I shrugged. “I’m not tripping about it. It had only been a few months anyway. What about you, man? Any prospects?” I asked as I motioned for the server to come over.
Brandon took a heavy swig from his scotch. “Not anybody I want to be serious about, but I’ve always got a little something available. But man, I’ve got one girl I’ve been sweating for years, and I can’t close the deal.”
“You’re tripping over some ass you haven’t gotten?”
“I’m as surprised as you man, but this one… she’s not that kinda woman. Not just ‘ass’, she’s different.”
“What, so you’re in love or something?” I teased.
He shook his head, grinning. “Nah, man, but I like her. I kissed her a few weeks ago, and she turned me down, said she was still getting over her man or something, he still has her heart, all of that.”
Well, at least she’s up front with you about her bullshit, before she— never mind.
“You’re probably better off anyway, man. She’s probably crazy as hell, driving whoever this guy is up a wall with drama.”
Brandon laughed at my assessment. “Nah, man. She’s not like that.”
“Oh, she must be banging if you can’t see the crazy.”
“She is man. Soft ass golden-brown skin, nice little body, beautiful face with these sexy ass lips and eyes, a head full of hair I’m gonna get my hands in one day.”
“Sounds pretty damned nice,” I said, laughing at how similar our ‘ones who got away’ sounded. He could have been describing Tori.
“It is nice. But for real man, it’s not all about her physical. This woman is smart, driven, down to earth, she’s the kinda woman you lock down… but you’ve gotta catch her first.”
“Yeah,” I said, with a heavy sigh. “I know exactly what you mean, man. There’s a woman, from before Maya. She’s somebody I’m… let’s say extremely fond of, but she’s not open to the idea of a relationship. I don’t want to put any pressure on her.”
“But you want to be with her?”
“Hell yeah,” I said, with a dry laugh. “I’ve wanted her since the day I met her. You have to know her, to know what I mean, but Tori… she’s different, for me.”
He stopped, with his drink held in midair. “Did you just say… Tori? As in Tori Kennedy?”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Yeah…”
Brandon filled his cheeks with air, then blew it out in a slow, controlled stream. “Alright… Avery, I’m about to tell you something. Only because you’re my boy. If I were any less of a man, I would keep this shit to myself, and ride it out for my benefit, but… I guess I’m feeling generous today.”
“B, what the hell are you talking about?
“I’m talking about Tori, Ace. I do know her, from back home. That’s the woman I was talking about! She’s close with my boy Eric’s wife, and we talk whenever she comes to Cali to visit.”
Well damn. So I wasn’t alone. Is this what Tori did, get guys hooked on her then drop them? Did she just have a trail of men like Brandon and me in her wake?
I lifted an eyebrow. “Talk?”
“Well, flirt, but it never went any further than that. I can’t believe you’re the dude she was talking about.” He shook his head, and swallowed the last gulp of his drink. “Look, man… I like Tori, but she’s my friend too. I want her to be happy. I’m not going to tell you what do, but I will tell you if you mess this up… I’m gonna kick your ass, Bruh.”
“I don’t know what to do, man! She’s been the one pushing me away, not the other way around,” I explained, crossing my arms.
“Forget all of that, man. You said you wanted her, right?”
“Right, but—”
“Ace, listen. Fuck that. Call her.”
So I did.
As soon as I got home that night, I took a shower, then climbed into my bed and pulled out my phone. I stared at the number for a while, then decided not to do it. Then, I changed my mind, and I dialed, hoping she would answer before I changed my mind again. While it was ringing, I agonized over whether she would answer my call, until… she answered my call.
“Hello?”
Damn, she sounds good.