“You ready?” he asked when I gathered my things and closed my carryout plate.
“Yeah, I let time get away from me.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asked, wiping his hand on a napkin before closing his plate.
How could I tell him that I had gotten so caught up in the effortless conversation that I forgot to book a ride to pick me up from the restaurant?
“I wanted to make sure my ride was here by the time I finished eating.”
“Someone on the way to get you? I can wait with you,” he offered.
“Thank you for lunch, but you can go ahead. I’m going to get a rideshare back to my place from here.”
“Now you already know I’m not going for that. I’m taking you home, Jameela.”
I scoffed. “I’m not about to have some strange ass man knowing where I live.”
“Not just a strange man but a strangeassman.” He laughed. “Get up, Jameela. Didn’t you say your daughter was waiting on you.”
“Actually, I didn’t, but she is. She’s expecting me to come home alive and not chopped up into a million pieces.”
“Well, let's not keep her waiting. I’m not letting you hitchhike home after our first date.”
He extended his hand and patiently waited to help me stand. I shook my head, knowing his persistent ass wasn't going to give up. I knew I should have called my friend Crystal at the first sign that my car wouldn't crank.She was at work, but she was close enough that she would have come through for me in a pinch. I didn’t want her dropping everything and leaving the office to help me.
From the time I got pregnant, it seemed like it was just one thing after another. I was always depending on someone for some type of assistance, even if it was just getting approval to work.
I didn’t want to be the girl that always needed help. I had never been her in all my years, and I wasn’t going to start now. That was what I told myself anyway. Nicholas’s persistence and the careful way he waited for me to take his hand let me know that he wasn’t going for it.
Reluctantly, I followed him out of the restaurant and back to his car. As he backed out of the parking spot, he looked over at me with a lifted brow that I think was supposed to be intimidating but came off sexy as hell. This man was dangerous. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Before you try it, don’t think you’re going to direct me to some remote location. I want to see you go inside.”
I rolled my eyes to the sky. “That’s so reassuring, creepy stranger. I think this is the perfect time to let you know I’m strapped.”
That made him grin. “I think this is the perfect time to let you know I’m in love.”
I successfully suppressed a laugh before responding to the nonsense he spewed every time he opened his mouth. “Whatever. Make a left on Henderson.”
“You would shoot me, habibti?”
“What the kids say? I’ll Swiss cheese your ass to protect myself.”
“Good. I want to know that you can handle yourself. You won’t have to worry about Swiss cheese, but it’s good to know.”
I listened to a mix of old school hip hop as I directed Nicholas to Crystal’s house. She was still at work for the next thirty minutes, but luckily, I had a key. We pulled to the curb, and Nicholas put the car in park.
“I have some VIP packages for Cashville for a two-night stay in a double suite, complimentary drinks and anything else you want. You can redeem them any weekend.”
“Another one of your connections?”
“You can say that.”
“I wish I could come.”
“Saying no isn’t going to get me off your heels, Jameela. I have no issue with chasing you. I actually prefer it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, kind stranger,” I said before getting out of the car. I could hear him laughing as I closed the door.
