She shook her head slowly. "Okay…so how did it go?"
I looked upwards for a moment before moving my eyes back to her. "It was amazing, Ronnie. He got us a test kitchen. Made this bomb ass meal. There were flowers everywhere, candles. And get this…" I jumped up. "Hold on, lemme show you something."
Hurrying to my room, I grabbed the gift bag with the menu and the check still inside. Dashing back into the living room, I sat down and pulled them out, showing her the menu first.
"He added my dessert as a permanent option and…" I pulled out the check and handed it her. "This is how much it's made so far. He gave me all the revenue."
Ronnie's mouth dropped open. She snatched the check from me staring down at the number. "Okay, bitch…I ain't gon' lie, this is sweet as fuck. Nigga done put you on the menuandgave you the funds." She snapped her fingers twice. "We love a generous man." She looked back up at me. "He gon' keep giving you all the money for it?"
I laughed and shrugged. "I don’t know. I ain't even ask, girl. But I thought this in itself was so cute."
"True." She nodded. "So why you waiting to cash it?" She frowned slightly. "Mobile deposit that bitch now before he changes his mind." She grabbed my phone off the coffee table, tossed it in my lap and handed me the check. "Hurry up."
Laughing, I stood to grab a pen to sign the check and deposit it. "So… what do you think?" I asked as I took a picture of the check.
She sighed slowly. "I mean…something’s definitely there. You all giddy and shit. You ain't never been this giddy for a nigga so I see you feeling him."
I rolled my eyes and smirked "Don't saygiddylike I'm a bird, bitch. I just appreciate the effort is all."
"Mmhm," she replied. "So what—you trying to fall in love now?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Get married and have kids and shit? Live in a house in the suburbs, baking pies in the middle of the day." She rolled her eye, her nose scrunching as she continued. "And in the evening, you gon' be waiting for that nigga at the door with a martini in your hand, a gingham dress on, wearing heels and a sensible string of pearls," she ranted. "That's your future now, bitch?"
I laughed loudly, shaking my head as she looked over at me grinning, but her eyes cutting into me with silent judgement.
"Damn," I exhaled. "I only said I like the nigga and you placing me in a fifties sitcom." I held up my hand. "Relax." Walking back over, I took my seat, picking up my glass. "We're just getting to know each other. There are no labels."
"But do youwantthere to be," she pressed.
I sighed softly and looked down into my glass for a moment before looking up. "I don't know…maybe, if things go well," I answered, honestly. "I could see myself with a family one day."
Ronnie stared at me. "You have a family.Me."
I held her eyes—saw the fear in them. Ronnie didn’t grow up in a two-parent household like me. She was a child of a single mom who worked herself to the bone to take care of her family. With two younger siblings—a brother and a sister, Ronnie had to start working as soon as she was sixteen to help support her household. She was a hustler by nature. And it was her who introduced the idea to me of dancing at parties.
My parents were freshly divorced, and that in itself was stressful. Add to that, I was also working at a dead end, customerservice job that paid pennies, while I half-assed my way through college majoring in a field I didn't even wanna be in. I wanted freedom from the monotony, financial independence, and an opportunity to dowhat I wantedinstead of what was expected of me.
So…I was on board.
Ronnie was naturally guarded and abrasive as hell at times. I was the only one who got to see the softness, the vulnerability, and the fear she kept hidden from anyone else. Like now…
"Is that what you worried about?" I asked gently. "Me leaving you?"
She shrugged slightly and I saw the shimmer in her eyes. "Muhfucka's get a man and forget their friends."
"Some women do, but not me and you know that, Ronnie." I shook my head. "Don't piss me off," I stated firmly feeling my own eyes sting. "I wouldneverput a nigga over you. Not even one I loved." I took her hand in mine. "You're my sister. We've grown up together, cried, together, and gotten money together. I would never leave you for anyone, so get that shit outta your head before I smack you."
She laughed, wiping her eyes and nodding. "My bad, you right. Me and you until the end." She squeezed my fingers.
"And even after that." I pulled her hand. "C'mere bitch."
She scooted over and we wrapped our arms around each other in a tight embrace.
"Love you sis," I said.
"Love you more, boo," she replied.
We pulled apart both wiping our eyes with watery smiles.
Ronnie sniffed and her shoulders dropped. "Okay, so keep me posted on everything from now on. And if you decide to get serious with him, I wanna meet him officially."
