by Lolah Lace
Without using a bit of common sense, I was driving down the street following this strange man. He was in a black pickup truck. Which was better than a panel van, I suppose. What was I even doing? I didn’t know myself. I was following this man to our second date and praying it wasn’t my first murder.
I called Tamika through the BlueTooth in my car. The speakers were ringing. She didn’t answer. I decided to call her again.
“Hey.” She answered.
“Why you can’t answer the phone the first time?”
“I was in the bathroom.”
“Oh.”
“Is your date over?”
“No.”
“What he look like?”
“He’s cute or whatever.”
“How is he acting?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“What? Girl, you’ve been gone for two hours. Do you like him or not?”
“I like him. I’m going somewhere else with him. I’m following him in my car.”
“What the hell? You’re following him to an undisclosed location?”
“No, we’re just going to the park on Lake Street.”
“Why?”
“He said he didn’t want the date to end.”
“Okay then. Sounds fishy.”
“I don’t know about all that but I need to tell you about him in case something happens to me.”
“Something like you end up murdered, or kidnapped, or sold into a human sex-trafficking ring.”
“ Yes, like that. Thanks for scaring the shit out of me.”
“Shit! You scaring the shit out of me.”
“You got to write this down.”
“Okay.”
“Did you get a pen? Your memory sucks. Tami, for real, write it down.”
“I got you on speaker. I’m typing it into my phone, but you haven’t said anything yet. What’s Jeffrey Dahmer’s info?”
“He drives a black Ford truck. His license plate is F13 0150. His profile—”
“Hold up! Hold up! You talking too fast. ”
“We almost at the park.”
“The plate is F-13-0.”
“Yes, F13 0150.”
“Got it.”
“His profile name is Brando. His real name is Brandon Whitlock.”
“How you know that’s his real name?”
“He showed me his driver’s license picture when we were at Tasty Dog.”
“Oh.”
“I’m pulling into the park right now. I’m going to call you when I get back into my car.”
“Be safe, and if you get murdered, I want you to know I love you, very, very, much.”
“Bye fool.” I ended the call.
Come Together
LATANYA
It took less than five minutes to get to the park. Brandon pulled into a vacant parking space. I pulled into the parking spot next to him. He got out of his car first and jogged over to my car. I stepped out as he held the door open for me.
“You ready for date number two?” Brandon closed my driver’s side door.
“I think so.”
I locked my car doors with a push of a button from her key ring. This was my first date number two with someone from the Snatch & Match dating site. I was ready. Or at least I wanted to appear that way.
Brandon grabbed my hand and directed me up the path toward the park. It relieved me to see the park wasn’t empty. There were a few guys on the basketball court. A lady and man had their small kids on the slide. I spotted three separate people jogging or walking along the path. I looked down at our entwined hands and tried to hide my smile. This felt nice. It felt good to let the man take the lead. We took a walk across the grass.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Wherever you want to go.” He guided me over to the swing set. "Ladies first.” He extended his hand.
Brandon waited while I sat down on the swing. I smoothed my dress down in the front. Brandon took the swing right beside me.
I looked out at the kids playing on the monkey bars. I noticed another young man jogging on the paved path. This was sweet. My ex had never taken me to a place as simple as a public park.
“You take all your dates to the park?”
“It’s just a pleasant day out. I wanted to see you in the sun.”
“You dodged that question.”
Brandon shot me a coy grin. “I did. Didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.”
“I like you.” He confessed.
“You said that before but how do you know you like me?”
“I just know.”
“Is it your men’s intuition?”
“Something like that.”
“You never told me what you’re looking for in a woman?” Brandon shrugged.
“I’m not picky.”
Boy, answer the damn question!
“That’s what everybody says until you get to know them and then they have a mile-long list of things that are deal-breakers.”
“Okay let me think, of course, looks matter. You have to be physically attracted to a person.”
“And you date women outside your race?”
“Ha, yes, aren’t we on a date?”
I needed to know if I was his first Black woman. “You know what I mean. Is this the first time you’ve been on a date with a Black woman?”
“No, it’s not.”
That made me feel better, but I wasn’t sure why. “Okay.”
“Is that the right answer?”
“There is no right answer. There’s only the truth.” I knew I sounded like such a bitch. I needed to chill the fuck out with all the probing questions.
“I’m not one of those people that doesn’t see color. I do. People look different. People are different. I don’t judge anybody because of their color. I judge actions. We all have to be responsible for our actions. Bad and good people come from all races and that’s just life.”
“That’s true.” I could listen to this man talk all day. His deep voice could lull you to sleep.
“I make you smile.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.” He was too perceptive. He made me drop my guard. I didn’t enjoy feeling vulnerable, but I couldn’t help it.
“I will admit that is true.”
“Smiling feels good.”
“It does.”
“I believe you have to do what makes you feel good inside and out.”
