Chapter 4-Kenya #2
Heading into his kitchen, I started to warm up the food Fancy had me bring him, and since he seemed to be taking forever, I fixed a glass of brandy and coke and made myself comfortable at his bar.
“Good looking, Kenny,” Tobias said, rushing into the kitchen, opening the microwave to grab his plate. “Man, this looks good. Mama came through with the stuffed French toast. It’s my favorite too, yet she only makes it for you,” he said, laughing.
He gave me a kiss on the forehead before claiming the seat next to me. His back was facing the bar, letting me know that he wasn’t planning on eating his food here.
Tobias looked just like Fancy, from his complexion, facial features, and long curly hair; he inherited it all from her.
When we were younger, I used to beg him to let me play with his hair, and he would always give in.
It was because of him that I could cornrow and French braid.
I assumed that he got his height from his father, since Fancy and I were the same height, and he stood well over six feet.
Although I don’t recall Fancy’s husband being that tall either.
“Tobi, I know that you aren’t jealous.”
“Hell, yeah, I’m jealous. My mama’s French toast hits the spot every damn time. Now come in here and keep me company while I eat my food,” he requested. “I hope you’re full already ‘cause I’m not sharing. I’m hungry as hell.”
“You need to make sure the various females you entertain can cook from here on out. Maybe if you did, you wouldn’t be in here wasting away,” I said as I followed behind him into his dining room.
His place was laid out like any bachelor pad. The bare minimum as far as furniture with enough tech in one room to accommodate the five-bedroom house he lived in. I claimed a chair on the opposite side of his dining table and eyed him.
He paused to pray over his food, and then he dug in.
“Here you go,” he replied between chews. “You need to stay out of my love life and worry about yours. I know your phone stays dry as hell these days.”
“Mind the business that pays you. For your information, I am interacting with someone. Kendra set up an online dating profile for me, and I have been consistently messaging somebody.”
I smiled at the thought of the man I’d messaged till the wee hours of this morning. We stopped long enough to get some sleep since we both had a long day ahead of us.
“Why didn’t you just ask me to set you up with one of my boys? You know that Irv has been checking for you for a while. Dating apps aren’t safe, Kenny.”
“Checking for me?” I eyed him suspiciously, waiting for him to elaborate.
“Yes, checking for you. Like he is interested in you. The man stammers over his words each time he sees you. He’s been trying to make his move for the longest.”
“I assumed his stutter was a speech impediment.” I shrugged, downing the rest of my drink. My mother would scold me for not sipping like a lady. Thank God she wasn’t here.
“Kenny, quit.” He shook his head in obvious disapproval of my innocent and honest take on his friend.
“Maybe I’m thinking of the wrong friend because I really thought he had a stutter. Irv. He’s the one with three kids from two different women? He normally has one of his kids when I see him,” I recalled.
“Ain’t nothing wrong with that, and he has a good co-parenting relationship with each of them. They’re good people who want to see him happy. It’s a win-win.”
“By co-parenting, do you mean that they have sex, no strings attached, or are you saying that they keep it cordial and stay on the same page for the sake of their kids?”
“Ahhh. So, you’re interested?” he said. The hopeful look in his eyes and long, suspenseful pause caused us both to burst into laughter.
“I don’t know how many ways to tell you hell no . A man with a kid, let alone more than one, is a strong no for me. Regardless of whatever else he could offer me, the baggage will never be worth it.”
“Whatever. You’re going to miss out on a good thing with all your damn rules. Let me see this buster that you call yourself talking to.”
I walked back to the front of his house to grab my purse.
To have lived by himself, Tobias’s house was massive.
Most men would have had a small or modest abode, but he was living large and lavish in a house meant for a family.
He went to jail for wiring fraud, but when he was released, he used his skills to become a consultant software developer.
I didn’t have access to his finances, but it was obvious that he was doing well.
I grabbed my phone and walked back into the dining room, where he was finishing off his food. After reclaiming my seat, I pulled up the app and showed him TheRealDWest profile.
Of course, he took his time going over everything. His finger swiped up across my screen, letting me know he was reading his profile instead of viewing his pictures like I expected him to.
“Man, his profile makes him sound like a lame. I don’t think I like him for you.
It’s not too late to swipe left on his ass, and the fact that his main picture is an image of a damn quote, and not him, is a bad sign,” he judged, sliding my phone across the table, back in my direction.
“Matter of fact, I’ll let Irv know that you’re interested.
Also, the fact that he put real in his username is a sign all in itself.
How long have you been talking to him, anyway? ”
“A few days, and he does have pictures. I could only see his face, and most of his torso, but he doesn’t look lame. He messaged me and expressed interest in taking me on a date, but we haven’t set anything in stone.”
“You could only see the top of his body? Kenny, he’s probably in a wheelchair or something.
Or what if he’s out of shape and has those big ass things on his legs?
You’re going to be on My 600-Pound Life with him.
Ain’t you? I don’t even want to see the rest of his pictures because it will only confirm how lame he is.
You’re not going on a date with no stranger.
TheRealDWest ? What do I look like, letting you go? ”
“You are not my father, Tobi. If I decide to go, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
I headed to the kitchen to make myself another drink, and he was right on my heels.
“Go ‘head. Go out, thinking that you’re grown, and watch me find you and embarrass you in front of his lame ass. See what dude will think of you then.”
“You are crazy, and I am grown. Very grown .”
“Don’t believe me, just watch. I’ll use that locate app and come find your ass. Try me.”
“Do I ever stop you when you entertain your hundreds of little friends? I don’t even have to meet them to know that they aren’t worth your time,” I responded with a raised eyebrow, as I took a sip from my cup.
It was far too strong. “But I let you have it because you’re capable of making your own decisions.
” I turned my back to him to grab what I needed for my drink before turning back to face him.
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“Because I’m grown. I’m older than you.”
“Yet here you are sounding like a child,” I found myself chastising him in disbelief. “Tobias, we are hardly a year apart, so try again.”
“No, all jokes aside. You haven’t dated in years, and it’s a different game out there, especially if you are talking about going on a date with someone you met on an app.
Do you know how many horror sSydneyes females have behind these apps?
I just want you to be safe, Kenny.” His demeanor softened, giving me a chance to see where he was coming from as he continued his spill. “Look, I’ll allow—”
“ Allow? ” I interrupted and laughed.
“I said what I said. Look, I’ll allow you to go on this date, but I will be right there in the background to make sure that dude doesn’t try anything with you.
I’ll meet you at your house, follow you there, and make sure you get home safely.
You are like my little sister, and I can’t let anything happen to you. ”
“Thank you, big brother ,” I replied, giving him a hug.
“We’ll see if you are still smiling once dude rolls or wobbles to y’all’s date.”
“Tobias, that is not something to joke about. I pray that you aren’t secretly jinxing me.”
“If I am jinxing you, it will be something for us to sit back and laugh at years from now.”
“It’s not funny now, and if he fits your predictions, it won’t be funny years from now either.”
“It may not be funny to you, but I’ll damn sure be laughing my ass off about it.”
“I can’t stand you.” I playfully hit his chest, making him laugh harder.
We ended up hanging out until I started getting tired and decided to head home.
Hanging out with him was always the highlight of my Sunday. I appreciated his perspective and feedback on my decision to meet my online mystery man, and I knew his level of concern came from a genuine place. Tobias was one of the few people who had my back and my best interests at heart.
I’d allow him to be in the background because I knew that as long as he was around, I was safe.