“I didn’t ask,” I responded.
“I know, but you were thinking it.”
I nodded. “I was, but I wanted to give you…space.”
She rolled her eyes and looked back out the window.
Through the airport and on the plane, I kind of got the same treatment. Islah was not saying anything, and I was leading everything. I was getting irritated, but tried not to show it when we landed.
“Iight, mamas, we are in a new city for the night. I think we should live it up and have a good time.”
“I’ma try, baby, I’ma try.”
I nodded. “That’s all I need from you. I will do the rest.”
We got a car from the airport, took it to the hotel, and got checked into a suite that was so big and beautiful that Islah couldn’t help but smile when she walked through the door.
“We are only here for one night,” she said.
“So,” I responded. “We could be here for two hours, and I would still do the same.”
Islah walked over to the window and looked at the bird’s-eye view of the city as I walked up on her and wrapped my arms around her waist.
“I just want you to be okay, Islah, and if you are not, tell me so I can do my best to fix it.”
I felt Islah exhale.
“When I figure it out, I will let you know.”
I nodded my head against her. “And I will be here waiting.”
We stood there for a minute in silence, watching the world move until my phone dinged and took us out of whatever lil’ trance we were in.
“Go get dressed, I want to take you out to eat.”
She looked around, and I looked at her, shocked.
“You came outta town and don’t have anything to wear for dinner, Islah?”
She laughed. “No, that’s not it. I did, I just thought you might want to stay in and watch TV.”
I shook my head. “We’ve been doing that a lot lately, and I like to show you off.”
Islah went over to her bag and pulled out a dress.
“Give me a few minutes.”
“Take all the time you need, mamas.”
While she did that, I hit my man Danny and had him make reservations at one of the hottest restaurants in the city for me.
He hit me back just as I was pulling my clothes out, telling me it was done, then I hit a driver telling them where to pull up for me.
Time was passing along, and Islah was still in the bathroom, leaving me to get dressed in the room. I was about to knock on the door and check on her when she finally opened it.
She was wearing tight, in all the right places, burnt-orange dress.
I stared her down while she was standing by the door, trying to look shy.
