“Shut up and answer my question, chicken head.”
“Oh, right. I have a dinner date with Enzo tonight. So, this stop came in handy.”
“Awww. Okay. Y’all taking EJ?”
“Not tonight.” I pouted. “He said my boy gotta stay with his grandma this time.”
“Good. Y’all need more alone time. Enjoy yourself. Let your hair down, boo. I got a date myself.”
My brows dipped. “With who?”
“A guy I met at the mall a couple weeks ago. I think I told you about him.” Opening her door, she slid into the seat.
“No, you didn’t. But send me all the information. Picture included. You are not slick.” I got in my car and rolled the window down. “I’m not playing either, Nae.”
“I know. I’ma send it.” She smirked. “Soon as I get home.”
“Yeah. You betta or else I’m telling Aura.”
“You wouldn’t dare, heffa. I love you. Text when you make it in.”
I giggled. “You right. And okay.”
She pulled off, and I went to do the same when my phone chimed. Looking down at it, I saw a text from Enzo that instantly made me light up.
Enzo: Been thinkin’ ‘bout you all day. Lookin’ forward to seeing what you have on later. Hope yo’ day going smooth.
Me: My day has been great so far. Lookin’ forward to you makin’ it even better later.
“Ooouu, bitch, you ballsy, ain’t you?” I said to myself, ready to give this date my all… literally.
CHAPTER 3
I Can’t Shake Him
DANAE
One thing I hated was to be put on the spot, and Aura had a habit of finding a way of doing that every time. He always had a way of making a statement without saying a word. Hell, he didn’t even have to be around to make a statement. Gestures that may have seemed small to him, routine even when it came to me, always hit me harder than the ones before. Because why would this man send flowers to the damn nail salon? I reached over to adjust the seatbelt, making sure they were secure as I drove. They were so pretty.
Another gift. Another way of him reminding me that he was around. Another way of him reminding me of who he was and that he wasn’t going nowhere. And through all the gestures, he never looked for a “thank you” which somehow made it even harder to shake his ass.
My feelings for Aura were so complicated. I didn’t think words existed for them yet. None that I wanted to express out loud at least. It wasn’t that I didn’t like him or even love him. However, loving him was dangerous because of who he was and who I used to be.
I pulled into the garage of my building and parked my car in my reserved spot. Glancing over at the flowers, the memory of how we met came to me fast.
I was on second shift at Sullivan’s Diner, and it was busy as always. A good busy though. One that kept me moving and endless tips in my pocket. It was a hot summer day, and I’d been waitressing. I was always assigned the larger tables because I was the most efficient of the staff. Having only been working at the diner for six months, I quickly found my footing. I blended in with the staff and kept up the moral. I’d become familiar with the Sullivans that passed through also. Some loud. Very few of them quiet. All powerful in their own way.
And then there was Aura Sullivan. He wasn’t the oldest, but he was the HNIC.
He’d come in with a few of his boys, sliding into the booth easy like the space was custom tailored to him. Aura was calm, confident, playful on the outside, but he had an air about him that said he didn’t fuck around. It didn’t announce itself loudly, but you knew it. I kept my distance, not because of the energy he exuded but because I was sweating so bad in a turtleneck sweater I had no busy wearing in July.
Even with the coolness inside the diner, I was still burning up due to all the moving around I was doing. But I kept my sleeves down and still tended to business with a smile. I was always taught to remain professional, no matter the circumstances. In my case, no matter how much the shirt was smothering me.
As Aura and his party finished up their meal, his sister, Amil, who was also the owner of Sullivan Diner, asked if I could collect their check and bus their table. I found it odd that she was requesting I do it, but I brushed it off and went to do as she asked.
“You guys all done here?” I asked, wanting to be courteous.
“Yeah, shorty,” Aura spoke for the table. “You can go head and do your thing.”
