“I’m an ambitious man.”
After I said that, the waitress was back at our table, asking if we needed anything else. She was definitely earning her tip tonight because she kept our drinks refilled and was sure to check on us every chance she got. It was a busy night, yet she was still making Gina and me feel like her most important customers. I appreciated that since it was my girl’s birthday.
“You good, baby?” I asked to confirm with Gina before I told the server we were good. Gina gave me a sexy ass head nod, keeping eye contact. I relayed the message, but my eyes remained trained on her. There was nothing in this world that I wanted to look at more. I could spend all night sitting across from her and be completely satisfied.
Once we were alone again, I picked the conversation right back up where we left off. I wanted to give Gina as many details about myself as she needed, to squash whatever conflict that lingered between the two of us. I never wanted her to question where she stood with me, because her position was always at the front of any and everything that was going on in my life.
“Is there anything else you want to know about me?”
“Did you ever wish your parents had more kids?”
“Hell nah. I was spoiled. I don’t think I would have survived sharing my stuff with another kid I didn’t even want in my house. Besides, I was a mama’s boy, and I was already sharing her with my dad. There was no way I was about to share my mama with two people.”
Gina was about to fall out of her chair, laughing at me, and I was happy she was finally loosening up again. I knew I should have told her about that engagement, but there was no doubt that small detail would have wiped that beautiful smile off her face. The engagement didn’t really seem like a lie by omission, in my books, because to me, it wasn’t real.
My engagement to Lacy was simply a figment of my parents’ imaginations. It may have been what they and even Lacy herself wanted, but now that I had experienced Gina, there was no way I would go through with it. There was nothing that could convince me to even consider walking down that aisle with someone else. I knew exactly who I wanted to marry, and she was sitting right in front of me.
“Do you have a best friend? I’ve seen you with some of your coworkers, but that’s about it.”
“They really are the closest thing I have to friends. I never been too big on hanging out with people.”
“Me either. I do want to get to know people here, though. I know the girls at the diner, but none of them are really my age.”
“I tell you what. A couple people from my unit get together for bowling on Thursday nights. You should come with me next time.”
“I don’t want to intrude on you and your friends.”
“You could never intrude on nothing I got going on. I want you to come. You can save me from my commander trying to drill me about shit I don’t want to talk about and get to know the people I spend most of my time with. It’ll be a win-win situation.”
“Cool. I’ll come then.”
Chapter
Eleven
Gina
I looked in the mirror, reapplied my Topicals, and straightened my hair for the third time. I didn’t think I would be, but I was nervous. Ramel was standing outside of the car with his hand outstretched to help me out, and I was contemplating changing my mind about the whole night.
When he suggested I join them for their bowling night, I didn’t think it was a big deal, but now that I was there, the reality was starting to set in. Not only had I never had a real boyfriend in my adult life, but I’d also never met the friends of anyone I was dating. Before I left home, I never really realized just how sheltered my life had been.
“Baby, I don’t think you can look any better than you already do.”
Ramel’s compliment brought me out of my constant need to fix myself. I was naturally panicking, but just hearing his voice calmed me. I couldn’t help but smile when I finally pulled my eyes from the mirror and allowed them to land on him.
We’d barely separated to breathe over my birthday weekend and even the few days that followed. The only time we were apart was when we had to work, and he was always on time to pick meup from my shift. I spent so much time at his home that we were practically living together.
“Thank you, baby.”
I finally grabbed Ramel’s hand and let him help me out of the car. I spotted his crew as soon as we walked into the bowling alley. They all looked different outside of their uniforms, but I still knew it was them. The loud shit-talking always gave them away.
Ramel held my hand as we walked to join the group. All eyes were on us, the closer we got, but he kept me tucked close to him with a firm grip. The tightness of his grip let me know that he had my back, not just in this moment, but in every moment going forward.
“What’s up, y’all? This is my girl, Gina.” He introduced me as I smiled and waved at everybody. “Gina, this is Cap, Top, and their ladies, Anissa and Alexis.”
“Nice to meet you,” Cap spoke first.
“Wait a minute. Did you say your girl?” Top chimed in right after.
