She placed her cup on the table. “And what’s that?”
“The next time you want to go that early, and you know you are going to be alone, call me first. It doesn’t matter the time. Day or night, call me, please.”
I could tell that she wanted to say no, but I also saw the admiration on her face. Her being out like that didn’t sit right with me.
“I can do that. Where is all this coming from, Coye?”
Our food was delivered, and while she prepared her sandwich the way she wanted, I did the same and thought about what I had to say.
“This is coming from feelings I developed for you, and I’m tired of hiding it. I want to be there for you while you go through this thing with your dad, but it’s more than that. I want to date you and get to know River. Not as Jordan’s little sister, but River the woman. The bossy cookie lady,” I teased.
River covered her mouth when she giggled. “I’m not bossy at all.”
“Nah, not from what I’ve seen, but you are serious about the business. That’s one of the things I admire about you.”
Her cheeks flushed again.
She got quiet for a moment, looking around the diner, and chewed on her bottom lip. I ate my food while I waited for whatever she had to say.
A few minutes passed before she spoke again.
“So what are you saying exactly?”
“What I’m saying is I want to take you on a date and see how things go. If after that first date, you good off me, then that will be it. I have to at least try.”
“One date, Coye.” She held up her index finger. “One, and nobody can know about this date. It’s too much going on, and if my brother finds out, things could get worse.”
I understood her apprehensions, and I agreed for the moment. If things extended past the first date, then we would discuss letting everyone else know.
“I can give you that. Are you free tomorrow night?”
“I am.” She smiled.
“Good. Tomorrow it is.”
Once the date was solidified, we talked about a new recipe she wanted to try as we finished our food.
Afterward, I walked her back to the shop, then headed back to the jewelry store. I had to put a good date together for River and me. By the time I got back to the store, I had the perfect idea and prayed that it was as good as planned.
“Y’all, I’m freaking out.”I stood in front of my closet in a robe while my friends sat on the edge of my bed.
“Why?” Sophie asked.
I spun around to face her. “What do you mean why? Because I’m going on a date with Coye. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been on a date? It’s just too much going on to be thinking about a date.” I walked over to the small chair in the corner and plopped down into it.
Mickey and I fucked around, but we didn’t go on many dates, so it had been a while since I went on one. My nerves were on a hundred, and the way my friends looked at me made me feel crazy.
“First of all, calm down. Second of all, you are crazy if you don’t go out with that man. Like you said, it’s been a while, and you need this. I know it’s a lot going on with your dad, but you need an escape. It’s just a date. Tomorrow, everything will still be the way it is today,” Lily added.
At first, I was excited about the date, but at some point, those feelings were replaced by nervousness. I wasn’t sure where he was taking me, and I was scared that we would run into someone like my brother or anyone who could potentially tell my brother. The more I thought about it, the more I was ready to back out. When I called my friends to tell them I wasn’t going, they showed up at my place.
“But what?—”
“River, stop trying to find reasons,” Sophie said, cutting me off. “You are going if we have to drag you out of this house.”
“Pipe down. It’s not that serious,” I joked.
They both sucked their teeth and pinned me with a look that made me laugh.
