Page 3 of Stand on That

“You gonna stop trying to come for me.” The fact that I couldn’t stop smiling was blowing me. “Can’t a girl know where she’s going?” my tone was soft and feminine. I would try and keep my normal feistiness at bay. Not because I was being fake but as long as he was acting like he had some sense, I would too. One thing about me was that I was big on matching energy.

“We’re going to Good Catch. You like their food?” he took his eyes off the road long enough to glance over at me.

“I’ve only been there once but from what I can remember the food is really good.”

‘Fa sho’” he bobbed his head. “I eat there at least four times a month.”

Good Catch had some of the best seafood in Diamond Cove. The crab legs I had when I dined there were meaty and seasoned to perfection. The salmon was good too. Prayerfully, I’d be just as satisfied this time as the last because I was hungry enough to run up a nice lil’ tab.

“What made you ask me out?” I looked over at Darius. Over the past few years, I’d seen him out quite a few times, but we had never spoken to one another. Up until last week when he’d seen me coming out of a Mediterranean restaurant, and he started up a conversation.

“I’ve seen you a few times.” The words eased out of his mouth like silk. “I always watch you. Peep your style. Just never said anything, but my interest has been piqued for a minute. Last week was the first time I saw you out in something other than a club setting, and I wasn’t drunk or high. I make some of my best decisions sober.”

Oh, he had game. I was high as hell, and I was still able to recognize that. I had to be careful with him. “Hmmm.” That was the only response that I could think of.

“Hmm what? Talk to me.” Darius faced me chewing on his gum and licking his lips in a manner that had me really about to unravel right there in his car. The man was the epitome of sexy. I’d never dated a man that was so masculine. He was the kind of man you felt safe with.

“I’m just wondering how many women you’ve used that line on. Like just how often your interest gets piqued?”

Darius tossed his head back with a light laugh. “You be listening to the streets, or is that a genuine question?” The answer had to be rhetorical because he didn’t give me a chance to answer. “I’m a busy man, but I’m also a single man. Sometimes, my days are way too full to be chasing pussy. I got way too many bills and mouths to feed for that. But when I do decide to entertain something, I can do that ‘cus I’m grown. I’ve been linked to a few females that I never dealt with but even still. You don’t hear the most about me because I don’t do the most. I have standards, and I don’t just stick my dick in anything.”

Crazy thing was, I believed him. Just like he’d never been linked to a woman that wasn’t gorgeous, he’d never been linked to anyone too crazy. As far as I knew he didn’t have kids, but I still wanted to know for sure. Darius was fine. He was a fine dope boy with money. There had to be some red flags somewhere aside from the obvious. The way he made his money wasn’t ideal, but I could live with that.

“You got kids?” I held my breath as I waited for the answer.

The last thing I expected was for him to chuckle. “Man, hell nah. I don’t have time for kids right now. I honestly don’t even know if I want them. I know accidents happen, but I’m real careful when it comes to that. If a woman has my baby, you better know I love her ass for real.”

I didn’t have a comeback for that. The thought of him loving a woman made me feel giddy inside but sick at the same time. Because if the woman that he loved wasn’t me, there wouldn’t be shit cute about it. Darius arrived at the valet stand. When the valet attendant opened my door and offered his hand, I smiled before taking it. I felt like I’d been getting princess treatment from the moment Darius rang my bell.

When I was out of the car, his eyes dragged down the length of my frame sending a chill inching its’ way down my spine.

“If you were mine, you would have known to tell that nigga you were good because daddy was coming to open the door. It’s all good though. You’re still learning.” Darius winked at me, and my knees almost buckled. Why was he so damn fine?!

I hated that the weed I’d smoked had me so slow and stuck on stupid. All I could do was give him a lazy grin.

“Hey, Darius,” the hostess smiled when we approached the stand. She was a pretty, Blasian chick, and I had to remind myself that he said he ate there quite a bit. Plus, a lot of people knew Darius. That was something I’d just have to get used to if we continued to date.

“What up?”

“Just you two?” her gaze barely swept over my face.

“Yeah.”

“Right this way.”

I resisted the urge to frown as I followed her. When Darius placed his hand on the small of my back, I forgot all about my ill feelings toward her. The man had his hand on me, and it was sending electric shocks through my core. At least that was what it felt like. I didn’t want to be putty in any man’s hands. The last time I had been in love was my senior year. I started dating a guy that was two years older than me. Craig had a job installing cable and his own place. I thought he was hot shit and let him take my virginity.

When I was in high school, my parents didn’t play that coming in whenever you wanted to. I had a curfew. One night, however, I told them I was going to be braiding my friend, Hailey’s hair late, so I would just stay at her house. Hailey’s mom didn’t care what she did, so at two in the morning, she took her mom’s car, and I popped up at Craig’s house. There was a car in his driveway parked right behind his, and I knocked and knocked until he answered. When he finally did, I pushed my way inside and found out he was laid up with another bitch. Me and Hailey whooped his ass, and I hadn’t talked to him since.

That was my first heartbreak and when I say it hurt bad, I meant every word. I cried for almost a week straight. My dumb ass couldn’t even eat. I felt pathetic, but I was heartbroken. I really liked him. It was so easy and effortless for men to lie that it was sad. It took a lil’ minute, but I had to remember who I was. Guys tried to get at me almost daily. Getting a man had never been a problem. It was finding one that was worth keeping. I had a few casual situations, but I hadn’t had a boyfriend since Craig. If I couldn’t get his regular degular ass to be faithful, it was a wrap for a man like Darius.

“The women you take out always have to ignore your disrespectful thirst buckets?” I asked with a smirk.

Darius chuckled. “I don’t take a lot of women out and when I do, I don’t pay attention to other women.”

“Hmmm.” I hummed. It sounded nice.

“Not as far as subtle things. Blatant disrespect, I’m gon’ check every time. But no woman should sweat the petty shit. Just smile at the bitch because you’re where she wants to be.”