Bridget
Imani is with Adam this morning, which is why I’m currently sitting by myself in our favourite café in North Briarwood, eating a cinnamon roll.
It’s our Sunday tradition that no matter how hungover or busy we are, we always make time for coffee and a cinnamon roll.
I can’t be mad at her, though, not when I called her this morning to check in and she told me she forgot they had already made plans and wouldn’t be able to make it.
She tried to tell me she would cancel their plans and meet me, but I didn’t want to ruin her day over a cup of coffee.
Thankfully, the bookworm in me never leaves the house without a book, so I’ll be fine. Occasionally, we are joined on our coffee dates by Asha and Malik, and today is one of those days. Because not long after Imani cancelled, Malik messaged and asked if we’re still going for coffee.
I said yes, even though I do treasure these little moments of peace when I’m alone.
I like to try and take myself out for a self-care day at the spa or even go to the gym, but there’s nothing quite like opening the pages of your book and getting lost. That’s the great thing with fiction, you can live a thousand different lives that have a thousand different paths and outcomes. It’s calming, honestly.
Now, I don’t doubt Imani has plans with her boyfriend, but I’m sure she knew what she was doing, especially if it has anything to do with setting me up with her brother.
Ever since we went out last weekend, she’s been asking if I’ve spoken with him or made plans to see him, and when I told her I hadn’t, she told me that maybe I needed a little push.
Asha’s curly brown hair is braided neatly to her scalp, her bronze skin shimmering in the early morning sunlight as she draws in the colouring book she brought.
Being with Malik and Asha is relaxing. The seven-year-old pushes her lips into a pout as she hums along to the Taylor Swift song playing in the background.
Malik looks incredibly handsome in his dark wash denim jacket, white T-shirt, and cargo pants. His locks are down and tucked behind his ears, but one strand falls into his face as he reaches over to tear off a bite of his muffin to give to Asha.
“So, Im didn’t tell you that it was going to be just the three of us?” he asks, his eyes flicking up to meet my own.
I shake my head as I take a sip of my coffee. “She thinks she’s so sneaky.”
That has Malik chuckling but he looks sad. “I think we both know you wouldn’t have agreed to come if you knew it would be the three of us.”
Reaching over, I place my hand over his and give it a squeeze. “You seem to be under the impression that I don’t like you,” I say, feeling his hand flex under my own as if he’s resisting the urge to lace our fingers together. “Which is not the case.”
“Isn’t it?” he retorts quietly, making sure this conversation doesn’t reach his daughter’s ears. “Because all I know, is that whenever I ask you out you find a reason to say no.”
“Malik…” I sigh. “It’s complicated, and you know it.”
He lets out a frustrated sigh and takes a drink of his tea.
“Actually, I don’t think it is. I’ve spent years asking you out and trying to be what you want, and all you do is come up with some lame-ass excuse as to why you can’t date me or how you’re too busy for me.
You know how I feel about you, Bridget, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you not taking me seriously makes me upset.
Is it because I have a child? Does that put you off? ”
He’s never been this open with me before, and it upsets me to think he thinks I don’t take him seriously—because I do.
“That’s not fair,” I mumble. “Things aren’t as simple as just going on a date and getting together.
I have no issue with you being a dad, and as much as I adore Asha, she’s a factor in why we have to think this through.
Because she’s going to be just as involved as we are, and if it ends, it’s not just our feelings on the line.
It’s your sister’s and your daughter’s.”
He knows I’m right. I can see it in the defeated yet understanding look in his eyes.
“We’ve been friends for twelve years, Mal. You mean so much to me and it’s not that I don’t want to try, because I do. I just have to figure out if it’s worth losing you if it goes wrong.”
“It’s not going to ruin our friendship,” he tries to assure me, but the waver in his tone indicates he’s aware it might not end that way.
“You don’t know that.”
“Look,” he says as he turns my hand over in his and gives a squeeze.
“It’s all well and good worrying about whether it will or won’t work, but it’s not something we know for certain.
One date, Bridget. That’s all I’ve ever asked for.
I’m not asking you to step in and tackle parenthood with me.
I just want a chance to show you how good we could be together. ”
After a moment, I slowly nod, and the smile that takes over his angular face is nothing short of beautiful. “One date, and we’ll go from there.”
Malik leans forward and presses a chaste kiss against my cheek. “We’ll go from there,” he repeats.
