Chapter 8
I couldn’t get over the fact that I had a daughter.
The minute our eyes met, and she laid her head on my chest, I knew she was mine.
It was a feeling I got in my chest as I held her little body.
She looked more like London, but she was all me in the eyes.
She was the cutest little thing, and I may have been a little biased, but I wasn’t lying.
She had a head full of hair that she’d gotten from her mother. She was just perfect.
We’d got the paternity test done, but I wasn’t worried about it.
It had only been a few days, but every day after work, I found myself at London’s house, playing with Paris and also talking to London.
Majority of our conversations were about Paris, because I knew we would have plenty of time to talk on our date.
I wanted to learn all that I could about Paris.
She didn’t do too much, but that was okay with me.
I just enjoyed being around her and her mother.
It was the day of our date, and I couldn’t wait to see London. I wasn’t sure if she would have Paris or not, but if not, I would just try and see her the next day.
“Knock, knock.”
I looked up when there was a knock on my door. My office door was only partially closed, and I was glad the person had enough sense to knock.
“Come in.”
Hannah walked in and sat down in the chair in front of my desk.
“Sooo,” she dragged out.
“So?”
I already knew what she wanted to talk about, but I decided to mess with her a little bit. We hadn’t had a chance to talk, because she’d taken a few days off.
“I hear tonight is date night. Where are you guys going?” Hannah’s smile was so big, I couldn’t help but smile with her.
“I can’t tell you that. I know how y’all girls like to talk, and I don’t want you to tell her.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. I was sure that it worked with her husband, but I wasn’t falling for it.
“How do you know she’s going to like it?”
“Because I do.” I smirked.
I wasn’t sure if she would or not, but I had a feeling she would. I had learned a couple of things about London over the last few days.
“For the record, I had no idea that you were Paris’s father. I wouldn’t have set y’all up on a blind date. She told me her father’s name was Gary.”
“Because that was what I told her.”
I moved kind of reckless that night, and I didn’t need anyone to find out that I was a middle school principal and try to report me or some shit.
Things could have turned out completely different.
Maybe I would have found out about Paris sooner had London been able to find me, but that was neither here nor there.
“Gotcha. I’m glad things are working out for you guys. I hope y’all have a good date tonight.” She stood from the chair. “I’m sure I’ll hear it about later.” She giggled. “Byeee, Mr. Lancaster.”
I shook my head as she walked out of my office. I got back to doing what I needed to get done before I left for the day. I wanted to leave a little early so I could stop at the barbershop. London told me she had the day off, so I planned for an early date.
“You look gorgeous,” I told London when she opened her front door.
She wore a one-piece black jumper that looked like it was made specifically for her.
“Thank you. And you look nice. Did you get your hair cut today?”
“I did. Are those shoes going to be comfortable?”
I told her to wear something that she would be comfortable walking in. I didn’t expect that it would be heels. They weren’t sky high, but still.
“I wear heels for a living. Trust me, I’m good.”
I looked down at her feet again and licked my lips. I pictured her in nothing but them heels. Maybe if this date went well, my dream would come true.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” London asked as she stepped onto the porch.
“Like what?”
I was too busy lusting after her that I didn’t even ask her if she was ready. I figured she was since she came outside.
“You looking like you want to eat me up or something.”
I bit my bottom lip as my gaze traveled the length of her body.
“Because I do.” I wasn’t going to hide what I felt about her. “But only whenever you allow me to. In the meantime, let’s get our date started.”
I held my hand out, and she placed her soft one in mine. Her nails were painted a soft pink color, and I liked the way it looked on her. I wondered if her toes were the same color.
I led her down the steps to my SUV, then helped her inside since it was high off the ground.
“So how was your day?” I asked when I got in the driver’s seat.
“It was good. Paris and I did a little shopping before I dropped her off at my parents’. After that I chilled, pumped, and got ready for our date.” She beamed. “Yours?”
“Mine was good. I did go to work for a little bit, then went to get a haircut.”
“It looks nice.”
Her compliment made me blush a little.
