“I know that logically.”
“But.”
“But knowing it logically and accepting it emotionally are two completely different things for me.” She picked up her wine glass. “I told you that you didn’t want to know.”
I looked at her and made a mental note that her ass may be crazy. Not in a way that changed anything about tonight but in a way that I was going to remember later because that was real information about who she was underneath the put together exterior and real information mattered.
“I appreciate you telling me,” I said.
“I appreciate you asking.” She looked at me over her glass. “Most people don’t actually want to know the real answer to questions like that.”
“I always want the real. I need to know who I’m dealing with.”
“You still think I’m perfect?” She asked, looking like something had changed between us.
“In my eyes, until you show me different.”
She smiled at that. Small and genuine.
We finished eating and moved to the couch with the snacks and popcorn. I put something on the TV and she tucked herself into the corner of the couch with her shoes off and her legs pulled up. I sat at the other end and at some point during the movie she had shifted and her head was on my shoulder.
By this time, I had my arm around her and neither one of us had thought too much about it. It had just happened the way easy things happened when you stopped overthinking them.
When the movie ended she looked up at me and I looked down at her. We stayed like that for a second. Close enough that it would have taken nothing to close the distance. She wasn’t pulling away. I wasn’t either.
But I didn’t make a move.
Not because I didn’t want to. I wanted to. But something in me said not yet. This was the first thing in a long time that felt real and uncomplicated. I didn’t want to rush past the part where it was still easy and make it become something more complicated.
I had spent enough of my life moving fast and messing up things. This I wanted to treat differently.
I kissed her forehead instead.
She closed her eyes for just a second and then looked back up at me.
“You’re different from what I expected,” she said quiet.
“What did you expect?”
“I don’t know. Not this.” She looked at the TV and back at me. “Not somebody who lights candles and orders takeout and actually listens when you talk.”
“You expected the boxer? A man who came from the streets and the trenches first?”
“I expected the persona.” She shrugged slightly. “You’re not that.”
“No,” I said. “I’m not. I was raised in a house full of love and values by a good ass woman. I know how to treat women and I know how to be a man because I’ve spent my whole life being one. Where I came from isn’t who I am.”
“I’m glad that I’m getting to see that. You know you can have any woman that you want? I’m just glad that it’s me who’s occupying your time.”
“I’m glad that you rocking with me too. No lie, I’d see you on tv and used to think you were way out of my league, but I always crushed on yo fine ass.” I joked and pulled her into a hug.
“That’s crazy because from the first time I saw you box on tv, I felt the exact same. And now here we are, in each others world. This Friday, I have a Town-hall meeting to speak about crime in the area, helping small businesses, improving the school system, and what I plan to do once I am elected. I would love to have you there to support me. This isn’t just for the cameras, I’m asking you because I want you there. For me.”
I looked in her eyes and could see the admiration she had for me. Kyla was so damn beautiful, the shit was unreal. I could feel from her vibe that I was growing on her, and becoming someone she always wanted around now. I was honored that she invited a nigga.
“That’s dope for real. Hell yeah, I’m gonna be there cheering you on.” I hugged her neck then pulled her onto my lap. She leaned in and kissed me unexpectedly. The kiss was everything I didn’t know I needed, and it just felt too good to be wrong.
—