Asha looks up at the two of us and wrinkles her nose, her green eyes twinkling with warmth just like her father’s. “Kissing in public is gross,” she comments as she shakes her head and looks back down at the peacock she’s colouring.
I huff out a laugh as I tear off a piece of the cinnamon roll and pop it into my mouth. Malik rolls his eyes at his daughter’s sass, but I see the abundance of love there.
Malik was twenty when he got a one-night stand pregnant. Not long before he found out was when he told me about his feelings, and the two of us had started considering the possibility of us dating, but the positive sign on the stick put a stop to our plans.
It hurt when he told me, and I knew it hurt him. We had been dancing around our feelings for each other for years, and when we finally decided to quit avoiding it, the universe had other plans in mind.
Orla, Malik’s fling, insisted they tried dating to see if they could build a family unit ready for when their baby was born, and they did.
They were together for all of eighteen months before Malik found out that she had lied about being on birth control when they hooked up, and he ended things after that.
He didn’t trust her not to do it to him again, and even though he never talks to me about it, I get the impression that wasn’t the only thing that led him to his decision.
Unfortunately, Orla has never been my biggest fan, and I worry that if she found out we were dating she would go crazy.
“I hate to cut our pre-date short.” Malik winks. “But I’ve got to get this one back home and packed for a week at her mom’s.”
Asha perks up at that and narrows her eyes. “This one has a name.” She then frowns. “Do I have to go? I don’t want to spend time with Mom and Jamie.”
He mirrors her frown. “I’m sorry, baby, but it’s your mom’s week.” Malik looks at me as he stands. “Do you have plans on Saturday?”
I shake my head. “No plans so far.”
“You do now. I’ll pick you up around seven. We’re going out for dinner.”
“I want to come out for dinner with Bridget, too!” Asha complains as she stuffs her stuff in her backpack.
I stand just as she does and I hold my arms open. She wraps her scrawny arms around my waist and squeezes. “Next time, okay?”
She nods and pulls back. Malik steps up next and pulls me into him. His strong arms wrap around my lower back and I rest against him as he peers down at me. “You’re not going to regret saying yes.”
“Bold,” I tease. “I’m looking forward to it.”
He gives a smirk for my eyes only before he presses his lips to my cheek. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this.”
I’m in the car driving back to my place when my phone rings.
My sister Natalie’s picture pops up on my cars console, and I answer it immediately.
“Took you long enough,” she quips as soon as I hit the green button.
“I’m driving, sissy,” I hum. “What’s up?”
“I need a huge favour,” Natalie draws out.
I narrow my eyes as I turn down my street. “What kind of favour? I ask, pulling into the empty space along the side of the road. “Is it going to cost me money?”
Natalie’s laughter fills my ears and a smile makes its way onto my face at the melodic sound. “It doesn’t have to.”
I say nothing as I wait for her to continue.
“I need a date to my work’s charity event, and Katherine’s in Istanbul and can’t make it, so you’ll have to do.”
Katherine Geoffery, my sister’s girlfriend of three years, is an absolute angel.
They met at a bar in Downtown Briarwood one Friday night, and the rest is history.
She’s a makeup artist and tends to travel around to different movie or TV sets which are often in other countries.
She can sometimes be gone for months at a time, something I know is hard for my sister.
“When is it? The only day I can’t do is Saturday.”
“What are you doing Saturday?” she asks suspiciously. “Do you have a date?”
I debate keeping it to myself but my sister has been around for all of the Malik related drama, so I decide to tell her. “Yes…” I pause. “With Malik.”
She’s quiet, and I’m worried she’s going to tell me I’m making a mistake. Because honestly? I’m worried I am. Crossing that line with him could be bad news and I don’t want to lose him.
“God, it’s about damn time!” She laughs. “I’m happy for you, sissy.”
I beam at her enthusiasm. “Thanks, Nat.” I then remember the topic at hand. “So when is this charity thing?”
A nervous laugh escapes her lips, and I already know she’s about to throw me for a loop. “In about four hours?” She says it like a question but I know it’s her way of softening the blow of her lack of organization.
“Natalie, that gives me no time at all.” I groan. “I don’t know if I’ve got anything suitable for a—”
“Wear that navy dress,” she interrupts. “The one with the slutty slit up the leg.” Just as I’m about to speak up, she adds, “Thanks for doing this for me. I’ll be by to pick you up in a couple of hours. Love you.”
I let out a huff and throw my phone onto the passenger seat of my SUV.