I was at my guy Ken's apartment talking when he walked in. He was tall, light skin and fine as hell. He was wearing a black T-shirt, blue jean shorts, and white shoes.
"Dee, this is my guy Black. Black this is my girl Dee." Ken said introducing us.
He sat next to me on Ken's black leather couch, checking my attire. I had my legs crossed, causing the short black skirt I wore to ride back into my lap, showing off my thighs. My black shirt was a v-neck that laced up the back. My three-inch heels tied around the ankle. My black hair fell to my shoulders, cut in layers to frame my face.
I had just come from cutting a date with my ex short. I had him drop me off at Ken's apartment building around nine as soon we finished dinner.
Ken has been my best friend since we were five. Our mothers weren't the best of friends growing up, but happened to have gotten pregnant at the same time and sent us to the same schools from preschool to high school. Even if we had hated each other as our parents did growing up, we still would have been stuck with each other. So unlike our bickering mothers, we ended up being inseparable.
"So you're basically telling me you got all dressed up for nothing?" Ken said, continuing our conversation before Ken came in.
"To be honest with you, I was going to go through with it, but fuck that. I'm not about to be made a fool of. I'm not settling for a man that's damn near married so he can leave me for the next best thing."
"I feel you." Ken said. "Now what?"
"Now I start over. Be by myself for a minute." I said. "The sex wasn't all that anyway." Everyone laughed. "I need a drink."
"Vodka's in the cabinet to your left." Ken said once I stood up to go to the kitchen.
I stood there, staring at the cabinet, trying to keep my tears in check but when does that ever works? I wiped my face with a paper towel, made my drink with a half glass of vodka, the rest cranberry juice, and made my way back to the living room. As I walked past Ken's chair he grabbed my hand.
"You cool sis?"
"I'm good."
I sat down next to Black and then crossed my legs so that my leg was rubbing against his.
Ken peeped game but didn't say anything.
"What you doing tonight Ken?"
"Got this girl coming over at about ten." It was already a quarter past nine.
"Never mind then." I turned to Black and looked him in the eye. I could see why they called him Black, his eyes were so dark they looked pitch black. It looked good on him with his thick black eyelashes.
"You got plans tonight?" I asked him
"Not at all."
"Think you can accompany me to the park. I need some air."
"Let's go."
I downed my drink then stood up.
"Y'all just gonna leave like that? My girl ain't even here yet!" Ken said. "And you just got here." He said looking at Black.
I grabbed my black handbag. Black stood up and gave me a hand.
"Did you drive here?"
"No. I live two blocks away." I answered.
"Cool. I live on the fifth floor."
He held my hand as we walked toward the door.
"I'll call you Ken." I said.
"Whatever." He said waving us off.
I closed the door on my way out.
***
I was sitting on the back of the bench. My foot planted on the seat, my left leg crossed over my right leg, my backside balancing itself on the backrest. Black stood in front of me, his hands resting on the side of my thighs, right below the hem of my skirt.
"You alright? I know you were saying it's over between you and dude..."
"Nothing ever started."
"But I'm looking at you and you acting like you ain't hurting."
"Yeah, but I'm not bout to cry over it. I knew my heart was already broken when he walked back in my life. It was just a matter of feeling it. But you know what?" I said as he put his hands on my waist.