happened between you and his father—I mean, if you don’t mind sharing?”
“We started dating in high school, and when I got pregnant, his family encouraged him to distance himself from me. He didn’t listen to them at first, but by our senior year, all the negative seeds they’d planted in his ears about me affected our relationship.
We broke up, and he promised to continue to be an active father. That lasted until he left for college.”
“Damn. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
She shrugged. “My parents were always supportive, but I can’t lie, his actions hurt like hell.
He called occasionally and came around when he was home from break until Stokely was about five.
He fed me a bunch of bullshit about us getting back together, and I didn’t date anyone else to keep myself available for whenever he was ready.
I was young, dumb, thought I was in love, and even naive enough to keep having sex with him.
I eventually wised up and kept it about him and Stokely. ”
“Did he have visitation and pay child support?”
“Neither. Like a dumbass, I never put him on child support. He reached out to see Stokely a few times a year. Stokely was ten when I got him a cell phone, and I was no longer the middle person. He’d tell me when his father called, or when he called his father, and how the conversation went, and that was the extent of my involvement. ”
“Damn. Wassup up with these niggas not wanting to take care of their seeds? I will never understand that shit.”
“Me either, but it is what it is.”
“How is their relationship now?” I asked.
“Very surface level, but I’m tired of talking about me and his raggedy ass daddy. Why aren’t you married, or at least in a serious relationship?”
“Because the woman who could be my future wife took forever to agree to go on a date with me.”
She looked confused for a moment, then said, “Ha. Real cute.”
“I’m serious. I haven’t found a woman who intrigues me as much as you.”
“You’re probably only intrigued because I didn’t give it up the night we met, and I haven’t succumbed to your advances. Fine as you are, I’m sure women throw you their panties at hello.”
I laughed out loud at her comment because there was some truth to what she’d said.
“Sometimes I have to work to get the pussy, but that’s not why I’ve been pursuing you.”
“Oh. Are you saying you don’t want to fuck me, Knox?”
“Hell yeah, I wanna fuck you, but that’s not all I want.”
“What else do you want?”
“To get to know you.”
“What happens if we like each other?” she asked.
“Is that a serious question, because I feel like you know what happens?”
“Exclusivity, marriage, family . . .” She let her words trail off.
“Something like that.”
“If I told you that I’m not interested in any of that, would that change how you pursued me?”
I’d already imagined what life would be like with Skye by my side. Even though this was our first date, we’d shared space numerous times before. When I wasn’t flirting and saying shit to knock her off her square, I studied her.
The desire to know more about her was stronger than anything I’d ever experienced, but it seemed we wanted different things. I didn’t believe pursuing her would be in either of our best interests.