Chapter 26
I wanted to reward Ezekiel for how well he’d done during the dinner. For effortlessly being himself and not trying to impress my father by talking about helping me with my business. For trusting that Paisley and I could run Shéc on our own accordingly.
Alannah and I’d made plans to spend her fall break together. And even if I would have my sister to myself, I did like meeting Oisin. He was a nice guy. Blue-collar and proud. Honest and kind. Alannah had really lucked up.
And so had I.
I flipped the sun visor down to check my appearance in the mirror. I’d straightened my hair and pulled it back in a neat bun. Outside of grooming my eyebrows, applying lashes and lip-gloss, I left my face bare.
Tonight, we were trading places. I wore a blush-colored blouse tucked into a mauve-shaded pencil skirt. My blush stiletto heels were the perfect final touch. I was the boss this time around.
Ezekiel came to the door almost immediately after I’d knocked. He was dressed in his usual style, making us appear as a couple of corporate colleagues going out for a lunch break.
Ezekiel took his time taking me in from head to toe. The smile tugging on his full lips made him look boyish.
“Damn,” he said. “I like it.”
I modeled my ’fit, knowing he would approve. “Yeah?”
He reached out to touch me and I swatted at his hands. Uh-uh. “I can’t touch you?”
“No, you may not,” I let him know. I sized him up, loving the sight of him all anxious and nervous. “Come on, we’re going shopping on me.”
Ezekiel shook his head and pulled his door shut behind him. “Everything on you, huh?”
I led the way to the elevator, feeling his gaze on my back and ass. “Don’t worry about the price, either.”
Today we were trading roles, so when we got out to my car, I went forth and opened his door for him.
Something that made Ezekiel shake his head once more before getting in.
I could tell he was amused, but at the same time uncomfortable in this position.
I was loving it. I felt empowered and in control, and sexy as hell.
I couldn’t wait to dominate him in bed later.
When I got to the other side of my car, I found the door already open for me. I climbed in behind the wheel and Ezekiel was just finishing adjusting his seat to accommodate his height. It was strange seeing him on the passenger side. He looked so big and bulky in my ride just then.
Still, I started up my car and backed out of my spot and took off. There was no going back now.
“I mean it,” Ezekiel said as he glanced my way. “I really like what you got on.”
We were professionally dressed, serving real Mr. and Mrs. type of energy together. Even though I was playing a role, I made a mental note to dress the part more often.
“You look good,” I said as I snuck a peek at him. “But we’re about to make you look better.”
Ezekiel chuckled. “Yo, I can’t do this. I’m not gon’ be able to last long.”
“You have amazing stamina. I don’t know why this time would be any different.”
Ezekiel faced me some more. “You cute, you sexy and all’at, but this whole thing you’re doin’ is just different. Like, we can pull over right now and get it poppin’, I’m with it.”
“Anyway.” I changed the subject, not needing to let him get the upper hand. “You really put me on to The Love Below. What other albums are you obsessed with?”
Ezekiel switched gears as I drove on to our local shopping center.
Shéc did good business being in the strip it was located in.
There were no other shops nearby that catered to men, so for that I had to drive to Belmont Village Shopping Center where a conglomerate of designer retail stores were held as well as other famous chains.
Ezekiel stroked at his chin, peering ahead of us as he thought of his answer. “Real talk? That debut B.o.B album was off the chain. Like, of course I like my street rappers, but hearing Bobby come out with a different sound—that record with the Paramore girl? The whole thing is just perfect.”
B.o.B was from Decatur, but when you were from Belmont, you learned to rep everyone out of Georgia who made it.
“B.o.B is dope,” I had to agree.
“What about you?” Ezekiel wanted to know. “What was an album you just loved right away? That you can listen to track for track and then play again?”
I didn’t have to do much soul searching for this question. “August Alsina’s Testimony. Whole album was my shit, and ‘Porn Star’? Don’t get me started.” I threw one hand off the wheel and wined in my seat.
Ezekiel quietly measured me out. “Is that what you’re trying to be tonight?”
My breath caught in my throat.
Straight face. Eye contact. Calm tone. Ezekiel turned me on at the drop of a dime.
I cleared my throat and focused hard on the street ahead of me as we hit a red light. Easy. Ezekiel was so confident and suave, and a natural leader. He couldn’t take a total back seat with me leading if he tried.
“Testimony was flawless. Outside of that, Over It is my second favorite album ever. I’m sure I annoyed the hell out of Scorsese with the replay on that one.”