“I agree.”
“What makes you feel good?”
“Ah, my job. I feel good about that.”
“No work talk. I mean, what do you like to do in your spare time? What makes you feel your happiest.”
I genuinely didn’t know how to answer his question. “I don’t know.”
“Come on. You know. What makes you happy? Think about it. You can tell me.”
“Ah, let me see. I guess, just being able to be myself. Sometimes you have to act a certain way in public, in front of people. I’m happy when I can just be me and act however I want, without any pressure.”
“That’s cool. I want the real you. Please be yourself around me. I promise I will do the same.”
“I will.” Wait, did he say he wants me?
“Come on, let’s walk.”
Brandon stood and held out his hand for me to take. I inched out of the swing and took Brandon’s hand.
He tugged me toward him with a gentle pull. His arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a spontaneous kiss.
The outside world stopped when his lips touched mine. The kiss was unexpected and passionate. I was beaming when our lips parted. I was also completely speechless.
“Come on, let’s walk.”
Brandon led me away from the set of swings and toward the walking path. We walked hand in hand.
I felt safe. I felt at ease. I felt like I was in a real couple. There was so much more I wanted to know about this man.
“Brandon, I have a question?”
“Ask me anything.”
<
br /> “When was your last relationship?”
“Ah, about two years ago.”
“What happened? What happened with that relationship?”
“I moved to Oklahoma for about a year. Long-distance doesn’t work. It was best we went our separate ways.”
“You didn’t hook back up with her when you came back?”
“No, she got married and has a baby now. I think it all worked out the way it was meant to work out.”
“I have to ask you something else.”
“You’re full of questions. Ask me anything.”
“Why didn’t you ask me anything about my past relationships?”
“Are you single now?”
“Yes.”
“That’s all I need to know. I don’t care about the guys that came before me. I’m here now.”
Well dayum! He was so cocky. But I liked it. Maybe he had a reason to be. I didn’t know. I hoped he wanted to go out with me again. I liked the way he thought about things.
“You’re right. It’s best to leave the past in the past.”
Brandon walked me to my car. I leaned back against my car, and Brandon stood directly in front of me.
“I don’t want to take up your entire day but hanging out with you is cool.”
“I enjoyed hanging out with you too.”
“Shit.” He rubbed his baldhead. “I don’t want it to be over.”
“You can always call me and make another date.” Did I drop a hint or did I sound like a thirst-bot? Probably simultaneously both.
“I will do that but let’s sit in your car for a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
I popped my car door locks. Brandon hustled around to the passenger side. I got in the driver's seat and closed my door. Brandon got into the passenger seat and closed the door.
I put the car ignition block in and pushed the ignition to roll down the windows.
His eyes wandered over to me. “What are you doing after this?”
“I’m just going home.”
“You live alone?” He asked.
“No, I have a roommate. Do you live alone?”
“Yeah, I got a place in Oakridge.”
“That’s a nice area.”
“So do I get a goodbye kiss?”
“Do you want one?” I teased.
“I need one.”
Brandon leaned over and kissed me. Before I could react, he had his hands on my bra. I surrendered to his forceful kisses. Within seconds his hands were under the top of my dress and inside my bra. He was practically in the driver's seat with me. His hands were fast and crafty . Then those hands were under my dress before I could protest. One of my hands grabbed at his wrist.
“Wait.” I murmured. He was moving like this was the Daytona 500.
“Shhhh!”
Brandon ignored me. He continued to passionately kiss my mouth and massage my breast. My body warmed to his touch. He trailed kisses down my cleavage. My legs went limp. They opened up just enough for Brandon’s hand to explore what was under my dress and in between my legs. I couldn’t help myself. I shut my eyes and melted into the driver's seat.
I drove home with a huge smile on my face. I parked my car. I had to push by some teenagers hanging out by the apartment entrance. I took the stairs to the second floor and went inside my apartment feeling like a natural woman. I felt like I was walking on sunshine. I burst into the kitchen with a permanent smile on her face. Tamika was opening the oven and looked inside at a dish she was baking.
“Hey chick!”
Tamika closed the oven. “Heyyyyyyy, you’re not murdered.”
“No. Not today.” I beamed.
“How did your date with Marlon Brando go?”
“Marlon Brando, I like that. It’s a cute nickname.” I was cheesing from ear-to-ear. “The date was so nice. He was so good-looking.”
“You skinnin’ and grinnin’. So Brando had to be a little bit better than nice.”
“He so was fine but in a dangerous, sexy kind of way. He wanted to go on a second date. That’s how we ended up at the park.”
“That’s cute and cheap. Just like you.”
“Ugh, don’t do that. This coming from someone that thinks Poo-Pourri is expensive.”
“Because it is.”
“Do you want to hear this or what?” I would not let her smart-ass comments ruin my high.
