We were all adults and Yazmine at best could surmise that I was pushing Rayna faster than she had wished.
“Excuse me, I have to use the restroom.” Rayna rose from the table and I followed suit. As I did, she gave a small smile to Yazmine, but rolled her eyes at me and turned on her heels for the bathroom.
As I took back to my seat, I heard Yazmine’s raspy voice note, “You’re in love with her.”
My eyes darted over to her. I wasn’t expecting that. I adjusted my tie on my chest and abdomen. I gave her the flick of the eyebrows. “Is that what we’re calling it?” I was not prepared to go there. This topic had been on repeat in my relationship with Rayna, causing me undue stress.
“What do you call it?” Yazmine came back, wearing a gentle smirk on her face.
I exhaled, “I call it well-placed companionship.”
“Is that all you feel is going on between you two?”
“I care about her very much.”
“Beloved, what I been watching since that young lady walked through ‘dis place is your heart come alive and be on display. You a totally different person when she around. You try to play cool when deep down inside I can tell you burning for her real bad.” She giggled, “It’s just like when you was ten and had a crush on Otischa from the projects. Every time her momma brought her to Momma D’s you be tense on the outside, but jumpy as hell on the inside.” She paused to read my response.
“She’s a beautiful and bright woman.” Enough said.
“Yeah,” she nodded in agreement. “‘Dat she is. And you want her living with you. You gon’ marry her?”
Yazmine didn’t see Rayna coming upon us. But she realized she’d returned when Rayna accidentally hit Yazmine’s chair with her purse and excused herself. I rose until Rayna was seated and watched, a little unnerved by Yazmine’s observations and Rayna’s apprehensions.
“It’s currently under consideration,” I responded to Yazmine’s last question to let her know that I wasn’t running from the topic. I signaled our waiter for the check.
Yazmine shot me a nod just before looking over to Rayna and asked, “You okay, beloved?”
“Oh, yeah. I drank a lot of that delicious tea, I had no room left in me for more,” Rayna answered with a smile.
Once the check was cleared, we all went out to the wait area of the restaurant where the ladies said their goodnights. Rayna turned to me not knowing what to say. I hadn’t told Yazmine about our recent separation. It was in the past as far as I was concerned. Fucking over. Rayna looked at me through her lashes, which told me she was stuck between being upset for my pushing the moving out issue and trying to be polite and play nice for my mother’s sake. I didn’t let her think too long.
“I’ll have Ray take Yazmine back to her hotel and drive you home.”
“No, that’s okay. You see your mother to the hotel. I’ll see you later.” I didn’t know what Rayna’s later meant, but one thing was for damn sure and that was we wouldn’t be sleeping apart tonight and I preferred the comforts of my bed at the marina.
Thankfully, Yazmine chimed in, “No, beloved, you two done had a long day. Y’all go home. ‘Dis was real nice and all. I need to go back to the hotel and relax. I’m good alone,” she said with the wave of her hand.
Once again, deadlocking Rayna, and to her dismay. I kissed my mother goodnight and parted ways. Rayna and I made our way to Interstate 405.
When Rayna noticed we were exiting off 52 instead of staying on for exit 43 she said, “Why are we getting off here?”
“Because we’re going home, Ms. Brimm.”
“I can’t stay at the marina, Azmir.”
“You can and you will.”
“Did you forget about Azna?”
Damn. I did. “I’ll have Ray swing by to get your keys and then go and pick him up.”