We talked a little more about our days, and she told me about some of the things she had gotten for Paris. She also told me she tried carrots but wasn’t a fan. I told her how I didn’t like carrots either, so she got it honest.
A short time later, we arrived at a flower farm. It was a black-owned farm that cultivated flowers, plants, and foliage for the nearby flower shops. They even did tours where we could pick our own flowers, and that was the purpose of the date.
“Oh, wow. I’ve never been here before,” London said as I found a parking spot.
“Good. I didn’t ask, because I wanted it to be a surprise. I figured we could pick a bouquet of flowers for each other, eat something if you want, or just walk around.”
“That’s why you said wear something comfortable. I like it.” She unbuckled her seat belt and put her bag over her shoulder.
I got out and walked around to her side of the car, then opened the door for her.
We held hands as we walked toward the entrance. There was a woman who greeted us and gave us all the information we needed. She also told us about a small tea shop that was on the farm and suggested we try it.
After thanking her, we continued on.
“This is beautiful.” London gushed as we walked through rows and rows of flowers.
“It is. It’s such a nice day, so I figured outdoors would be good. I don’t like to always go to dinner on dates. I like to think outside of the box.”
“And how often do you go on dates?” London asked, then stopped to look at some peach-colored roses. She picked a couple and dropped them in the basket we were given when we arrived.
On the opposite side were some pink ones, so I picked a few and tossed them in my basket.
“Not nearly as much as you expect,” I told her.
“What makes you think I expect anything?”
“I could tell by the small inflection in your voice.”
We continued to walk, as we both picked out different colored roses. When we made it to the sunflowers, we both picked a bunch of those. I wasn’t sure if London picked them for me, or if she wanted to take some home for herself.
“I don’t know what you heard.”
“I can’t tell you my secrets, but I heard it. What about you?”
“It’s been forever. Hence the reason why Hannah set us up on that date.”
I’d been too busy and focused to go on any dates.
Plus, some of the women I came across hadn’t been worth the time.
Women always talked about how bad the dating pool was, but honestly, it was just as bad for men.
There were women who just worried about if I was paying for dinner or not.
I didn’t have a problem with paying, but don’t make me feel like that’s your only concern.
I went on a date once, and this chick ordered steak and lobster, knowing she wasn’t going to eat it.
The whole time, she asked questions about my finances but didn’t come straight out and ask how much money I made.
It was more so subliminal, but I knew what she tried to do.
“I’m not going to lie; I was skeptical about it at first. Hannah assured me she wouldn’t hook me up with somebody not worth my time, and she didn’t disappoint.” I looked down at London, and her cheeks reddened.
“I tried to fight her about it too. We read a book about a chick that went on numerous dates, and I didn’t want that to be my experience.”
She went on to tell me about the book and then mentioned some other books she’d read.
“Do y’all read together like a book club or something?”
“It’s just three of us, so I wouldn’t call it a club, but we do read the same book together sometimes.”
“That’s what’s up. I’d like to read with you one day.”
She stopped walking and stared at me.
“You for real?”
“Very much so.”
Her glossy lips spread into a pretty ass smile, showing all her perfect teeth.
“Cool.”
We walked some more, both picking out different flowers as we discussed different things.
She informed me what she did at work and how she was living in her dream career.
I talked to her about being a principal and what made me get into it in the first place.
Our hands stayed connected the whole time, unless one of us was picking a flower.
As soon as it was placed in the basket, we were right back touching. It didn’t feel forced at all.
We had multiple things in common. We were both only children, and our parents had been married pretty much our whole lives.
“You want to get some tea? Or something to eat?” I asked after we’d walked for a while.
“Tea is fine.”
We walked a little further until we reached the tea shop.
It was a quaint little spot with a couple of small round tables with chairs.
It smelled like lavender, but I figured that it was due to the lavender flowers.
There were some other purple flowers placed around the shop, but I wasn’t sure of the names.
“Hello. Welcome to Lavender’s. Can I help you guys with something?”
I glanced down at the woman’s tag, and her name was Lavender.
“Is this your shop?” London asked.
Lavender smiled as her face lit up. “Yes.”