“Nope. This is my first time. What about you?”
“I’ve been here once before about two years ago. My best friend had a birthday dinner here.”
Tech’s focus was on her and not the menu. “Did you like it when you came?”
“Yes, I did. From what I remember the food was really good.”
He gave a curt nod. “Speaking of birthdays when is yours?”
“December 8th.” ‘
“Word? I’m January 8th. Looks like we’ll be celebrating back-to-back.”
Blossom simply smiled, and Tech chuckled.
“Am I being too presumptuous to assume we’re going to make it to our birthdays?”
Blossom’s left shoulder hitched. “I don’t think so. I think it’s intentional.”
“Are you dating with intention?”
Before she could respond, the server came over to take their drink orders. Blossom ordered wine, and Tech ordered cognac. When the server walked away to retrieve their requests, Blossom shifted in her seat.
“I don’t think so. I’m not opposed to a relationship, but I’m not opposed to casual dating. I’m done trying to force things. If it doesn’t flow naturally, I don’t want any parts of it. I go into situations with an open mind and however it goes is how it was supposed to. It’s not like I’m twenty-five, and I’m dating to marry and have kids. Been there done that.”
“I feel you on that.” Tech’s head bobbed. “I’m not even supposed to be dating. In fact, I hope the food is good, so if this is our last date, we can at least say it was a good one.”
Blossom’s brows hiked. “Care to explain why you’re not supposed to be dating and why this might be our last date?”
Tech looked directly into her eyes as he spoke. “To keep it a hunnid with you. I’m fresh out of prison. Like only been out for two weeks.” He peeped the flicker in her orbs, but he kept going. “I have a job, and I’m about to start truck driving school. I have a place to live, and I have a car to drive. I’m not a leech looking for a place to stay and trying to drop you off at work while I keep your car.”
He didn’t sound like he was kicking game, but Blossom wasn’t sure, so she kept her expression stoic.
“I want to deal with a mature woman with some business about herself, so I know I have to bring that to the table. I really didn’t want to be distracted by dating, but I when I saw you two nights in a row, I couldn’t pass it up.”
The way Blossom’s interest was piqued, she wasn’t sure if his announcement had turned her off or if she was still down to get to know him.
“What is it that you want a woman to bring to the table?”
“A woman doesn’t have to bring anything to the table aside from her personality. I just want someone that’s mature. I’m sure you know that maturity has nothing to do with age. There are still women out here in their 30s and 40s doing dumb shit, engaging in drama. I’m not with that.”
Blossom had so many questions, she wasn’t sure which one she wanted to ask first. The server returned with their drinks, and it bought her some time. After sipping her wine, she had made up her mind. “What were you in prison for and how long?”
“Drugs. Damn near twelve years.”
“Woah.” Her brows lifted.
“I know. Too many years of my life to ever want to go back or to come home and play around. I have a lot of lost time to make up for.” Tech shook his head regretfully. “I owe my kids. I owe myself.”
“And not wanting to go back to prison, that alone is enough to make you want to change your ways?” Pretty much every one that got released from prison swore they never wanted to go back. They vowed to change and most times, that didn’t last. One thing Blossom refused to date was a jailbird. She wasn’t too fond of dating drug dealers either.
“I know that’s the politically correct answer, that’s why I came home focused and determined to show people better than I could tell them. I’m not a bad guy. I never was. I just liked nice things and fast money. I wasn’t the kind of father to just keep my kids fly. No matter what was going on in the streets and no matter how fast the money was coming, I always made time for my sons. I got Brazil into soccer, and he’s a professional player. I got Lethal into boxing, and he’s a professional boxer.”
Blossom’s brows barely moved, but the fact that she was impressed was clear.
“My oldest son, Nasir, I didn’t want the street life for him like I didn’t want it for my other sons, but I wasn’t a good example. He jumped off the porch early, and what the hell could I really say when I was selling drugs myself? My youngest son was only three when I left and missing so much of his life fucks with me every day. He’s a teenager now, and I have a granddaughter. Going back to prison isn’t an option.” The finality in his tone made Blossom aware that he believed himself, but it was still too early to determine if he would stay true to those words.
He had given her a lot to process, but she was still intrigued—not turned off and not regretting the decision to accept his dinner invitation.
