“Yes. You can drive out and I’ll drive back. I at least want to try. The boat is so cute,” she says before kissing him again.
“We can do that,” he says before helping her into the boat.
Once she’s situated in the front passenger seat, he eases into the driver’s seat. The key isn’t as tricky as the man said but it’s definitely magnetic. It slides in easily and Akeem starts the boat. When it starts to hum, Sunjiya places her hand on his leg and simpers.
“This is going to be perfect.” She sighs as she takes in the fresh night air, quiet still water, and the backdrop of downtown. “I want to eat right in the middle of the lake. The lights from the buildings can set the mood.”
“I got you,” he says before pulling away from the dock.
The ride is slow, steady, and perfect. Between the smooth ride of the boat on the still water, the dark sky illuminated by city lights, and him, Sunjiya is in heaven on earth. It looks and feels like a scene from a romantic movie, and to enhance that, another boat a few feet from them across the water plays music. The smooth melodic voice of the R&B singer Yara can be heard.
“You hear that?” Sunjiya asks.
“Yeah. I think I know that song,” he says as he drops the anchor. They’ve made it to the middle of the lake.
“I know all the days won’t be perfect,” Sunjiya sings along softly. “It’s Yara’s remake of ‘Can You Stand the Rain’. I love her voice.”
“Yeah. That New Edition classic.”
“What you know about New Edition?” she teases.
“They helped me out a few nights. Girls of all ages love them. A candle and New Edition was player,” he says and she laughs. “C’mere,” he tells her and she gladly climbs over the armrest between them and straddles him. “See it worked again,” he says, then smirks.
“What?”
“’Can You Stand the Rain’. It’s playing and it’s got you over here all over me.”
Smiling, clearly amused, she says, “You said New Edition, not the song.”
“Same thing. Just kiss me,” he says.
When their kiss breaks, she lovingly stares at his handsome face then runs her fingers through his trimmed beard. Yara continues to provide the soundtrack to their moment, and when she asks about weathering a storm, Sunjiya’s situation comes to the forefront of her mind. Without thinking, it partially falls off her lips.
“Can you weather a storm?” she asks.
“What, bae?” he counters, unsure if he understands her question and seeming change in mood.
“Weather a storm. Like the song says. Through the good and bad times, will you be here?”
“Of course. Always,” he assures her. “Always.”
“Okay. Okay,” she says, nodding. Then, she kisses him again, slowly and lovingly. “Please don’t ever stop loving me,” she whispers, almost too low for him to hear.
“I promise I won’t.” A gush of wind sweeps across the lake and her wild, natural hair covers her face. After he pushes her hair back, he asks, “You ready to eat?”
“I am, and if you have their seared scallops in that bag, I might have to do some things on this boat.” She squints as she runs her tongue across her bottom lip sexily then asks, “What’s in the bag?” A knowing and salacious smile spreads across his face. “My scallops,” she gushes.
Chapter
Twenty-One
After placingher laptop in its protective case, Sunjiya stuffs it into her extra-large tote. She removes her wallet from her purse then places it in the tote next. The kitchen island is covered with the items she thinks she needs, some she might need, and other items just in case. Today is her first day of class at ACC and she’s feeling a cocktail of emotions: excitement, nervousness, and anxiety. But thankfully, excitement leads the charge.
It’s only an intro course for some, but for her it’s a big deal. Although she received a free ride to college and had the aptitude to attend, she didn’t graduate like her sister. She took a few courses at Miami-Dade but barely earned twelve credits. This course is the first step in her journey to correct her unsuccessful educational past and she can barely contain her excitement. It’s fueling her compulsive need to fill her tote.
When she turns to grab the salmon salad she made from the fridge last night, Akeem walks into the kitchen. Although it’s colder than normal for mid-January, he’s only wearing a pair of black sweats. The heater is on in the condo and the fireplace in the living room burns.
“What’s all this?” he asks as soon as she turns to grab the croissants from the counter.