“Talk.”
I was too giddy to get my words out properly. “Okay. Okay. Okay. Don’t judge me.”
Tami smacked her lips together. “Ah, what did you do?”
“He is so sexy. Like you wouldn’t believe it. He’s hot to death.”
Tamika was side-eyeing me, but I didn’t care. “And what did you do?”
“We kissed a lot and stuff. We made out in my car.”
“Very sexy, very freshman year of high school but very sexy. I guess.”
“There’s more. I was real thot-a-licous.”
“Well, it’s long overdue. What you do, go down on him?”
“Hell naw.” Giving head to a guy I just met grossed me out but to each its own.
“Wayment, what do you consider thot- ish?”
“I said we kissed. His hands were everywhere. He was doing stuff.”
“And stuff? I’m growing old waiting for the whole damn story.”
“Okay. Okay. Okay. One minute we were kissing.”
Tami was getting annoyed with me. “Yeah, yeah, y’all kissed.”
“And the next minute his hand was under my dress and inside my panties with his fingers inside me.” I wave of heat hit me just thinking about it.
“Oh, snap! I cannot believe you let him finger-bang you. Did you make him use hand sanitizer first?”
“You stupid.”
“Was it regular good or good, good?”
“Good, good.” I excitedly raved. “Like he made me, you know.”
“Ohhhh, look at you showing out for the nine-nine and the two thousand.”
“I think I really like him.”
“Ya think? You let him touch your hoo-ha.”
“No, no, it’s more than that.”
“Why do you like this man? Tell me, what’s so great about him?”
“I don’t know. He just. I don’t know.”
“Seriously? You got to do better than that.”
“See, like, he’s, I don’t know. He says cool stuff. He’s just different. He can speak in complete sentences. He’s just, I don’t know.”
Tamika shook her head no. “If you don’t know. I definitely don’t know. You acting real goofy. He didn’t hypnotize you with a spoon and teacup? You act like you in the sunken place.”
“You stupid — it doesn’t matter. I’m sure he’ll never call me again.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I damn near gave it all up on the first date.”
“Technically, it was the second date?”
“Yeah, the park was like a second date. I feel halfway better.”
“He will call.”
“I hope so. It’s hot in here with the oven on.”
“I’ll open a window.” Tamika walked over to the window and opened it.
She looked out the window. “It’s a little breeze blowing out there.” Tamika looked back at me.
“Are those kids still congregating outside the entrance?”
“No, but there’s a cute White dude outside our apartment building. I’ve never seen him before.”
“You trippin’. I don’t like every White guy that I see and you know that.”
“Well, this one has a pickup truck, so he’s an authentic Caucasian from the mountains of Caucus.”
“Whatever.” I sweep my hand out in front of me.
“Hurry, come look. He’s about to drive away. He headed to a white privilege meeting.”
“I’m not going to let you clown me tonight. I feel too good.”
“You should, you hoochie mama.”
Ex’s And Oh’s
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LATANYA
Tamika was sitting on the edge of her bed while I styled her huge frizzy hair. She was dressed as a young Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter movies. She is wearing an adult-sized cosplay Hogwarts uniform. She always looked cute when she dressed up in costume. I was a bit conservative when it came to wearing costumes.
“You want me to use hairspray?” I needed to ask before I contributed to killing the ozone layer.
“Yeah, we’re going to be there all day. I don’t want my hair to get too flat.”
I dashed over to the ironing board near her bed and grabbed a can of hairspray that sat next to the brush and edge control.
“Close your eyes.” I started spraying Tamika’s thick hair with the aerosol can of holding spray.
“Did Brando call you yet?”
“No, we just saw each other yesterday. He texted me this morning.”
“See, I knew he was going to call or text or something. What he say?”
“He was just saying good morning. He told me he was working today.”
“He got a job, so that’s good.”
“But he didn’t make another date with me.”
“Give him a minute. Y’all had two dates yesterday.”
“I know.” I placed the hairspray back on the ironing board. “It’s just, he’s the first guy that literally made me forget about my ex.”
“That’s what’s up. I’m glad you’re moving on. You want to come to Wizard Con with me and Jay? They sell tickets online and at the door.”
“No, I don’t have the appropriate wizard wear for that place.”
“You don’t have to dress up. There will be a lot of people there in regular clothes.”
“I know. I was being funny. I’m good. I have a lot of cases to review for work on Monday.”
“All you do is work. You can come with us and do that work stuff tomorrow.”
“You know I hate working on Saturday but I don’t want to push all these cases to Monday. I hate feeling overwhelmed.”
“Just come. Have fun for a change.”
“I hate being the third wheel. Y’all going to to be all boo-ed up.”
“So what. It’s hundreds of people at the convention.”
“I’m done with your hair. Stand up.”
Tamika stood from sitting on the edge of the bed.