Chapter 8 #2
The radio resumed, Ari Lennox was on, and I admired the way Ezekiel appeared to be a fan as he made no effort to change from the R&B songstress.
“Before we go, let’s get one thing straight,” he began as he glanced at me. “You’re safe with me.”
“Ezek—”
“Nah, I know you don’t know me, but I’m not like them corny-ass dudes you used to. You’re straight with me.” The serious look on his face had me simply nodding along. “You sounded scared on the phone and I just want it clear now that I’m not on no creep shit.”
I had a right to be apprehensive. A multitude of men sucked, but being positive, I decided to extend Ezekiel some courtesy. “Okay.”
“Paisley know you’re with me, right?” he made sure to ask.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Cease knows I’m with you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ezekiel shrugged as he faced behind us and backed out of the driveway. “I gotta watch my back, too, I’m not just anybody.”
I rolled my eyes and tried to hide my smile. “Uh-huh.”
“How was work?” he wanted to know as he began driving toward his destination.
Work. Work had been a haze. “It was fine. I was mostly thinking about this.”
A smile hung in the corner of his mouth as he kept his eyes on the road. “Me too.”
I took in his periwinkle long-sleeved top and tan slacks. “Did you just get off work too?”
“No,” Ezekiel said.
Oh. It was clean-cut and professional, but it worked for him. The shade of purple complemented his dark brown skin and the material fit him with ease. Together we were both wearing pastels and it made us match effortlessly, almost as if we’d decided together.
I lived in a subdivision on the west side of Belmont, and the farther Ezekiel drove, I realized he was going downtown away from the metropolitan area.
Old school hip-hop began to play and I liked the sound of Ezekiel rapping along to “Juicy” as I gazed out the window at the passing scenery.
Businesses began to dwindle as residences were no more as we approached Stokely Park.
The park was a large lush landscape with a trail for walking or jogging, a field for recreational sports or picnics, tables for cookouts, a lake where geese and ducks could be spotted in the early mornings, and a basketball court and playground for the youth.
It was green from the grass to the trees, and it was gorgeous from the floral beds to the upkeep.
Park rangers kept everyone in check, so there was hardly any trash.
You couldn’t tell anyone had come out here Monday night for the Fourth to shoot off fireworks, because that’s how clean it was.
Ezekiel turned into the parking area and pulled his truck to a stop by the edge of the trail that circled the park on one side, and led into the nearby woods on the other. He gathered his key fob and shoved it into his pocket before facing me. “Nice and public.”
I managed a laugh. “Smart move, I was going to get you at my house.”
Ezekiel’s full lips made an O shape as he winced at the missed opportunity. “Damn.”
Together we climbed out of the truck and I met him at the trunk where he opened the back and revealed a large picnic basket he’d had stowed away.
I watched in wonder as he reached up and shut the back door after grabbing the basket, the muscles in his arm bulging. He’d packed a picnic? How thoughtful.
Ezekiel jerked his head to the side. “Come on, I found us a nice spot.”
Stokely Park was alive with activity, from couples young and old found in various patches of grass, to the lone couple having the gazebo by the lake to themselves, to the parents with their kids at the playground, and to the boys at the basketball court hooping.
Ezekiel paid none of this any mind as he walked with his head held high leading me along the trail to a secluded spot he’d picked out.
It hit me that he’d been here before, earlier this day, because as he walked the trail, rounding the large park, I saw a young man standing in the field up ahead of us by a spread of blankets and pillows.
My mouth fell agape as we grew closer and closer and I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Ezekiel went before me and met up with the teen boy, slapping his palm against his hand.
“Thanks for watching this stuff for me. Good lookin’ out.
” In another second, he was reaching into his pocket and pulling out his wallet.
He procured a fifty-dollar bill and passed it to the boy.
The boy lit up at the currency before tipping his head at Ezekiel and taking off.
Ezekiel set the picnic basket down and surveyed the area before coming back to me. “Hope you haven’t eaten.”
Strike two.
“I haven’t, actually,” I said as we got down on the bright white blanket. I took off my heels, reveling in the sensation of being free as I wiggled my toes.
We were alone, with a terrific view of the lake and the vast field of life that was Stokely Park. The clean white blanket and the picnic basket with the promise of food, took my breath away.
