“I think I’ll accept your opinion if you want me to have it.”
“Good. We can talk about it over lunch. Let’s go.” She plucked up her purse and diaper bag.
We went to a cute little American joint and sat right by the entrance. We got my niece some fries and settled in with our own food.
Nadira had never been shy with her opinion or feelings so when she immediately started talking about how she thought things should be handled and offered me several different ways I could draw a crowd in, I just sat in front of her and took it in.
She suggested women getting in cheaper, deals on drinks and me personally reaching out to a few famous people to come in with the offer of free liquor and a section. She told me that I needed to get some kind of social media presence and we created the club a page so people could keep up with it if they deserved to.
I made a list of people I could reach out for promotional purposes. I even briefly thought about asking Bishop if he knew any of them and could get them to come through, but decided against it.
After we finished discussing my failing business, we got into non-work related stuff. Nadira was still being wonder woman and had decided that she wanted to run a half marathon so she was beginning to train for it. Things with her and her husband were good. My niece had become a menace in the house but that was to expected. Despite the fact that I didn’t speak to themfrequently Nadira updated me on how good our parents were. They were prepping for retirement and apparently had plans to get a camper and do some stateside traveling together.
“So how are things with you and Bishop?” she asked as she scrubbed at some ketchup on her daughter’s face.
I could tell it was a loaded question even with her acting like it was a random offhanded question. My head automatically tilted slightly to the side while I tried to get a read on her.
“We’re good.”
I kept it short and Nadira noticed.
She dropped her used wipe on the table and looked at me.
“How long until his wedding?”
“Less than a year now.”
“And how are you feeling about it?”
“The way you’d assume. Not great.”
“So had the disconnecting started?”
I shrugged and grabbed my cup to take a slow sip. Nadira raised an eyebrow. I ignored her.
“Asante,” she said my name softly. “Please tell me that you understand you have to disconnect.”
“I don’thaveto do shit.”
“He’s getting married.”
“Out of obligation.”
“Do you genuinely think that distinction matters?”
“It does to me.”
“So, what? You’re going to waste your youth being some man’s dirty little secret?”
“Does it matter?”
“Yeah. It fuc?” She paused as she caught herself and cleared her throat. “It matters, Asante.”
“Becuase you say it does?”
“Because you deserve better,” she countered.
I took another drink from my cup and looked off. I knew that she was partially right. In theory I deserved better but in practice, I honestly didn’t give a fuck. I wanted Bishop more than I’d wanted anything in my entire life.
