Page 10 of Koda's Love

“Of course it isn’t. And with Koda Bishop, a double hell yeah. He’s fine and got something going for himself. You deserve to explore and see what happens. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life with Chester.” She giggled. “I’m sure you have a cute dress you can wear. Go and enjoy yourself. And if you want to give it up on the first night, do that shit too.”

“I don’t know about all that, but I’m going to go.”

“I’m proud of you for at least trying.”

Diamond and I talked for a little while I unpacked again. I ended up not going to the beach. When we got off the phone, I ordered room service and wrote in my journal while I waited.

Before bed, I ate my apples with peanut butter as I thought about Miles, but I also couldn’t stop Koda from creeping into my thoughts.

I kept asking myself the same question: Am I ready to move on?

There was only one way for me to find out.

Avalon hadme intrigued from the moment I spotted her across the restaurant. I wasn’t sure why her sadness affected me so much, but it did. I spent half of the night trying to decide what to do to cheer her up, and I decided on a rooftop dinner. That way, we didn’t have to leave the hotel, and I knew the food was good.

I informed the staff that the section I planned to be in was off-limits to any other guests. I wanted Avalon to have private time, but not too private to make her uncomfortable. I wasn’t on no funny shit with her. I genuinely wanted to get to know her and see what made her so sad.

Before I headed to the penthouse to shower and change, I went up to the roof to check out my spot. As I talked to one ofthe waitresses, my phone rang. When I pulled it out and saw my brother calling, I excused myself.

“What’s up, Bro?”

“What’s up? What are you up to?”

Everything was to my liking, so I went back inside to the elevator bank.

“Just checked on this setup for a little date,” I told Kairo as I entered my penthouse. There were three bedrooms with two bathrooms. I loved living in the penthouse, and the only way I could see myself moving was if I started a family.

“A date? You?”

I chuckled as I kicked my shoes off and walked into my bedroom. I searched through my clothes to find something to put on.

“Yup.” I ran down the quick encounter with Avalon as I walked into the bathroom. I had gotten heated floors installed in the bathroom, and it was a great investment.

“That’s what’s up. Don’t let Mom get in your head, though, and have you doing shit you don’t want to do.”

“It’s not that at all. I’m genuinely interested in her.” I would be lying if I said my mother’s words didn’t ring in my head, but that wasn’t why I asked Avalon on a date. She was attractive to me, and I wanted to see her happy and smiling, even if it were only for a few minutes.

I could tell that she had a great personality; she was just going through a rough patch.

“I hope you have a good time,” Kairo said.

“Me too. Aye, you know I have to plan this seventy-fifth anniversary party soon.”

“Oh yeah. Maybe Mycah can help you.”

“Sis has enough on her plate. I’ll see what I can do first. If I’m in dire need, then I’ll call her.”

Mycah was in the middle of planning their wedding and Karisma’s first birthday. I didn’t want to put anything else on her, and I already knew she wouldn’t tell me no.

Kairo and I talked for a few minutes, until I had to get in the shower. I wasn’t trying to be late for the date.

It was a few minutes before seven when I stepped off the elevator and walked down the hall to Avalon’s suite. I’d never been nervous about going on a date, so I wasn’t sure what it was about Avalon that made me nervous. It could have been that it had been a while since I’d gone on one. Or was it the fact that I wanted her to have a good night because I didn’t want to add to whatever had her feeling sad? Either way, I swallowed my nervousness down and knocked on the door. I tapped the door two times with my knuckles, then stuck my hands in my pockets.

I could hear shuffling behind the door, and my heart raced. It took her a couple of minutes before she opened the door, and it was well worth the wait.

Avalon stood in the doorway with a black dress that hugged every curve and bend of her body. Her shoulders were exposed, and I noticed a tattoo she had on her shoulder. Long wavy black hair fell down her back and on side of her face. I think my sister called it a side part. She wore a gold Cuban link around her neck, and a gold bracelet to match. Avalon was already tall, and the heels she wore made us damn near the same height.

“Hi, Koda.” Her long lashes fluttered as she smiled.