Page 12 of Fire & Roses: Harli

“Girl, you love havin’ me here so don’t even do that. And it was no fuckin’ way I was goin’ to miss sendin’ you off on your first date.”

“Lucky me.”

“Don’t piss me off, Harli. Plus, you gonna need me to help you to the car with them heels on.”

“You right.”

“Exactly, now let’s get you ready for yo’ man.”

“He is just a friend.”

“But you tellin’ me he just a friend.”

“I cannot stand yo’ ass.” I laughed at her Mario reference.

“Ooh, baby you got what he needs, but you say he just a friend. Yo’ ass better come on before I break out doin’ the lil’ eight count dance.”

“Yeah, we don’t need you doin’ that.”

Chapter 8

Trench

My palms felt sweaty as I stepped out of my car. As I walked to Harli’s front door, I wiped them dry on my black jeans. Before I could knock on the door, it was snatched open, and I came face-to-face with Harli’s roommate, Ryda. She stepped to the side as she ushered me into the apartment. Her whole apartment could be swallowed by the living room of my parents’ house, but Harli’s spot felt more like a home. The way it was set up, you could tell she took pride in every little detail.

“Damn,” I blurted when Harli stepped into the living room. “You look good as fuck.”

“Lookin’ like a whole snack but be hidin’ that body under T-shirts and baggy pants,” Ryda shook her head.

“Ryda, don’t you got somethin’ to do besides be all up in my business,” Harli huffed.

“You don’t need my help to the car in them heels?”

“Nawl, she don’t. I got her from here,” I answered for her as I stepped closer to Harli.

“That’s a good man, Savannah,” Ryda clapped her hands together. “Well, y’all kids go have fun. And Harli, you better do everything that I would do!”

“Bye, Ryda!”

She grabbed a hold of my arm before we left out. The whole time she was touching my arm, I was holding my breath, unbeknownst to me. It wasn’t until she let me go that I released the breath I was holding as I walked to my side of the car. Getting into the car, I drove to Valley Steakhouse as the sounds of Lil Baby rapping Ms. Trendsetter played. Every red light I would look over at Harli. That blue dress complemented her chocolate-covered body to perfection.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” I asked as we pulled up to a red light.

“When I got somethin’ to say, I do,” she answered as she looked over at me.

“So…”

“Here you go,” she sighed dramatically.

“What?”

“You ‘bout to ask me a million and one questions.”

“Nah, I only got three.”

“Gone ‘head.”

“What’s yo’ favorite food?”