4. Erissa #2
He grabbed two bottles of water and returned to the table, placing one of the bottles in front of the seat next to his. I brought our plates to the table, then got silverware and napkins before sitting down.
“This looks as good as it smells. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I hope it tastes as good as it looks and smells. I’ve never made this before.”
I waited, holding my breath and watching his expression as he ate his first forkful. When he looked pleased, I released a sigh of relief.
“This is good as hell,” he commented with his mouth full.
“Thank you.”
Now that I knew he liked it, I could relax and enjoy it myself. Riverlynn had fallen asleep, and we ate in silence for a few minutes until he spoke again.
“So, do you have any goals, or were you planning to work at the diner for the rest of your life?”
“You make it sound like I’m a bum or something. I was the assistant manager.”
“My bad. That’s not how I meant it at all, but you’re thirty years old with no children and really nothing holding you back in life. I would think you’d be doing more.”
I wanted to do more, but I hadn’t been motivated to do much since my grandparents died. I was living but didn’t always feel like I had anything to live for.
“My grades tanked when my parents died, so my grades weren’t good enough to get into college.
I was living with my grandparents, so I worked in retail and food service for a few years.
Then their health slowly deteriorated, so I had to quit my jobs and take care of them.
They were the last living relatives that meant a lot to me, and since they died, I haven’t quite figured out what I want to do. ”
“Shit, Erissa. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine. It’s a logical question. I should be doing more with my life, but I felt like an orphan when I lost my parents, even though my grandparents were happy to take me in. I’ve spent a lot of time questioning my existence, and before I knew it, I was thirty and hadn’t done much with my life.”
“Fuck. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive.”
I shrugged and went back to eating my food. We didn’t do much more talking, and that was fine with me. I was in my feelings and didn’t need him to say anything else to make me feel like I was wasting my life.
We finished at the same time, and I stood to clean the kitchen. When I reached for his empty dishes, he gently grabbed my wrists. As chills traveled through my body, my eyes connected with his.
“I’ll do this,” he offered.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”
Still holding my wrist, he said, “Then we’ll do it together.”
I shrugged and pulled away from him, leaving his dishes. I went to the sink to rinse my plate, leaving the water running so that I could rinse other dishes after transferring the food to storage containers.
“There should be enough for you to have at least one more meal, depending on how much you eat,” I told him.
“Bet. I’m already looking forward to tomorrow night’s dinner.”
He ended up rinsing the dishes, putting them in the dishwasher, while I washed the pans I’d used by hand. Fifteen minutes later, the kitchen was spotless again.
“I have a cleaning lady who comes twice a month. She’s not due to come again until the end of next week.”
“Okay. I’m going to try to organize my room. Are you good with Riverlynn for the rest of the night?”
“Actually, I need to make a run. You think you can watch her while I’m gone?”
“Of course. Bring her to my room when you’re ready to go.”
I turned to leave the kitchen, but before I made it to the stairs, I heard, “Wait.”
I stopped and turned around.
“Did you need something?”
“My mother wants to meet you and asked me to FaceTime her. Chicago is two hours ahead of us, so I should probably call now before she goes to bed.”
“Okay.”
I leaned against the counter and waited as he called his mother.
“What do you want, bighead?” a girl’s voice asked.
“Wassup, Ry? Why you answering Ma’s phone?”
“Because she’s brushing her teeth. Where’s my niece?”
He aimed his phone at Riverlynn and pressed something on the screen.
“Aww, she’s so cute. I can’t wait to see her in person. Did Ma tell you we’re coming in a few weeks?”
“Yeah. I wish it were sooner, but I guess I’ll be patient.”
“Ma said you found a nanny. Is she cool? Does Riverlynn like her?”
He answered with his eyes on me. “She seems cool so far, and baby girl loves her.”
“Good. Here comes Ma. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”
“Love you too, Ry.”
“Hey, Son. I’m assuming the woman you hired didn’t run off with my granddaughter.”
“Ma, she can hear you.”
“Well, give her the phone. She’s who I want to talk to anyway.”
“Fine, but can you chill? I don’t want her to quit after talking to you.”
“Boy, give her the phone,” she demanded.
He gave me the phone, and I put on my best smile before holding it in front of my face.
“He’s right. You’re very pretty, but can you take care of my grandbaby?”
“Umm, thank you. Hi. My name is Erissa, and you are?”
“I don’t need to know your name, depending on how you answer my question. Can you take care of my grandbaby?”
“I wouldn’t have taken him up on his offer if I couldn’t, ma’am.”
“Okay. I hear you trying to be a little slick at the mouth, but if something happens to Riverlynn, you’ll have to answer to me.”
“I assure you, Riverlynn is safe with me. I’d never let anything happen to her.”
“Good. Something in your eyes tells me I can trust you. I’m Janis Westmore. It’s very nice to meet you, and thank you for coming to the rescue. The boy was close to having a panic attack when I told him I couldn’t drop everything and fly out there.”
“It sounds like he was in a bit of a bind,” I said.
“He was, and honestly, it serves him right.
Maybe this will teach him to stop treating women like they're disposable. I promise you, this is not how he was raised. His father may not have been in his life, but my father was a great example for him. Pawpaw probably turned over in his grave about this.”
“Ma, please,” he pleaded as he leaned on the counter opposite mine.
“You know I’m telling the truth. Erissa, I’d suggest you keep your relationship with him professional. Don’t let him charm you out of your panties—”
“Ma! Can you chill?” he shouted as he snatched the phone from my hand.
“I’m just giving her fair warning because she seems like a nice girl that doesn’t need you playing with her heart,” Ms. Janis said.
“I gotta go, Ma. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”
“I love you too, Son.”
“My bad. Don’t pay my mother any mind. As you can see, she’s—”
“A wise woman. You can bring Rivvy to me when you’re ready to leave.”
I left him in the kitchen and headed upstairs. Ms. Janis’s warning to steer clear of River and his dick was needed. I hadn’t really allowed my mind to go in that direction, but now, I’d be sure to push all sexual thoughts of him to the curb.
He was a professional basketball player who had access to women who had a lot more going for them than I did. If he didn’t settle down with any of them, the likelihood of him choosing to settle down with me was slim to none.