by Teneka Woods
“Aww… they’re so cute!” Tora smiled. “Thank you.” She laid them across her lap. “Were these part of Whitney’s plan?”
Eric laughed. “No. Those were my idea. However, I did let her pick them out.” He pulled away from the curb and turned down Highway 6 towards the I-10 freeway.
It was the strangest thing to happen, but Nate popped into Tora’s mind out of nowhere after they had been driving several minutes and approaching Park Row.
“We’re going to Brennan’s,” Eric said. “Have you ever been there?”
“Nope. Never heard of it. What type of place is it?”
“Well, you’re in for a treat. It’s a Creole restaurant downtown. Some of the best food you’ll ever have. Whitney and I have been several times, and it’s always a memorable experience.”
“Sounds good,” Tora agreed.
Traffic stalled as they approached the 610 loop, so Tora thought it was the perfect time to ask the question he never answered on their first date.
“You haven’t finished telling me why the women you’ve gone out with freak out after the second date. Is there something I should be worried about?”
“I just think they have a problem with how straight-forward I am. I lay everything out on the table so they understand from the beginning.”
Tora looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Whitney will be sixteen this year. I’m over this whole dating thing. I’m looking for a wife. Some stability for my daughter. At our age, a woman has to know what she wants. So I let them know, hey, if you’re not looking to be married within the next year or two, then we’re wasting each other’s time.”
“Just like that, huh?” Tora said.
“Just like that,” he nodded.
Brennan’s was everything he said it would be. Tora tried dishes she never would have given second thought to trying if it wasn’t for Eric’s coaxing: oysters, turtle soup. However, she drew the line at frog legs, no matter how much he wanted her to believe they ‘taste like chicken.’ After a dessert of bread pudding and white wine they left Brennan’s for the plaza where Salsa Night was taking place. Tora watched as beautifully dressed couples danced, their bodies moving in tandem with the high-powered rhythm thumping from the speakers. Eric wasted no time and grabbed her hand, pulling her through the throng to a spot on the platform.
He proved to be a much better dancer than she was, grooving along like salsa came natural to him. She did the best she could and found herself laughing out loud as he whirled her around on numerous occasions. She felt ridiculous because her movements weren’t nearly as smooth and fluid as the lovely, silky dark-haired beauties that danced around them. Latin music was out of her element, but she made the most of it, taking every opportunity to twirl in her cherry red skater dress.
“I think I’ve finally met my match,” Eric told her.
“What?” she said, leaning towards him trying to hear over the music.
“You’re good at this!”
She knew he was gassing her up, but she just smiled and nodded and continued to twist her hips and shake her ass to the beat.
A couple hours later Eric led her four blocks over to a booth on a corner, just outside a hotel entrance. A horse and carriage were waiting at the curb. She looked at him.
“Yes, this is for us,” he smiled.
She returned the smile and said, “Cool, but I need to find a restroom before I embarrass myself tonight.”
Eric laughed loud and long—startling the horse even—as if she’d just told the best joke he’d ever heard in his life.
She used the ladies’ room in the hotel’s lobby, freshening up as best she could, and touched up her makeup with the little she had in her clutch bag.
Both Eric and the coachman assisted her into the carriage when she returned, and they started down the street.
“This is my first carriage ride,” she said after a while.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that. I will be sure to let Whitney know it was an excellent choice. Did you enjoy the salsa as well?”
“Yep. That was cool, too. Where did you learn to dance like that? Did you take lessons? You were looking like a professional out there.”
He chuckled. “I learned just by studying others. My friends and I used to go to all types of clubs. It wasn’t hard to pick up.”
They rode in silence, enjoying the atmosphere and watching the downtown patrons shuffle along the sidewalks and cross the streets for the bars and restaurants. Eric threw his arm across the back of the seat and touched her shoulder, trying to pull her closer.
She looked at him. “I’m fine.”
“You’re just so beautiful. I can’t believe it. If I’m not careful, I may fall in love with you tonight.”
She let out a half-hearted laugh. “Surely you’re just joking,”
“No, I’m not. I told you I’m very serious about what I want. There’s no beating around the bush with me.”
Tora smiled, but said nothing, and looked back towards the street.
“Tell me,” he said, and removed his arm from the seat to adjust his wristwatch, “what is it that you want?”
“I want a relationship,” she said without hesitation. “A serious, monogamous relationship.”
“I’m your man then,” he said. “Don’t you look any further.”
It reminded her of what Jason the fool had said. “Well, I don’t think it’s wise to make a decision so soon. There’s still a lot we need to know about each other.”
“What else is there you need to know? I’m sure you did some research on me?” He laughed quietly. “At least I hope you did.”
And she had. Her Internet search revealed he was an award-winning salesman of a local food distributor. He was an active member in his church’s men’s ministry where they volunteered often, mentoring youth and visiting local prisons. A search of the state’s marriage records showed he was twice married. Nothing came up when she searched for criminal records.
She said, “I’m enjoying this so far. Let’s just continue this nice evening, take it one date at a time.”
