I reach for my cup and hold it in front of my mouth without taking a drink. I stare at my phone flipped screen down on the table.
I don’t want to text him. Not even to just say thank you.
Nothing’s changed ...but it doesn’t feel the same.
Chapter 7 Javonte
“Aye! That looks nice on you,” I tell my sister as I get out of the car to pick her up.
She wanted to go to The Sapphire today, so I sent her a few dresses to choose from so she could blend in with the atmosphere.
“I do, don’t I?” she says, doing a twirl.
I chuckle. “Yes, you look really nice. And you’re lucky I’m connected and got to pull some strings, because getting a table at The Sapphire is damn near impossible.”
“Look at you, Tim Possible, making it happen.”
She tries to head toward the driver’s side of my car.
“No. Get in the passenger seat. You’re not driving today. It’s too busy, and I don’t feel like holding on for dear life on the way to eat.”
“You’re gonna do me like that?”
“Yes, I am,” I tell her, bumping her as she walks by me to the passenger side.
She stands there and looks at me. “You’re not gonna open my door?”
“Girl, this ain’t no date. Open your own damn door.”
“That’s why you’re single,” she says, pointing at me as she opens the door and gets in.
I let out a breath. That was rude as hell.
In the car, she messes with the radio and takes over my phone to play her nonsense music. I’m not old, but I don’t want to listen to whatever girl rapper she’s got yelling in my ear right now. I’ve come to enjoy a little peace in my mid-twenties.
This teenager lifestyle exhausts me. Just looking at her sometimes exhausts me, because she be doing too much.
I hand my keys to the valet, and I still don’t open her door because I’ve done enough today for this girl.
We’re greeted immediately by the hostess, who recognizes me and takes us straight back to our table. There are a good number of eyes on us as we walk through the restaurant.
I know she doesn’t want the private room. She likes a little attention on her, so I didn’t ask Drummond to get us special seating. I just needed a table, so I could feed this girl and be a good brother.
We sit down, and she looks around the restaurant. “This is nice.”
I chuckle. “Yes, it is. Very nice. Very upscale.”
“So that means it’s very expensive, doesn’t it?” she asks, bopping her shoulders.
“Expensive doesn’t always mean good.”
“I bet it does here,” she says, opening the menu. “They got a sampler plate? I want to taste everything.”
“You can order whatever you want. Anything you don’t eat, we can take it home for you and your mom.”
“Really?” she says, eyebrows raised like I don’t say yes to everything she wants anytime she asks me.
“Yeah, really. You think I’m gonna put a limit on you now? It’s food. You hungry. It’s a new experience. You want to taste everything, go at it. Do you.”
