“So, where are we eating?” She asked.
“I don’t really love to do the whole 21 questions, what do you like to eat thing,” Nyair stated as he eased into traffic, stopping at the light on the corner. “So, I’ma just make the plans, and you’re going to trust me and follow my lead.”
Lauren laughed, her entire spirit protesting because she was particular about many things, especially where and what she ate. “Is that how you think this is going to go?”
“Absolutely. Women let men lead when they feel safe with them. Niggas need to learn that. A woman goes against the grain when they don’t trust your manhood.”
“And what makes you think I trust yours?” She asked.
“Because you climbed in my car without hesitation and didn’t insist on meeting me. Women secure their exit plan off rip when they don’t feel secure. I already have your trust; all I have to do is keep it. It ain’t hard, men just be boys out here.”
The Revelations, Psalms, hymns, and hallelujahs that vibrated through her vagina made her imagine this man in every single way except a holy one.
You’re going straight to hell. You not even stopping for gas, just straight to the hellfire.
Normally Lauren would want to control her environment. She would want to pick the place, pick a booth over a table, pick her own dish, but she found herself saying nothing as he took the lead on all these things.
Ocean Prime, the bar not a table at all, which she normally detested, but today it felt thrilling, and “a little bit of everything”for their meal. No protest. No objection. Just submission. Lauren let this man, this stranger, lead the way.
“And what will you guys be drinking tonight?” The waitress asked.
Lauren looked to Nyair, assuming he would decide that as well.
“I don’t drink,” Nyair said.
“Oh! Of course not, I’m sorry,” she said, embarrassed. “Um… I’ll just have water and a Sprite.”
“No apologies, it’s just not my thing anymore. I can drink; I just don’t,” he said. “It’s a discipline thing.”
“You’re big on discipline. That’s admirable. The way life been on me lately, the only relief I can find is in the bottom of a wine bottle. My life is miserable.” She chuckled, but she was only half-joking. He didn’t laugh at all because he didn’t find humor in her pain.
“Be careful how you speak about yourself. Some of that misery you’re attracting,” he said.
Some things just hit you in the gut. Some words are so simple that they just bitch smack you into reality. Behind her woe is me attitude was the realization that she had been pulling nothing but negativity out of every second of every day since Demi had left.
“Wow. I didn’t realize exactly how true that is until this moment,” she said. “Guess God sent that message to me through you.”
“Nah, that was a real-ass nigga telling you some real-ass shit. I’ll let you know when it’s coming from God.” He winked, and she smiled.
“You’re so easy to talk to.” She didn’t even mean to let that part slip out. It was supposed to be a thought in her head.
“I’m withchu when you’re right,” Nyair answered, the arrogant response pulling more laughter out of her.
“That laugh is beautiful. That smile too. Got to do more things that bring those out of you. I’ve been coaching your boy for almost a year, and the laughs and the smiles are foreign to me. I lowkey thought you were mean as hell, girl.”
“Maybe I was. I mean, I can be. My job, my ex…” She shook her head. “Stress and overworking made me overlook the funny things. The little things, I guess.”
“It’s only too late if you let it be too late. You’re young, you’re successful, you’re ambitious, face card is unbelievable. I’d say you got a lot of life left to live. Key is to never let a nigga forget that he lucky to have you. A man see you, and they see someone they want to conquer. A powerful woman that they want to tame. Wild woman and all. Ms. I Don’t Need A Nigga. That’s what you give off. An alpha male lives to get women like you to submit. You’re the goal, but when we get you, you start changing, start doing everything and anything to be what that man likes but you don’t realize you’re already what he likes. You change into someone weak, and that’s not what he had to work to get, so he stops working. You become a chore. He fucks around with a new challenge because you let him forget that he chased you.”
“I can’t even argue with you,” she said, shaking her head. That was exactly how her marriage had played out.
“A man just want to chase sum’n,” Nyair said, rubbing his hands together, warming them as he looked down at the motion he made. He was creating friction…manifesting heat and not just between his hands. She warmed from the inside out.
You can not like a pastor. Get your shit together.
“So, about this banquet that you’re so graciously lending your time and expertise to. I prayed for you. You don’t even know how in over my head I was with all this,” he said.
“Lucky for you, a few people owe me big favors. I was able to secure the event center Downtown for the boys,” Lauren said. “My staff is occupied, but I’ve pulled the interns at my firm and the junior chef to prepare the meal and decorations. This place is fancy, though, so the boys will need to dress up. Those tacky-ass moms too.”
