Chapter 14 #3
“No,” I let him know. “I’ve almost mounted you twice because you’re not like that. Even when we were talking about sex at BLVCKJVCK, you didn’t make me feel gross or objectified.”
Ezekiel searched my eyes, trying to read me deeper. “I don’t want to tie you up.”
I let out a dry laugh. “What?”
“I’m not into that sado-masochist shit. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m not ‘vanilla,’ or maybe I am, but I don’t fantasize about getting off hurting women or choking them out.”
I liked that he’d said that. Made it known. “That’s good to know.”
Ezekiel turned, to show that he was serious.
“Look, all bullshit aside, whether we end up friends, or friends with benefits, I want it clear I don’t want to harm you.
I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to know if that dude ever comes back, you can call me and I’ll drop whatever I’m doing to come handle it. ”
The look in his eye said he’d meant everything he’d said.
I was at a loss for words. I placed my hand on his as I leaned up and pressed my lips to his cheek. It was probably a bad idea, being this close to him, smelling his cologne and experiencing his energy, it was like a drug pulling me under. The haze of Ezekiel Marcuson was too much to process.
We settled apart and I ordered our food. The foodie in me took over and no longer was I thinking about Corey’s intrusion as I got giddy.
“Okay, so, I don’t like to watch movies when I eat, because usually I’m too engrossed in my food to pay attention.
So first we can binge some TV while we eat if that’s okay,” I said.
I grabbed my remote and turned on my smart TV.
I scrolled through my apps and clicked on Hulu.
“You want a drama? Personally, no matter how repetitive it is, I watch and rewatch American Dad or Family Guy. Bob’s Burgers is also a gem. ”
“American Dad cool,” Ezekiel said.
“Do you still want to watch a movie? Or—”
Ezekiel’s phone rang loudly, illustrating the sound a FaceTime call made.
He dug into his pocket. “My fault, I’ll make this quick.” He went and swiped across the screen. “What up, Cease?”
On screen, Cesar appeared in some kitchen. “Not much. What you doing?”
“I’m chopping it up with Nas,” Ezekiel said.
“Word? Let me holler,” I heard Cesar demand.
Ezekiel chuckled and handed his phone over to me.
Cesar was at home, and judging by the glittery pink curtains above the kitchen sink, I assumed he was at a woman’s home. “Hey!”
“Hey, Cesar.” I greeted him with a little wave.
“Why was you being lame last night? We missed you at the club. It was a movie,” Cesar said.
“It’s nice to know I was missed,” I joked. “We’ve been busy at the shop. Otherwise, I definitely would’ve came through. I like BLVCKJVCK.”
“Next time. We’re doing a Bonnie & Clyde night next Thursday.”
Of what I knew of that duo, I wasn’t exactly sure I got the theme. “What’s that mean?”
Cesar grinned on his end at my hesitation. “Hip-hop and R&B collabs. Nas and Lauryn, Jay and Bey, Meth and Mary—you know the vibes.”
“Yass.” I wiggled in my seat, loving the idea. “I’m down for that. Make sure you play Mariah.”
“With Jay-Z or Ol’ Dirty Bastard?”
“Both!”
Cesar laughed. “Say less.”
“All right, I’m going to hand you back to Ezekiel, but I’ll see you next week,” I said.
Ezekiel took his phone and got back to his friend. “I’m going to be a little late tonight, but you can handle it, right?”
“Got you. Got you,” Cesar said. “Luke should be there, right?”
“I’ma text him to have him open up and you can hold it down until I get there.” Ezekiel tapped the screen and chanced a look my way. “I shouldn’t be that late.”
It was going on eight thirty p.m. I wasn’t sure of BLVCKJVCK’s opening hours, but I did remember seeing they closed at three in the morning. Ezekiel was in for a long night.
He ended his FaceTime call with Cesar and quickly typed a text to who I was guessing was his father.
“I don’t want you to be late,” I said. “We can always reschedule.”
Ezekiel shook his head and kept his eyes on his screen as a swoosh sound let me know he’d gotten a response. In seconds he was texting back and then placing his phone on the coffee table in front of him. “Can I be honest?”
“Yeah,” I said.
A small smile hung in the corner of his mouth. “I wish you came out last night. It would’ve been nice. I take my work seriously. I’m never late, and Pops knows that, so I can afford to slide this once. Besides, I’d love to watch you try to eat all that food you just ordered by yourself.”
My cheeks burned to let loose a big goofy smile, but I held it back as best as I could. “Okay.”
Because things felt somewhat safe with Ezekiel, I turned, pulled my knees to my chest, and faced him head on. “Can I ask you something?”
