Page 26 of Trial and Error

I know I shouldn’t worry that my failed date with Malik would ruin our friendship, but I can’t lie and say it’s not on my mind. A part of me worries that he’s beaten me to it and has told her how bad it was, or worse, how amazing it was. If he told her he didn’t have a great time, then it’s not so bad because I agree and it’ll be slightly awkward, but at least it’ll be fine. However, if he told her it was amazing and that he can’t wait to do it again, then I’ll look like the asshole when I tell her I don’t feel the same.

Fuck. I should never have gone on a date with him in the first place.

I know if I think about it any longer, I’ll talk myself out of answering the phone so I push my doubts and anxiety aside and swipe my thumb across the screen and lift my phone to my ear.

“Hey, Im.”

It’s noisy in the background and I can hear kids giggling loudly.

“Hey, girl.” Her voice sounds cheerful. “What are you doing?”

“Like, today, or right this second?” I ask as I pull my blanket further up my body and tuck it under my chin.

“Tonight,” she says. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing as of yet.”

Imani hums. “Great. Meet me at the cute little Italian spot in Lower Lonsdale at six.”

I look at the time on my phone and groan. “That’s in an hour! It’ll take me at least half that to get there.”

“Better hurry up then,” she says then hangs up.

Getting ready in thirty minutes will be a mission, especially considering my hair looks like a bird’s nest. I pull out a little black dress from the closet and grab some tights, moaning when my overdue acrylic nails rip a ladder in the thin material. I root through my drawer, trying to find another pair, but I’m shit out of luck, so I decide scrap them and go without.

I’ve got five minute before I need to leave, and I’m cursing Imani for putting unnecessary stress on me as I try and find the right black stilettos I want to wear. I’m hopping toward my front door when my phone pings with a message.

Imani

Leaving now. See you soon!

I send a thumb’s up text as I grab my keys from the side and head out.

The drive to Lower Lonsdale isn’t as bad as I was expecting and I find a parking spot pretty quickly. Imani is already sitting at the small table in the middle of the restaurant when I arrive, and I don’t miss the teasing smirk on her face as she glances down at her watch.

“Just in time,” she teases, “I thought you we’re going to be late.”

I let out a huff as I sit down opposite her. I brush my windswept hair out of my face and glower at her. “You’re the worst, you know that?”

She beams, and I note how she’s exceptionally glowy today. Her skin seems brighter, like she’s had some kind of youth serum that’s erased the bags under her eyes and the small wrinkles that were beginning to form between her brows. Her coil hair is down and framing her face in tight, soft curls.

“You look different,” I comment as I open the red leather menu in front of me. My eyes look over to the table next to us at the plate of creamy pasta that has my mouth watering. “Did you change your foundation?”

Imani shakes her head. “Nope,” she replies. “I’ve been sleeping really well lately, but that’s about it.”

“Well, it looks like it’s paying off.”

The two of us fall into a comfortable silence as we look over the menu. The waitress stops by a few minutes later and takes our order, and Imani waits until my hand is wrapping around my wineglass before she asks, “So, how did the date with Malik go?”

My stomach drops and I have to force a smile on my face, but I’m thankful she doesn’t pick up on it. “It was nice.”

Imani claps her hands together and bounces in her chair softly. “Ah, that makes me so happy.” She looks up at me with bright eyes. “Malik has been so hyped up about it but would barely tell me anything, so I need all the gossip.”

This is what I was worried about.

She must see the hesitation on my face because her smile drops and her head tilts to the side. “Everything okay, girl?” Her hand reaches out and across the table to mine and she gives it a squeeze and that’s all it takes for my shoulders to drop. “You can tell me whatever’s on your mind, you know that, right?”

I nod. “It was nice, Im. He picked me up and then we went out for dinner…and it was nice.”