Page 74 of It’s The Dawg In Him For Me

Shyheim just looked at me and softly nodded as I took a sip of wine.

“I mean, yeah, I kind of can. It seems like you weren’t acting like yourself.”

“How can I?”

Shyheim opened his mouth, then closed it.

“You seem stressed,” he said. “Can I take you on a date?”

“Right now?” I asked him.

“Yes, I need to show you something.”

I smiled softly. “Umm... Okay, let’s do it.”

We finished our drinks and hopped in his car.

As Shyheim drove, I stared out the window, listening to the music, when Shy turned and up and started singing, making me jerk my neck around and look at him.

“You can sing?!” I asked. “I didn’t know you could sing.”

“Maybe…you should try to get to know me more,” he said with a playful smile.

We drove downtown, and he parked on a side street, turned off the car, and he turned to face me.

“I don’t want you to talk about Rosama when we go in here. I don’t want to talk about the girl he is talking to. I want us to…live in the moment.”

I swallowed hard as I nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Shy gave me a slight smile as he got out of the car and walked around to my side. After helping me out, we walked across the street, and down the steps to the tucked-away lounge.

Inside, the lights were dim. Little lanterns sat in the middle of each table. A live singer was singing R&B covers with a piano backing her up. Shy led us to a booth in the back of the lounge, and the waitress came right over with the menus.

We ordered our drinks, and I slid close to him.

“If talking about…everything was bothering you, you should have told me.”

“It’s not bothering me,” he said low. “Can I be honest with you?”

I nodded.

“I think you are too wrapped up in a nigga that don’t want you to see that it’s a man in your face that's trying to be everything and more to you.”

I stared into Shyheim’s eyes and saw that he was being sincere.

“I told you I would be here for you, and I am, but I need you to open your eyes. It’s more men out here—and men that would treat you right.”

I was speechless.

And he could tell.

The singer started a new song, and Shy glanced over at her, then back at me.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked.

I smiled. “Yes, I would love to.”

We walked out to the dance floor, and Shyheim took me into his arms, pulling me into him. The music was soft and slow, allowing me to rest my head on his chest as we rocked around in circles.