He was in his phone, but he didn’t hesitate to look my way and give me his full attention. “What’s up?”
“Is work really your first love?”
He was quick to bob his head. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Sounds…serious.”
“I just love the hustle, I guess,” Ezekiel reasoned.
“Nothing satisfies me more than seeing a plan come together. Then seeing people at our clubs having a good time and happy.” He hung his head, shaking it a little helplessly.
“Pops and my mom, they want me to do the whole family gig, but my head not there. Plus, I never really met someone where the vibe was right.”
“ ‘Vibe.’ ” I mocked with an eye roll.
Ezekiel held his hand out, laughing a little. “Chill, I know some women aren’t fans of that term.”
“Because it sounds childish, like something teenagers would say. After a certain age, we’re not looking for ‘vibes,’ just something worth it and the comfort of knowing we’re not wasting our time.”
“Time is a valuable commodity,” Ezekiel seemed to agree. “I guess that’s another thing. I never really felt like I had time to juggle building BLVCKJVCK and a solid relationship. My focus always been the brand and making money.”
Even if we didn’t agree on the same things, I liked talking to Ezekiel. It was easy. He was easy. I respected that he was upfront and didn’t attempt to bullshit me like a lot of men.
“What about you?” Ezekiel pressed. “You more into passion above anything.”
It was potentially my fatal flaw. I was led by my heart and not by my wallet. I felt too much, but lately, I was becoming less ashamed of this fact. There was nothing wrong with being a lover. Or wanting to be loved properly and wholeheartedly.
“I guess I am,” I admitted with a small shrug of my own.
Ezekiel’s hot hand came down on my knee. He squeezed it gently before looking into my eyes. “Nothing wrong with being passionate.”
His hand was only on my knee, but it sent a fierce shock into my entire system. That and the way he was looking at me? I fought the urge to squirm, letting him know just the effect he was having on me.
This man had a way with words like no other.
Ezekiel’s cell phone buzzed and he was back in his phone, freeing me from being under his scrutiny.
We were able to watch two episodes of American Dad before the food arrived.
I had a dining room, along with a table in my kitchen, but I decided to veg out right in front of the TV.
I camped out cross-legged on the floor and because Ezekiel was in slacks and tall, he remained on the couch.
My coffee table was covered in our takeout containers and the case of beer.
The sight and smell of the Thai spices was enough to make me forget Ezekiel all together. I was so hungry for my favorite dish.
My curiosity was the only thing holding me back as I watched Ezekiel take his first bite of his shrimp Pad Thai. His brows furrowed and he kept chewing, humming out a pleasant sound of agreement.
“Oh, this fire,” he said.
Yes.
“I know, right? They give you a lime and I usually avoid it, but sometimes I squeeze it into the noodles,” I said.
I dug into my chicken Pad Thai and rocked back and forth as I chewed on the savory goodness.
I held my container out and Ezekiel passed me his. Just like that, so easy, so simple, so…us.
We didn’t finish everything, after eating some of the Pad Thai, and then trying the dumplings and spring rolls, and chasing it down with beer, we were stuffed and ready for a movie.
I stayed on the floor, too comfortable, and Ezekiel soon came down beside me.
He stretched his long legs out before him under the coffee table and draped his arms across the couch cushions as he leaned back.
“You sure about a movie?” I didn’t want to hog all of his time.
“Yeah, Cease can hold down the fort for a few,” Ezekiel assured. “I’m just taking a break before I go back in on that Pad Thai.”
I felt a sense of pride as a cocky smile spread wide across my face. “Yeah, you better like it.” I grabbed my remote and began browsing the movies on Prime. “What are you in the mood for?”
“It’s whatever. What do you like most?”
My taste was not for the faint of heart, it seemed like. “Here lately, it’s really gritty and a lot of crime. You’ve seen Baby Driver, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I was rooting for Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx the entire time. All these movies have ruined me.”
Ezekiel chuckled. “Let’s root for the hero tonight, then.”
I spotted Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in the lineup and got curious. Not enough to watch it. It wasn’t a love story, but it danced on the theme.
“Do you believe in fate or destiny?” I wondered.
Ezekiel thought it over, looking toward the ceiling for an answer. “See, I don’t know. Adopting Sadé felt destined, but as far as love and romance, I don’t know. Why you ask?”
“No reason.”
He nudged me, not giving up. “Nah, why you ask?”
“Ever seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind?”
Ezekiel glanced at the screen. He eyed the cover of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet lying in the snow. “I think so.”
“I saw it once and I kind of just really liked the idea of fate and destiny. Soul mates or whatever.”
“I guess it can be nice to go about it that there’s someone out there fated for you. It’s better than being jaded and hopeless.”
Yeah.