T.K.Oh: “Like Rafael.”
ReNasty: “Precisely.”
ReNasty: “And by the way, kiss my ass for hiding that from me. I mean, I get it, it was his secret you were protecting too, but still.”
T.K.Oh: “I know, I know.”
ReNasty: “I still luv you though.”
T.K.Oh: “You’d better! You and Des are all I have besides my family.”
ReNasty: “I’ve been with you for the last ten years, I ain’t goin’ nowhere girl!”
T.K.Oh: “I know. And don’t worry about this ending up like Rafael, because Avery will never know we’re a match. I politely skipped over myself, and contacted the next women on the list.”
ReNasty: “And how are you going to handle seeing him date other women?”
What kind of question was that?
T.K.Oh: “Just like I handle being alone with any of my other clients. I’ll talk to him, coach him, and counsel him, like anyone else. We actually have a shopping outing this weekend.”
ReNasty: “Eek! He’s one of those?”
T.K.Oh: “Yep. I wish I hadn’t told him I would do it, but that was before I knew about the… complication. I would have Mel do it, but…. oh hell, I’ll be honest. She’s too freaking pretty, and I didn’t like her flirting with him. My sister? Hell no.”
ReNasty: “So you’re really gonna refer to your crazy high compatibility as a “complication”?”
T.K.Oh: “Stay focused on the things that matter, Renee.”
ReNasty: “Like you being jealous of seeing him flirt with your sister, who is just a natural flirt, but you claim you’re going to be able to handle sending him on dates. Okay, we can talk about that.”
T.K.Oh: “Would you look at the time? It’s almost 2am here, I should get to bed. Why are you keeping me up like this, girl?”
ReNasty: “Mmhmm. So you’re pulling the time difference excuse?”
T.K.Oh: “Yes. Yes I am.”
ReNasty: “Whatever. Go to sleep. Tell me how this shopping thing goes.”
T.K.Oh: “You know I will.”
I tried to force myself to get a few hours of sleep, even though my brain wouldn’t stop running wild until nearly 4AM. At a little after seven in the morning, on a Sunday, my alarm woke me up, and I spent the next hour showering and getting ready for the shopping meet up with Avery. I was nervous about being around him, but I couldn’t let that affect whether I could deliver a good result.
When I climbed into my car to meet Avery at the mall, I stuck my key in the ignition and turned, like always. I got… nothing, except a strange sputtering, choking sound. Confused, I turned it again. I had just gotten my car back from the mechanic the day before. How the hell could it not be working?
I don’t have time for this shit.
I pulled out my cell to call a car, and forty-five minutes later, I was finally walking into the front entrance of the mall to meet Avery. He was waiting in the atrium, talking to someone on his phone, and he stood, smiling when he saw me approaching.
This is bullshit.
Annoyance crept over me at how good Avery looked in a tee shirt and basketball shorts, and tennis shoes that looked brand new. The muscles of his arms bulged a little against the crisp white sleeves of his shirt, making them more pronounced, and I certainly wasn’t the only person who took notice. Alone, I caught a few people stealing second and third appreciative glances at him as they passed, and the people in pairs or groups would point him out to their friends, blushing and giggling behind their hands. Avery either didn’t notice, or didn’t care. I stayed a few feet away until he ended his call, then approached me with a pensive smile.
“Sorry I’m a little late. I ran into some unexpected trouble this morning. Are you ready to shop?” I asked, giving him a warm smile of my own, hoping to put him at ease.
He grimaced a little, scratching at the thick, freshly groomed layer of hair on his chin. “I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”