* * *
Eric stopped the car in front of her apartment building. “I had a really nice time,” he said, looking over at her. “Hands down, this is the best date I have ever had. And I’m not lying.”
“I had a good time, too,” Tora said. “Thank you. Tell Whitney she did a good job planning this for us.”
“Definitely. I’ve never connected with a woman like I did with you. Not once did you complain about anything. You just went with the flow and enjoyed yourself.”
She shrugged. “What was there to complain about?”
He shook his head. “You won’t believe some of the stuff I’ve gone through trying to show women a good time. One woman would complain about the type of restaurant we went to, or one would’ve had something to say about dancing in an outdoor plaza, getting sweaty and ruining her makeup. Another would’ve complained about having to walk to the carriage ride.” He grabbed her hand. “And I’ve already told you you’re the sexiest I’ve ever seen.”
She laughed. “You really need to cut that out. I’m more than just my body.”
“Oh, I know. It’s just that I can already tell you’re the one for me.”
“Eric…” she rolled her eyes playfully and looked out of the window.
“Seriously, Tora. You are exactly what I have been searching for.”
“Why do y—” She gasped when she turned back around to find his face just centimeters from hers. “What?” she tried to say, but his hand was already on her neck pulling her face to his.
Tora recoiled, rearing so far away from him that her head bumped against the window.
“I can’t have a kiss?” he asked, frowning.
“Umm… no, you can’t.”
He grinned and leaned closer, his hand crawling up her thigh. “Come on. It’s the perfect ending to our perfect night.”
She grabbed his wrist, her other hand on his shoulder, pushing him a
way. “Eric, are you crazy? No!”
“Didn’t you have a good time? Don’t tell me you’re the type to pretend you won’t kiss on the first date after it’s been established you want the guy.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” she pushed him again, but she may as well been pushing a brick wall because his body didn’t budge.
His free hand squeezed her hip as he puckered his lips.
“Eric!” she said, and raised her arm, ready to elbow him in the face.
He chuckled and withdrew. “I’m sorry.” Shaking his head, he said again, “I’m sorry,” and got out of the car.
Tora grabbed her purse and exited the vehicle without waiting for him to come around and open the door. She didn’t appreciate him forcing himself on her. Yes, it was a beautiful date, but that didn’t mean she was ready to lock lips with him. “Good night, Eric,” she said and started up the sidewalk.
“Well, damn. I guess I’ve ticked you off now, huh? You won’t even wait for me to do my gentlemanly duty and see you to your door.”
“I’m fine,” she called over her shoulder. “Good night.”
She entered her apartment and went straight to the bedroom to undress and take a shower. It was only after she’d settled in bed that she checked her phone for the first time that evening. Nate had sent a text message just minutes after Eric picked her up.
Hey friend. Wanna go see a movie tonight?
TWENTY-THREE
Nate eased down on the sofa. He knew he should have stopped after the first slice, but he couldn’t resist a second one, and now he was stuffed and miserable. His mother’s meatloaf was just one of her famous dishes that held power over him, dominating his resolve, causing him to go against everything he preached to his clients about discipline and willpower.
“Look at you, son… about to burst, aren’t you?”
Nate laughed as his father came into the room and joined him on the sofa. “Yeah, I definitely can’t move right now.”
Gerald chuckled. “That’s why I have to push myself away from the table sometimes, or else I would be in the same predicament.”
Nate sighed and laid his head back on the sofa.
“You doing all right, son? Everything still good with the training business?”
It was the question his father asked every couple of months it seemed. He never came right out and questioned him like his mother did, but Nate knew his father also wondered if his choice for a profession in fitness was just a phase and if he would be returning to his ‘real’ career in law soon.
“Everything’s cool,” he assured him. “It never feels like work. And I’m having fun.”
“Well, that’s good. As long as you’re able to take care of yourself without struggling… that’s all that matters.”
“Exactly,” Nate nodded.
Just then Bryan and Geo entered.
Bryan said, “Man, I ate way too much,” and exhaled a burp loud enough to wake the dead.
“You have to exercise self-control or you’ll hurt yourself,” their father said, laughing along with Nate and Geo. “Has she sliced the pie yet? I made sure to leave some room for dessert.”
Geo said, “Not yet. They’re in there about to start working on the wedding invitations now.”
“I tell you… your mother just likes to spend money,” Gerald said. “Now why couldn’t she use the same invitation she sent out for the engagement party since she’s inviting the same people? It could’ve been a one-for-two invitation.”
“You know how Mom is. She’s going all out for Sunny, glad she and Levi are making it official. She can’t have her daughter walking around with three children and unmarried.”
Nate sucked his teeth. “Which is dumb. What’s the point if the guy is a deadbeat? He couldn’t even make it to their engagement party on time. And he knew how much work Mama did to put this together for them. But I bet you she didn’t say anything to him about it.”
The three of them looked over at him.
Gerald shook his head. “You’re right about that, son, but that’s your mother. And she wants things a certain way.”
