Sadia and I have been back from our trip for over a week, and I have yet to see her in person. We have been communicating through text, but Sadia has been acting like she’s in witness protection or something. Granted, I understand that our final day together in Florida was highly embarrassing, but I didn’t expect her to semi-ghost my ass. I have been to Sips of D’Essence every morning, per usual, and Sadia’s beautiful face has been nowhere to be found. In fact, the owner has been the one assisting me with my morning pickup.
But today, Sadia’s time is up. Thanks to the hookup from who I’ve learned is her best friend, I’m about to blow up Sadia’s spot. My eyes lower to my screen when my phone vibrates in my hand.
Sadia:
I’m not hiding. I’ve been consumed with homework and stuff, so my boss has me working another shift to help me out.
I shake my head and push the door open as Sadia’s eyes stretch when she sees me walk into the stockroom, where she’s been hiding every morning.
“Ch-Ch-Chance? What are you doing here?”
Mhm. I bet your pretty lying ass didn’t expect to see me, huh?
“I came to remind you of what we have. Clearly, you must have lost sight of your new relationship status with the fifty eleven trips to the bathroom we took.” I smirk.
At this point, all traces of self-conscious distress I had over shitting on myself in front of Sadia are gone. It’s water under the bridge, and Sadia needs to catch up because I don’t like the idea of our loose bowels drawing a line in the sand between us.
“That’s not funny, Chance. I have never been so out of control in my life. I have been dreading seeing you face-to-face.” Sadia hangs her head, and I close the distance between us.
I lift her chin so she can see my eyes because no matter how nasty our fiasco was, I still want her.
“It was a first for me too. But it still doesn’t change the fact that I find you irresistible. You’re still the woman I long for twenty-three hours a day.”
“Why only twenty-three hours?”
“Damn, you’re rude. Doesn’t the King of Kings deserve at least an hour a day? I mean, I have to give Him gratitude for blessing me with you.”
Sadia smiles, and all traces of her melancholy evaporate as my heart leaps and my chest expands. I now feel like my life can return to its regularly scheduled program because the time without Sadia has been torture. I lean in and connect our lips as my heart rate settles now that I’m able to breathe Sadia’s air.
“I missed you,” Sadia whispers against my lips.
“I missed you so much more. I gotta get to work, but you and me this evening. No excuses.”
Sadia sighs, and the air that hits my lips charges me as my hands rub up and down her arms.
“I can’t do tonight. I have to finish a paper, and I have to?—”
“Didn’t I say no excuses? I’ll come to you, but you’re not getting out of this. I’ll bring dinner, so don’t worry about cooking. Do you have any food aversions or allergies I should know about? We don’t need a repeat of?—”
“No. No.” Sadia cuts me off and steps back an inch as horror flashes in her eyes.
I smirk as my hands continue moving in a rhythm that soothes Sadia, and her eyes relax.
“Think of that situation as a moment of comic relief when my six pack becomes a keg, and your titties can be tied into a ponytail.”
Sadia laughs loudly, and I join her as the atmosphere around us becomes lighter.
“On that note, I’ll see you this evening.” Sadia smiles.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ll send you a text when I’m on my way. Enjoy your day, Dia.” I kiss her lips twice and leave as quietly as I arrived.
When I enter the main coffee shop, I nod and toss a wave to her friend, who is now at the counter assisting a customer. The owner is nowhere to be found, which makes me chuckle lowly before I exit through the front door. I’m sure my parolees will be happy about my ability to reconnect with my woman becauseI’ve been extra hard on them. I’m in my vehicle and on my way to work in under five minutes.
“Hm. What am I gonna pick up for dinner?” I ask out loud.
My brain shuffles through restaurant options for the duration of my drive to work. I’m no closer to pinpointing a decision when I arrive. As a matter of fact, I continue with meal choices for most of the morning and the first part of the afternoon. When I still come up blank, I call in reinforcement.
“Hi, Chance. Do you need something?” Ms. Janie asks after she answers the buzzer on her desk phone from my office phone.
