“As you should. Relationships can be tricky, especially without assuming that every man will be your long-term partner. Hell, you’re already on the right track with this one simply by getting an invitation to come to his house.”
A warm smile forms at the reminder of Zakai not only inviting me to his house but cooking a delicious meal as well. With how well Zakai cooks, I wouldn’t mind breaking bread with him and Zakiyah several times a week. But I digress.
“Facts. That was a welcome surprise and one I wouldn’t mind happening again. That man can cook his ass off. For a simple meal, it was hearty and fulfilling. My ass can’t compete with his culinary skills, which is mainly why I invited him to lunch. I need to leave the expertise of food to the people who are more capable than I am.”
“Tuh. You better stop acting like you’re a slouch in the kitchen. You and I know that Auntie Em made sure you could throw down over a stove and oven.”
“She did, but Zakai has my ass intimidated.”
“Hm. Maybe your next date should be a cookoff then. Have him prepare his best dish, and you prepare yours. You could make it a double date so unbiased folks can judge and everything.”
A chuckle escapes my mouth at the suggestion because it’s almost genius, if I didn’t know my best friend so well.
“Let me guess, you want you and Landon to be the judges, huh?”
“Hell yeah. Then I can kill two birds with one stone.”
More laughter sounds as I shake my head, before I momentarily indulge Jandra and her motivation.
“How so?”
“I can meet your potential love interest and get a free meal for me and my boo. Duh. Don’t act like you don’t know me, girl.”
“Oh, I do. We’ll see. But I’m going to let you go, and we’ll catch up again soon. Love you, boo.”
“Love you too. Later, bitch.”
Once the call disconnects, I turn up the music and allow it to serve as background filler while my thoughts return to my night with Zakai. Thinking of him has me remembering the softness of his lips and the swoon-worthy yet dizzying effects of his kiss. I’m looking forward to seeing him again on Monday. Hopefully, the public place will keep my thoughts PG long enough to get through our meal without stealing another kiss.
“Hey,lady, let me tell you why I can’t live my life without you,” I sing after pulling out of the parking spot at Zakiyah’s day care.
An extra pep in my step has me serenading the interior of my vehicle, as if my name were Zapp and I had written the lyrics to an old-school song. But I woke up with the reminder and the knowledge of seeing and spending more time with Caziya, so I couldn’t help myself.
“Every time I see you walkin’ by, I get a thrill.” My voice is loud and bounces off the otherwise quiet interior as I bob my head to the beat echoing in my mind.
Caziya didn’t give me a chance to ask her for another date before she invited me to lunch today. Accepting was a no-brainer because only a fool would pass up an opportunity to be in herpresence. Although she beat me to the punch, I plan to capitalize on the moment by asking her to be mine before the day ends. If our unplanned ice cream social didn’t convince me that I needed to make her my woman, dinner definitely did. It takes no time for me to pull into the garage at work as the love ballad continues to echo in my mind.
Humming, I exit my vehicle, and my eyes are unable to register anyone as my thoughts are continuously on Caziya and our lunch date. I enter the elevator that will carry me to my floor, before removing my phone from my pocket to send a message to my affection and morning distraction.
Me:
Good morning, Ziya. I hope your day is off to a great start. I’m looking forward to seeing you this afternoon.
Caziya:
Well, good morning to you too. Typical day at the office thus far. However, I am also looking forward to spending my lunch hour with you.
A cheesy ass smirk forms when I read Caziya’s quick reply, and I practically skip off the elevator when it reaches my floor.
“Good morning, Zakai.” One of my colleagues greets me when we pass each other as I head to my office.
All I can do is throw up my hands while continuing on my way, grateful when I reach my door a minute later. I quickly insert the key in the lock and push it open, taking a moment to inhale the mahogany teakwood permeating the air. I walk to the round table adjacent to my cherrywood credenza and drop my bag before I move to sit in my high-back office chair. One of the things I love about my office is the space. Thanks to Ma, it has a homey feel with the addition of candlelight, allowing me to enjoya comfortable scent in the air without the need for a lighter. Ma also placed masculine accents on the walls, such as paintings, that didn’t turn me off.
The small couch near the door also has throw pillows that coordinate with the black leather material of the furniture. Ma’s decorative skills in here make it easy for me to spend countless hours in this space without feeling burned out. My desk phone rings just as I power on my computer, and I take a minute to scroll through my mental rolodex to determine if I have any meetings or appointments first thing this morning. “Hello.”
“Good morning, Mr. Tillman. Sorry to bother you immediately, but your presence is requested. I’m being told that it will be quick, though,” Adrian’s secretary says, and my eyes roll to a brief close.
I should have known better than to think I could continue on my Caziya high. Hopefully, this meeting will be quick and painless.
