“Hmm.”
I pinched her hip. “It may seem like some small shit, I get it. I take that shit serious because not everyone has the privilege of calling me that. Don’t get my feelings even more involved and do some corny shit, Zoy.”
“If you think I’m capable of doing some corny shit, why did you buy me all of this jewelry.”
“Baby, that’s material shit… not concerned about losing some racks. I need to know I’m not wasting my time because this matters more.” I placed her hand on my heart, and she looked me in the eyes.
“Like I said, thank you for the jewelry,Goo.” She purposely put emphasis on Goo.
I stroked her face. “I know which piece is next.”
She blushed. “Which one.”
Touching her ring finger, I looked into her eyes. I knew I was going to put a ring on that finger. She may have needed more convincing, but I knew Zoya was meant to be my wife.
I wanted to be her husband.
“You are not going to marry me.”
I stopped her hand from rubbing my beard and kissed her wrist. “Zoya, I’m going to marry you… you coming up off that Caselli name.”
“Prove it,” she challenged me.
“Heard you.”
Recommendation: Listen to Share My World by Dru Hill
Shorty didn’t front when she said that she would get us reservations. Her pull was so strong that they brought us in through the kitchen. Lully’s was a southern soul food restaurant. It had been in Ashbourne for years, and when the owner’s daughter moved back home from college, she had taken the small takeout spot in the hoods of Ashbourne Gardens to Bourne Square.
They took us through the kitchen into the restaurant, and right toward the outdoor seating that had views of the lake. For it to be fall, the weather was still decent. It was cooler, but after the way the summer beat the shit out of us with its rays, I welcomed the cooler weather.
The wooden tables and steel chairs sat against the railing that overlooked the lake. Lanterns were strung overhead; each string swayed with the slight breeze from the lake. As we were shown to our seats, there were other couples talking over their meals, watching the sun drop lower toward the water. The fucking sky was a dream.
All the times I dreamed about seeing the sun set, feeling the wind on my skin, and smelling air.
I didn’t give a fuck if it was that stank ass air in Jersey, I just wanted to be able to smell something.
Anything.
I was a simple man, and once I converted, most of my prayers were asking Allah to give me the strength. Allow me to be strong in the mind, so I could make it home and experience this in person.
He came through.
The peach, plum, and that small piece of golden at the horizon was enough for me. I could sit here and watch it until it eventually became darker, and the moon appeared. The sound of cutlery clinking against plates, the smell of lemon from someone’s fish, with that waffling woodsmoke drifting from the small fire pit to the left of me, I took in everything.
Noticed everything.
The waiters politely moved around us like shadows, sliding plates onto the tabletops, while smiling with every word that was said. When we walked through the restaurant, it was louder. The patio was quieter, with everyone keeping their conversation to their table.
I watched Zoya’s ass in the long black dress that she wore. It fell down to her ankles, and the Gold heels she wore made a small clicking sound as she walked carefully in front of me. Her hair was straight and fell down her back perfectly.
The smell of her cherries and jasmine perfume caressed my nose each time she came near me. Her collarbone shimmered, as I politely stepped behind her and pulled her chair out. The waiter smiled and allowed me to seat my woman.
“Thank you, Goo,” she smiled, as the waiter handed her a menu, and she looked over it.
I sat down across from her and couldn’t take my eyes away from her. She was so damn beautiful, as she stared down at the menu.
“Welcome to Lully’s. Is this your first time here?” the waiter questioned.
