When I found his name, I unblocked the number and shot him a quick text.
Shanet:
Thanks for the flowers
I wasn’t expecting a quick reply, so I immediately put the phone on the table and got up to put away my things. Before I could set my bag on the counter, I heard a ding. You would have thought I was an Olympic gold medalist the way I sprinted back to that living room.
Stone:
Anything for you gorgeous.
I never recognized myself as a girl who tripped over a man’s every word, but Stone had a way with his. He didn’t speak often, so when he did, his words meant something. Everything about him was not only careful but smooth. Aside from how he spoke to me at the school, everything he said had intention behind it.
Stone:
You want to go out with me tonight?
Shanet:
What’d you have in mind?
Stone:
Nothing too big. One of my old Army buddies is opening up a cigar lounge. I thought we could go check it out together.
Shanet:
Oh, that sounds cool. I didn’t know you had any friends.
Stone:
You the only person that insist on acting like you don’t like me. It’s okay. I’m about to change that.
Shanet:
We’ll see how hard you work for it.
Stone:
Oh, I’m a hard worker. I don’t mind rolling up my sleeves. See you tonight. Pick you up at seven thirty.
Shanet:
Okay, I’ll be ready.
Since Stone was picking me up at seven thirty, I really only had an hour and a half to get dressed. I went straight into my room and picked out something to wear. I wanted it to be cute, sexy, but not too revealing. I wanted to turn heads, but I didn’t want Stone acting a fool. Something about him told me he didn’t have a problem with that at all.
I pulled out a little black silk dress and some strappy heels that would show my white-painted toes, and then I started to contemplate how I would wear my hair. I walked over to my mirror to see how bad my lace and edges were. My lace was still laid, and all I had to do was refresh my edges after my shower.
I reached under my sink and pulled out the basket that held my rollers. Then I started to roll my hair one small piece at a time. I knew if I rolled my hair now, I could leave them in for an hour or so to make sure my curls were as bouncy as they could be.
I’d worn these all day, and they were still hanging tight, but this felt like my first time really dressing up for Stone. I wanted everything about my look to pop. I wanted him to see me as the sexy woman I was and not the girl he saw when he came to the group home or the one he saw on our run this morning. Stone needed to know that I could switch it up and look good in workout clothes and even better in going-out clothes.
I was a little nervous about going to one of his homeboys’ businesses. Essentially, he was asking me to meet his friends before asking me to be his girlfriend. Not that I was expecting him to ask me to be his girlfriend, but still.
On the other hand, I was happy I could meet some of his friends. Maybe then I could get a glimpse into just who this man was. Knowing even bits and pieces of him would feel better than knowing nothing at all. Stone hadn’t told me more than three facts about himself, so being invited to his friend’s opening felt like a mile compared to the inch I’d been getting.
Seven thirty came a lot faster than I anticipated. I had showered, gotten dressed, pulled the rollers out, and slicked down my edges. I looked good as hell.
