I eased into a spot and parked, cut my engine off, and got out the car. I reached over to pop the gas latch, and that’s when I noticed a black Range Rover sittin’ at the pump next to mine.
It was blacked out, and clean from top to bottom. The music was bumpin’ loud enough for me to feel that shit in my chest.
Then the door opened.
And when I tell you the nigga stepped out lookin’ like he had no business lookin’ in the middle of a regular ass afternoon, I mean exactly that.
He was tall, dark and built in a way that made you look twice without even meanin’ to. His skin was smooth and rich, and his beard was full and neat with his waves brushed clean like he took his time with himself.
He had on a white V-neck that sat right on him, showin’ off his chest and arms, and the way it fit let you know exactly what he was workin’ with. His sweatpants hung low on his waist just enough, and his tattoos ran down both arms. His watch caught my eye next, ’cause it was noticeably clean and looked expensive. The chain around his neck sat right against his chest. Everything about him looked put together without feelin’ forced, like he ain’t have to try hard to look that good.
Our eyes met, and I ain’t even realize I had been lookin’ until he spoke.
“Hey, how you doin’?”
His voice was calm and low, like he was only talkin’ to me and didn’t care who else was around.
I blinked once, then gave him a light smile. “I’m good. How you doin’?”
“I’m better now,” he said, noddin’ once.
I didn’t stop though. I turned and kept it movin’ toward my pump. I wasn’t about to stand here starin’ at no man, no matter how fine he was.
I didn’t say nothin’ when I glanced back up at him as he got closer. Still, I let my eyes take him in up close this time, and yeah… he looked just as good standin’ in front of me as he did from a distance.
“You mind if I pump that for you?” he asked.
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh, shakin’ my head just a lil’. “You gon’ pump my gas?”
“If you let me,” he said, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I looked at him for a second, tryna read him, but he wasn’t comin’ off weird or pushy. He was just… there… calm and easy.
So I stepped back…
“Go ‘head,” I said, tiltin’ my head toward the pump.
He nodded once like that was all he needed, then moved around me and opened the latch. He pulled his debit card out, tapped through the screen, and slid it in without askin’ me nothin’ else.
I stood there watchin’ him with my arms crossed, lettin’ him handle it without sayin’ nothin’. He moved calm and sure of himself, takin’ his time while he pumped my gas, and I just stayed right here, watchin’ it fill all the way up until it clicked.
And I ain’t gon’ lie… I liked that shit.
When he pulled the nozzle out and put it back, he closed the latch and turned back toward me.
“You welcome,” he said, but he ain’t move out my way.
He stayed in front of me, and the way he was lookin’ at me made me hold his gaze a lil’ longer than I meant to. I could tell he liked what he saw in me and wasn’t second guessin’ it.
“You single?” he asked.
I let out a light breath through my nose, smilin’ as I shifted my weight to one hip. “Yeah… I’m single.”
“That’s good to know,” he said, and there was a lil’ somethin’ behind it this time, like he already knew what he was about to do next.
He stuck his hand out. “My name, Couture.”
I placed my hand in his, and he held it just long enough for me to notice before lettin’ go, his thumb brushin’ lightly against mine like it wasn’t nothin’, but I felt it anyway.