Ezekiel laughed beside me and held his hand out. “Another local!”
Hell yeah she was.
When we made it to Belmont Village, we went into a men’s clothing store called Dashing. Slipping into Boss Mode, I took over as my eyes scanned the open sales floor.
Business. Athleisure. Hipster. Bro. Punk.
None of that was what I wanted to see Ezekiel in. I loved his business casual style, but for those days we went out to eat or hung out with friends, what he needed was just plain casual.
Finding the section of Dashing that sold just that, I dragged Ezekiel along with me.
“We’re going to pick out two to three outfits,” I instructed as I eyed a display of folded men’s graphic tees.
Ezekiel crossed his arms and stood his ground. “I can’t pick out my own clothes?”
“Casual, Zeke. Something you can wear out to go grocery shopping or to Paisley’s.”
Ezekiel made a face and set off to find articles of clothing to my liking.
He didn’t fight me any step of the way during our shopping venture.
When he held up a dress shirt and I shook my head, he simply put it back and went on to something else.
In the end, he picked out a polo, a pack of T-shirts, a bomber jacket, and some jeans.
“How’s this?” He came out of the dressing room wearing a burgundy bomber jacket, white tee, and a dark pair of jeans.
He. Looked. Incredible.
But I kept my face even. I circled him, taking in how he filled in his clothing and the way his broad back stretched the material of his jacket. Damn.
“Perfect,” I said as I came back around him. “Now let’s look at shoes.”
Ezekiel didn’t rush to move. “Shoes? You’re already looking at a couple hundred at least—”
“Your point?” I challenged, arching a brow.
Ezekiel stared at me as I stared at him. Soon, he surveyed our surroundings and took in how we were the only two in the dressing room area. When he settled on me, his expression was blank. “Want to come in?”
He was inviting back to his changing room. Too tempting.
“I don’t trust you,” I said.
“You shouldn’t.” He stared at my figure before meeting my eyes once more. “All this attitude you got and this bossy side of you? It’s killing me.”
I leaned toward him, holding my stance on this evening. “Get. Over. It.”
He breathed in through his nose and let it out slowly. “What’s next?”
“Shoes,” I reminded him. “And then dinner at Dellucci’s.”
He blinked. “My spot?”
“Our spot.” I put on a clever smile. “I put in a reservation.”
Ezekiel narrowed his eyes and said nothing. After he’d changed back into his street clothes, we went over to the section of Dashing called Sneaker Head where the whole back wall was dedicated to men’s shoes. Ezekiel picked out a white pair of Vans and didn’t opt for a second colorful pair.
While we’d been shopping, I wasn’t checking the price of anything he picked up. When we went to check out and the total came to almost four hundred dollars, Ezekiel groaned behind me.
I handed over my card and didn’t bat an eye.
When it was the other way around, Ezekiel never stressed how much he spent on me.
Before I became his girlfriend, he’d spoiled me plenty, not even in an attempt to get me into bed, just because that was who he was.
He was considerate and patient, and he gave so much. All I wanted to do was give back.
I paid for his clothing and Ezekiel carried his own bags back out to my car.
For dinner, I would’ve let Ezekiel choose, but something told me he would’ve tried to pull a fast one and suggest a place like Zaxby’s or Sonic.
As we were seated across each other at our reserved table at Dellucci’s, one look over at Ezekiel told me I was exactly right.
“Do you feel emasculated, Zeke?” I asked as I read over my menu. I’d loved the dishes we’d tried the first time I was here, but to go with the night’s theme, I wanted to try something new.
“Not at all,” he answered quickly. “You have to understand, this is different for me. I’m not used to taking a back seat and having a woman pay for everything. I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not,” I said adamantly. “If we’re going to be together—”
“If?”
“If we are, I should be able to dote on you just as much as you dote on me.”
“I mean, if you want to give me something you could—”
“Shut up.”
Ezekiel cracked a smile and went back to his own menu. Despite his unease, he ordered their lasagna and I opted for the eggplant parmigiana.
“How was the meeting with your father?” I wanted to know as we waited on our appetizers.
Ezekiel bobbed his head. “Good. Good. The Battle of the Sexes joint went viral. The CelebriTea posted us, so you know it’s about to be a busy month.”
BLVCKJVCK was more than just a nightclub, it was a beacon, a sanctuary, a place where you could dance with your friends or partner, or kick back and relax.
There was a place for everyone and that’s what made it more unique than the other clubs Atlanta had to offer.
I was certain this wouldn’t be the last time Ezekiel or the club got a buzz online.