“Emotional depth and authenticity. Trust also goes without saying for me, but it’s probably third in line with the first two.”
“Duly noted,” she says, and a low chuckle escapes my mouth at her using my words from a bit ago. “What?”
“Nothing. Let’s keep this train moving. What’s something that makes you unique?”
If I had to take a stab at how Caziya is going to answer this question, I would say her uniqueness lies in the depth of her soul, which I can see with a single gaze into her eyes. In Caziya’s eyes, I’m able to see mystery, longing, and passion that’s lying dormant.
“I would say the way I’m able to overcome anything that comes at me. I stay strong through tough situations and am able to empathize and forgive when necessary.”
Oh shit!
For a second, silence ensues as I process, analyze, and replay Caziya’s words that have caught me off guard. This is part of Caziya’s onion that excites me to peel back as I get to know her. It also fills me with a longing to see her in person, prompting me to take an unplanned detour that I hope she won’t reject.
“I feel like we need to continue this discussion in person, and I would love to see you. Will you come over for dinner tonight?”
A series of giggles sounds from the receiver, and I bite my lip because I’m not sure if Caziya is about to accept or turn me down, based on this reaction. My stomach tightens, and I hold my breath while waiting for her to respond.
“That was out of the blue. But are you sure you want me to come over?”
Air escapes my mouth, and my stomach settles, causing me to momentarily close my eyes and say a quick thank you to Big Homie.
“I have never been more sure of anything in my life. Do you have any food allergies or a meal request I can fulfill?”
“Nope. I’m also open to whatever you want to serve me. What time would you like me to—oh, wait. I need your address.”
“Okay. I’ll text you my address. You can come over at six, and I’ll have everything ready for you.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’m looking forward to breaking bread with you and finishing our discussion.”
“So am I. Let me run so I can get moving. See you soon, Ziya.”
When the call disconnects, I send Caziya my address in text to have that out of the way.
Me:
3536 Platter Pkwy
“Daddy, up! Up, Daddy!” Zakiyah’s loud voice comes through the monitor sitting on the table in front of me, and I know that she’s not only up from her nap but wants out of bed.
I get up from the couch and head to the second floor so I can get Zakiyah out of her bed while dialing Ma’s number to see if she and Dad are free for the evening to babysit.
“Hey, Son. I’m in the middle of something. Can I call you back later?” Ma says when the call connects a minute later.
“Uh, I was actually trying to see if you and Dad could keep Kiki tonight.”
“Sorry, Son. Your father and I already have plans. You’re actually gonna be out of luck because I talked with Asia earlier, and she was headed out of town until Tuesday or so.”
“Alright. Thanks anyway, Ma. I’ll let you go.”
Dang. Looks like it’s gonna be a threesome instead of the twosome I thought tonight would be. Hopefully, Caziya won’t mind Kiki being a third wheel. With my plan in place, I rush to get Zakiyah out of bed so the two of us can head to the store. My mind sifts through many recipes I know how to cook before deciding on something that won’t be too time-consuming to prepare for dinner. I want to impress Caziya with my cooking skills, but I also don’t want to overdo it, because I’m more interested in spending time with her than anything else. I haven’t laid eyes on Caziya since our impromptu ice-cream date, and I’m desperate to see her again.
The house smells great as I put the final touches on dinner while Kiki sits in her booster chair, scribbling on a piece of paper. Thankfully, she enjoys watching me cook, as I’ve been able to prepare the entire meal without much interruption from her.I’ve also given her a light snack of apple slices and peanut butter, so she hasn’t complained about being hungry. My hand freezes on the lid I just replaced on the meat when the doorbell echoes through the house, letting me know Caziya has arrived.
“I’m going to get the door, Kiki. Sit tight for me, and I’ll be right back.”
“Otay, Daddy,” Zakiyah says without lifting her head from the paper she’s coloring on.
My heart races with every step I take toward the front door from the kitchen as I mentally coach myself to keep it together. Falling apart or fumbling at Caziya’s feet will be a horrible way for me to welcome her into my home for the first time. Exhaling the air from my lungs when I reach the door a couple of minutes later, I unlock the lock and pull it open. A warm smile slides into place when Caziya’s warm toffee face comes into view.
