Stone shot me a text to let me know he was outside. I was expecting him to wait in the car, but it wasn’t long before I heard knocks on the door. I didn’t keep him waiting long. When I swung the door open, my eyes immediately went to the small bag in his hands.
“For you.”
He handed me the bag, and I took it. I stepped to the side so he could come in, then handed him my purse so I could focus on my gift. I rummaged through the bag and quickly pulled out a small box. It was a tennis bracelet from Zales.
“Me and Sakani was in the mall the other day, and I thought of you. It’s just something small I thought you would like.”
“You thought about me while you were out shopping with Sakani?”
“I always think about you when I’m out with Sakani. That lil’ nigga find a way to bring you up in every conversation. He might be a little obsessed.”
“Well, that makes two of you.” We both laughed.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“Wait. Can you put it on for me first?”
I waited patiently as Stone snapped the bracelet around my wrist. I held it up to admire it for a second, and it was perfect. “It’s beautiful, Stone. Thank you.”
I leaned in and kissed Stone on the cheek before he grabbed my hand and led me out the door. The drive to the cigar lounge was short because we only made it through about two songs before we pulled into the packed parking lot. If I had to judge from the outside alone, I would say his opening night was definitely a success.
I gave Stone my hand as he opened the car door and helped me out. He tucked my arm in his as he led the way into the lounge. I fell in step behind him as we walked in.
I should have told Stone I hated the smell of smoke, but I almost forgot myself until we walked into the dimly lit space. There was soft R&B playing, which gave a grown and sexy vibe. The packed parking lot was a direct reflection of the inside.
Stone had to hold me closer to his side as we were led to our section. Even a little space between us would have caused us to be separated. We were escorted up to the section with only the owner, the woman he had on his lap, and three other couples. Stone dapped up his friends before introducing me.
“Nice to meet you, Shanet.”
The owner, whose name was David, stood and shook my hand first, and the others did the same. The night was a goodvibe, but I was still happy when it was time to leave. I didn’t want my hair to smell like smoke for days.
Mama Bea shotme a message last night telling me she’d better see me in church the next morning. It was only right that I invite Shanet. I hadn’t been to church in a long time, hence Mama Bea’s insistence that I be there this Sunday. I usually tried to make it to First Sunday if I didn’t make it to any other Sunday, but I’d been slacking.
The thing about being a Christian was that when you confessed the Lord as your Savior and said you believed He lived, died, and rose again, then you should be there on the first Sunday to take communion. I’d been missing communion, and Mama Bea made it clear that I’d better not miss it today.
Still, I needed a pretty interference between Mama Bea and me so that was Shanet’s job. While Sakani would be seated onone side of me, she would be on the other. We would all get through this one together.
I hadn’t asked Shanet about her relationship with God, but I knew she believed from our conversations. How personal it was didn’t matter, because I believed in accepting people for who they were. Even if Shanet told me that she didn’t have a relationship with God, I would see that as the perfect opportunity to help her build one.
I was a man, and there was nothing that was going to turn me away from the woman that I wanted to be with. So, if I was supposed to help Shanet along her journey, then I would, but that wasn’t the case. She had her own relationship with God, and that made me like her even more.
She was dressed in a black-and-white dress that stopped just above her knees. Her heels were Tory Burch. The only reason I knew that was because I dated a girl when I was in the army who had a real obsession with the brand. I thought if I ever saw more Tory Burch in the future, I’d run in the opposite direction, but seeing it on Shanet made me forget about what’s her name.
“Thank you for coming,” I said as I pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek.
“Thank you for the invite. I usually sit at home and watch church from my couch, but it’s nice to be back in the house of the Lord.”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with watching church from home, but whenever you can get around people with the same energy, I think it’s best to do so.”
“You right about that.”
“Happy Sunday, Dr. E.” Sakani spoke as soon as Shanet got in the car.
“Happy Sunday, Sakani.”
She smiled back at him, and I could feel him kicking the back of my seat. He’d been talking my head off about how he madethis all happen since she unblocked me. He conveniently forgot his run-in at the school almost messed everything up.
First Missionary Baptist Church was packed, as always, as I searched for a space and found one way at the back of the church. I was trying to find one closer so Shanet wouldn’t have to walk, but we didn’t have any luck. I even offered to drop her off in front of the door, but she said she had plenty of practice walking in heels and didn’t need front door service.