To further push the idea, Ezekiel had a wireless speaker on the edge of the blanket. It was obviously paired to his phone as he flicked through it for a moment before the sound of R&B serenaded us. Arin Ray. Perfect.
The basket was huge and as Ezekiel opened it up and began unloading things he’d packed, it seemed like he’d never stop.
“This is a lot of food,” I said.
He winked at me. “The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.”
“Thanks for saying that correctly. I hate how they always assume it’s just men. Who doesn’t love to eat?” I peeked into the picnic basket, releasing a big laugh when he swatted at me for being nosey. He was going to make this slow, taking out each item one at time. The show-off.
There were croissants, slices of what looked like cheddar cheese, a bunch of purple grapes, and a large Tupperware container I couldn’t wait for him to open.
First, he pulled out a chilled bottle of champagne and a container of strawberries.
He set up a little tray for us to store our plates and glasses on and I sat cross-legged before it.
“What’s in the Tupperware?” I asked.
Ezekiel glanced at it and back to me. He grabbed it and set it on the tray and removed the lid. Inside was a wonderful arrangement of asparagus, red onions, grape tomatoes, spinach, hard boiled eggs, cut up red skin potatoes, and more.
“I made us a nicoise salad,” Ezekiel said.
My mouth watered. “I’ve never had one before.”
“You’re in for a treat, I hope.”
Really, there was so much food, and I wanted to eat each and every bit of it. There was a cold bottle of water stowed away in the basket as well, and Ezekiel was quick to take it out and set it aside.
“The strawberries add flavor to the champagne,” Ezekiel told me as he uncorked the bottle with ease. He didn’t even flinch at the pop!
It was then that I decided he was full of shit. He said he wasn’t into romance, but this was a pretty big setup, champagne included.
“Oh my God.” I gushed at the scene before me. “Ezekiel… This…this is beautiful.”
A proud smile washed across his face. “Glad you like it.”
“Can I…take a picture? It’s just so pretty.”
My Instagram account was dry compared to others’. I never had much to post or share, but this was healthy content. I wouldn’t post it to my feed, but to my story, so that those who actually took the time to watch would notice.
Ezekiel studied his spread and then me. “How about I take your picture so you’re in it?”
Even better.
I leaned back against a pillow, lifting the flute of champagne he’d just poured me and posed with a big smile on my face as he snapped away. Wind blew briefly in my hair and a warm breeze melted away those nervous goose bumps that sprinkled across my golden-brown skin.
This wasn’t even a date and he was treating me to something so thoughtful and intimate.
“Pretty,” Ezekiel mused as he handed me my phone back.
He poured his own glass of champagne and set it down before focusing on preparing plates. I liked watching him work, so serious and yet relaxed. He radiated such grown-man energy and I was buzzing off of it.
“Thank you,” I spoke up. “Not just for this, for last week at the club.”
Curious, he peeked my way. “What about it?”
“For protecting me and keeping me away from my ex. You and Cesar were good about it,” I said.
Ezekiel shrugged it off. “It’s nothing.”
It was more than nothing. There were a lot of men who would’ve minded their own business and not have cared.
I took a sip of my champagne, not a total fan but a bite out of a strawberry did help. “You must have a close relationship with your sister or something.”
Ezekiel paused in his work, giving me his attention. “I’m an only child. And to be honest, this kinda reminds me of a pet peeve of mine.”
“Which is?” I probed.
“Ever notice how when men have their first daughter or watch their shorty give birth they start talking about ‘how they view women different now’?” He made a face, deadpanning at the idea of it.
“That shit only lasts three to five business days before they start treating women foul again.” He placed his hand to his chest. “Now, I’m not no saint, but I firmly believe that a man shouldn’t have to know or be close to a single woman to treat her with respect.
I love my mother, I do, but I don’t need a sister or cousin to know that you needed to be somewhere where you could be comfortable that night. ”
Something deep in my gut quivered and I bit my lip.
Strike three.
And we hadn’t even had our entrée yet.
“Just a little of everything to get you started,” Ezekiel said as he handed over a plate.
I snapped a quick picture before digging in, instantly moaning at the first taste.
I’d never had a nicoise salad before, and clearly I’d been missing out.
The light vinaigrette dressing mixed with the juices from the cucumbers and tomatoes made everything delicious.
The smoked salmon was an added bonus as I loved salmon.
“You made this by scratch?” I had to know.