The saleswoman chuckled at our small argument. “Girl, keep being stupid if you’re getting gifts like this.”
I took her hand in mine and examined the ring. It looked perfect on her. Usually, diamonds brought out the woman, but Zoya’s skin was bringing out the sparkle in the diamond. She stared at me, waiting to hear what I had to say. “That’s all you want?”
“I’m hungry now.”
“We missed our reservations because you swore you needed one thing,” I pinched her hip.
“I can get you reservations at Lully’s. It’s down the street, and you can leave your car with our valet. It’s not a Michelin star; however, the food is amazing, and you won’t leave starving.”
“Really?” Zoya questioned.
She nodded her head excitedly. “Of course… I’ll go and wrap these up and make a call. You both can relax here in the meantime.”
Before she went to box everything up, I handed her my card, as I pulled my baby onto my lap. She messed with my beard while a smile remained on her face.
This was the most I’d seen her relaxed and just existing. She wasn’t trying to figure anything out or working from her phone. Today, she was going with the flow, and I think I enjoyed it more than she did.
“Thank you for the jewelry, Goo.”
I tossed my head back and laughed at her. Shit was funny, hearing her call me by my childhood name. The only people that called me Goo were my close family and friends.
“Why you calling me that?”
She twirled the loose strand of her hair around her finger. “So, I can’t call you that?”
Her voice was so soft.
“I like when you talk to me like this.” I kissed her neck, and she moved her head back, staring at me, confused.
“What tone?”
“Damn sure not that one.”
She squinted her eyes. “Gerald, you saying I sound like a nigga?”
I kissed my teeth and looked away from her. “You know damn well that’s not what I’m saying… stop fucking hearing shit I ain’t say.”
Folding her arms, she smirked. “You did say it.”
“Yeah, ight, Ms. Lawyer.”
Zoya pinched me. “Stoooppp.”
“What I tell you about pinching me?”
I could tell she was trying to remember what I had told her. “What?”
“Don’t start moaning when I start pinching.”
She busted out laughing. “Whatever, Goo.”
The way Goo rolled off her tongue was so fucking smooth. Like she had been saying the shit her entire life.
“You know what comes with calling me Goo?”
“What’s that?”
“Not everyone gets the privilege to call me that, Boobie… calling me Goo means you not about to play games with me.”