“And where is he today? This is the second Sunday in a row he’s missed. Had it been either of us skipping dinner she would’ve had a fit.”
His father chuckled. “You’re right about that, too. She says she doesn’t labor in the kitchen all morning for y’all not to show up.”
The Sunday after the engagement party neither Sunny nor Levi had come over for dinner. Nate called Sunny that night to apologize for convincing Tora to skip out early on the party. She told him not to worry about it, that she was happy Levi was able to make it.
It was exactly what Victoria had said.
They didn’t care that Levi was late; they were appreciative that he decided to show up.
Nate woke up, not recalling when he’d fallen asleep. His father was sleeping silently on the sofa next to him. Bryan and Geo were gone, and he didn’t hear any other commotion in the house from his nieces and nephews, so he knew they’d all left for home. He pulled out his phone to check the time. It was a few minutes before nine o’clock. Tora had finally returned his text message from two nights ago. Damn, was I that tired?, he thought, and left the room in search of his mother to kiss her good night.
She was snuggled under a blanket in the corner of the living room sofa, looking studious and youthful with her tortoise-shell glasses on, her hair in a ball on the top of her head.
“Me and Pop were knocked out back there,” he said.
“I know,” she replied, not looking up from her book. “I came in to check on you two.”
“What’re you reading?” he asked, surprised to see it wasn’t one of the medical tomes she usually had her nose in.
She held up the cover.
“Walter Mosley,” Nate read aloud.
“Black Betty,” she added. “It’s part of a crime series. It’s pretty good.”
Nate nodded his head and covered his mouth as a yawn came on. “I’m gonna head on out now, Mama. Dinner was delicious.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Thanks, as always.”
“Have you been making preparations to start re-paying me and your father like we discussed? Your first payment is due soon.”
His shoulders sagged. He’d been trying not to think about it. Three hundred dollars extra per month was just something he could not give up without feeling financial strain. But he knew his mother was dead serious about her money, and she wouldn’t tolerate any excuses.
“Yeah,” was all he said.
“Good. And you still have the paper I gave you, correct? With the account information so you can have the payments routed directly to us?”
“Uhn-huh.”
“Perfect. Be careful going home, son.”
* * *
He was in a sunken mood when he left his parents’ house, and it was too late to call Tora once he’d made it to his apartment, so he called her as soon as he opened his eyes early Monday. “Good morning, my friend,” he said cheerfully.
“Good morning to you, Nate.”
“I was hoping you were an early riser.”
“Actually, I’m not,” she said, “unless I have to work the opening shift at my job.”
“Oh man… I’m sorry to disturb you. I’ll just call back in a few hours then.”
“Well I’m awake now. What’s up?”
“How is my friend on this lovely morning?”
She laughed softly. “I see you keep stressing the ‘friend’ part.”
He chuckled. “Forgive me for not getting back to you last night. I was at my parents’ house for dinner and fell asleep afterwards.”
“It’s cool. I was only letting you know I didn’t see your text until later that night. And this was my weekend to work, so… and I was busy.”
“Okay, but when are you free? Since we’re friends now, I want to know when can we hang out?”
She laughed again. “I see I’ve set myself up for this one, huh? Wh
y are you up so early?”
He shook his head and lifted his feet to rest them on the coffee table. She was dodging the question. “I’m gonna go for a run before I head over to the gym. I’m working late tonight, too. One to ten.”
“You actually work out before going to train with your clients?”
Chuckling, he said, “Well, yeah. When I train with them it’s at their pace, so I’m really not working my body very much.”
“I see. I always wondered how that worked.”
“You wanna go for a run with me?”
“Please,” she snorted. “I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve exercised in my adult life. The only time you’ll catch me running is if somebody’s chasing me.”
Nate laughed out loud. “You were definitely blessed with some good genes, but you still want to treat your body right and get some exercise. For your heart. And how do you expect to get away from your chaser? You’ll burnout within the first fifteen seconds.”
“Whatever,” she said. “A light and easy walk is the most I’ll ever do.”
“Okay, well… I’m leaving in about twenty minutes. You wanna meet me at Bear Creek Park?”
“What? I’m sleeping in.”
“Come on, Tora. You will feel so good after getting a few minutes of exercise this morning you’ll want to do it again tomorrow.”
“I doubt that,” she said.
“If you don’t then I owe you lunch.”
“I see what you’re trying to do.”
Nate smiled.
“I don’t even own something suitable to work out in,” she said.
“Of course you do. All you need is a T-shirt and some shorts. Nice try.”
She laughed and agreed to meet him in a half-hour.
* * *
A jolt of heat rushed to the center of him as soon as she stepped out of the jeep. That sexy brown mid-section of hers was on full display again. She wore a white T-shirt tied in a knot underneath her breasts, and a pair of knee-length light blue sweatpants with the word ‘Pink’ in bold white letters down the front of her left thigh. White Chuck Taylors covered her feet. She definitely didn’t intend to do any running in those types of shoes, Nate thought.
