Chapter 3
REINA
Iwoke up the next morning feeling confused and groggy.
My phone was dead, but my bonnet was on, even though I was still dressed in yesterday’s T-shirt and my panties.
Then I remembered that Vasiah and I stayed on the phone all night, and that’s when I felt giddy again.
He was such an interesting person. We learned so much about each other, and I shared things with him that I didn’t share with any niggas, like how I was bilingual in Spanish, or how I liked to plan trips for me and my friends.
I told him all about my childhood with Reign, and I even told him about my Nana.
In turn, he told me how his mom died when he was five and the way that my father-in-law raised him.
He told me how much he liked to draw and design video games for a living.
Vasiah was a nerd in every sense of the word and…
I liked it. I liked him.
Fuck. I was a goner.
“Delivery for a Miss LaReina King?” a stocky UPS deliveryman came into the shop asking. I looked up from my client’s hair, which I was pin-curling, and announced that I was the one he was looking for.
“I didn’t order anything,” I said as I took the box from his hands and jiggled it to see what it was.
“It’s somebody with the last name Hill,” he divulged, and butterflies danced in my stomach.
A gift from Vasiah? Wow, I like his energy already.
Opening the package, there was a medium-sized bouquet of my favorite candy, Hershey’s cookies and cream.
We talked so long and about so much that I forgot I mentioned my favorite candy.
And here he was sending me something that was so small but so significant because it showed that he listened.
Scurrying to my office, I sat behind my desk and hit the girls on FaceTime, waiting for them to answer one by one.
“CALL ME CRAZY, BUT I THINK I FOUND THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!” I sang off-key to Jazmin Sullivan’s hit.
“Girl, what are you talking about, crazy?” Rae was the first to ask.
“Ooooh, I think I know what this is about,” Joyy smirked.
“Well, somebody fill me in cuz this bitch is geeked,” Cherrice chimed in last.
“Y’all… I met the love of my life yesterday at the wine bar, and we spent all night on the phone.
Just a few minutes ago, he got a bouquet of cookies n ‘ cream bars delivered to the shop. I don’t even remember mentioning to him that this is my favorite candy.
” I sank into the chair, sighing wistfully.
“Awww, that is so sweet. And I’m really surprised at you. You done had niggas buy you Dior bags and all types of designer, but a candy bar got you over here blushing!” Cherrice laughed, and we all did too.
“Awww, that is sweet, Rei. We stan a man who listens, even down to the smallest detail. Did you call or text to thank him yet?” Rae asked.
I shook my head. “Not yet, but I am. How long should I wait?”
“Girl.” Cherrice rolled her eyes. “You and these crazy ass rules. Text that man and tell him thank you for the token of appreciation, Reina. I promise you won’t look thirsty.”
I chewed on my bottom lip, feeling like I was gonna throw up. It was something about saying thank you to a man that just didn’t sit right in my spirit. But I liked Vasiah.
Ping.
Vasiah: I know you might be slaying some girl’s hair but I hope you take my small token of appreciation as a sign that I’m thinking about you.
“Look at her, y'all. Just skinning and grinning! That man must’ve texted her,” Joyy teased. I ignored them to text my man back.
Me: I gotta say, I like a man who listens.
Vasiah: I could listen to you all day and night.
“Y’all…. Nerd Boy got game,” I smirked.
Vasiah: Got one more surprise for you, though. Based on your next off day, I’ve scheduled a date for us. Dress comfortably; no heels. I’ll see you at 11 AM sharp.
I screamed.
“Ya’ll! We going out on Monday! You think anime niggas got good dick?
“REINA!” they all yelled in unison, as if I were the one who said something crazy. The gag is, I was dead serious. But something told me that Vasiah definitely had good dick and, more importantly, some good love to give too.