Love Pink [Chapter 5]

Well, well, well....did you miss us? I hope so. Tonight, we post our best chapter of love pink to date! So we hoooooope there's LOOOTS of comments. At least 25. I don't think we can post again if we don't at LEAST hit 25. But anyway, don't wanna be too long. Hope we didn't disappoint. Bon appetit! xo

“I don't see what the big deal is. He’s charming, handsome. He’s exactly your type.”

“My type as of late has been the part of our species with a vagina.”

“So? It’s not like you're excusive to women. You still date men. And I know for a fact that if I wasn’t in the picture, you’d be more than happy to go out with him.”

“But you are in the picture & you're more than enough for me. Why do we need him?”

“We’ve been over this, Maria.”

And we had. A thousand times. It still wasn’t making sense to me.

“I just don't see what’s so special about him, that you can’t let him go.”

“That’s what this date is for. Put this on.”

She tossed me a dress. I did as I was told.

“It looks so good on you.”

And it really did. Far more expensive than anything I could ever afford in two of my lifetimes. Herve` Leger or something. A knee-length, tight, peachy-blush colored bandage thing that hugged my every curve.

“Drake’s gonna love it.” She grinned.

And now I hated this dress.

“Why do I have to dress up? Shouldn’t he just like me for who I am?”

“Don’t go there with me. On any other date, have to try & impress the person. You would wear this if you were going out with me.”

“Well, I don't want to impress him.”

“Mariaaaa.”

I could tell her patience was running thin. I didn’t care.

“You can’t make me do this.”

I sat on the toilet seat, sulking. I was pissed. How can she think this is ok? I have to go on a date with this guy that I hate. Ok, well not hate. But I just wanna be with Nicki! I've been waiting 15 years for this. And she knows I hate sharing.

I knew she could see the anguish on my face. Maybe I could still get out of it. She sauntered over to me slowly, a sympathetic look on her face. She better be coming to make me feel better. She sat on my lap, facing me. Her pout was precious. She tucked a piece of hair behind my ear before kissing me. She smelled so nice. Her lips were so soft. She rocked her hips against me. I could feel the heat between her thighs.

“I love you.” She murmured against my skin.

“I love you, too.” I replied as she sucked on my neck.

Yes Nicki, keep going.

“You know I would do anything for you, baby.”

The top of my dress was down & she was sucking the delicate skin on my chest. Her tongue drawing patters on my skin.

“I know.”

I pulled her shirt over her head & threw it to the floor, popped her bra off in seconds.

“Then baby, I need you to do this for me.”

My hands fell from her body instantly. I should have known.

“I know this is hard for you. But imagine if there were two of me & you loved both. Could you imagine letting one go? Or would you want to keep both of us.”

Two Onikas? To think of letting one go was blasphemy.

“This isn’t fair.” I said, biting my lip.

She pulled it from between my teeth like always. She knew this comforted me.

“It’s not like you're exclusive with him. You still get to come home to me.”

“Yeah, with him.”

“Not tonight.”

Her voice was a low, almost a whisper. She took the corner of her lip between her teeth gently as she ran her freshly manicured fingernails over her pert nipples.

It was Shangri-la when she touched herself.

“Please, Maria?  For me?”

She was evil.

“If this doesn’t work out, he leaves.” I demanded.

She smiled so angelically. I could drink water from those dimples.

“Deal.” She said, extending her slender hand.

I shook it. This would be easy. I ruin dates without trying. How hard could it be now that I had some motivation?

“But you have to try. You have to really give him a chance. If you don't, I’ll never forgive you.”

Fuck.

“Ok.” I said, reluctantly.

So reluctantly.

“Cross my heart & hope to die?”

She made an imaginary “X” between her breasts with her finger. Shit, why’d it have to be her heart?

“Yesss, cross your heart.”

I kissed the x, essentially signing my name on the dotted line.

“Good! Now let’s finish getting you ready.”

She hopped off my lap & reached for her shirt.

“No,” I said, pulling away the garment, “this stays off.”

She rolled her eyes as she pulled me to the vanity. But she didn’t have to pull me. I would follow her anywhere. No matter how much I didn’t like the direction.

It had been forty-five minutes & Nicki was almost done preparing me for slaughter. The dick was supposed to be here at 8 p.m. & I grew more nervous with every second that passed.

“Nicki, please don't make me do this.” I pleaded.

She continued to stroke my lashes with mascara.

“Maria, calm down. You're gonna have a good time.”

“How do you know?”

“Because Drake is a gentleman & he’ll do everything he can to please you. Now stay still.”

I sighed heavily, resting my head on my hand.

There was really no way out of this.

“How much longer?” I whined.

“Thirty seconds.”

She sat back, studying me.

“You're perfect.” She gasped.

I got up & looked at myself in the mirror. The makeup was minimal; just a hint of sparkle to a neutral pallet. My hair was all soft, flowing curls. A touch of pink on my lips. I pulled up the front of the dress, adjusting my boobs before fluffing my hair. I was adorable. I didn’t expect it to look this modest.

“I was expecting you to put me in something more…extra.”

“Drake is a simple man. He likes a woman who’s toned down. Not flashy & over the top.”

Could’ve fooled me.

“Besides, you're wearing his favorite color. He’s not gonna be able to resist you.” She said, winking at me.

What? Why would his favorite color be pink? The only reason I like it is because it reminds me of…

“That’s so nasty.” I said in disgust.

There was a knock at the door. I looked at the clock. Fuck, he was 2 minutes early.

“Eeep! He’s here! Now, remember, its ok to welcome his advances. Smile, laugh at his jokes.”

“Whatever.” I said crossing my arms over my chest.

She grasped my chin between her fingers, making me look at her.

“Play nice.” She warned.

She kissed my lips before heading for the door. The robe was barely over her shoulders before she pulled it open.

“Hi, my love!” she squealed.

He embraced her. Ugh, he was making me sick already.

“Awww, you brought me flowers?”

“Yes I did.” He said, handing her a bouquet.

Pink roses. How original.

I cleared my throat, getting their attention. He didn’t look bad; nice slacks, white shirt with the top button undone, a gold chain, nice fitting jacket. His stubble was coming in but it was neat. Well, can’t make fun of his outfit. He looked good, I had to admit it.

“Good evening, Maria.” He said smiling.

God, put your teeth away.

“Hi.” I said snidely.

“You look lovely.”

Who says lovely anymore? He’s so corny!

I could feel Nicki’s eyes on me. Oh my god, I had to say it? I'm sure we all can mentally agree he looks nice. Her hands were on her hips. Uuuuugh!

“You…don't…look horrible.”

Happy now?

“Well that’s a relief. I would’ve been devastated if you didn’t approve.”

Was that sarcasm?

“Don't you have something for Maria, love?” Nicki interjected.

“Oh do you?”

Let me guess. More roses?

“Oh, yes. These are for you.” He said as he put the bundle in my arms.

I searched my mind for a witty comeback. I couldn’t think of one.

As soon as the smell hit me, I wanted to swoon. The colorful tropical bouquet was so fragrant. Not overpowering. Just enough to permeate the room. It was beautiful mix of greens & orchids. Beautiful, beautiful orchids, in colors that I had only ever seen in wedding magazines. No way he guessed these were my favorite. Nicki had to have told him. I hated that I loved these.

“Something told me you weren’t a roses kind of girl. I hope these are ok.”

No Maria, don't show him you're smiling.

“She loves them. I’ll put them in some water.” Nicki said snatching them from my hands & shooting me a look.

Great, so she's mad. It wasn’t like I said I hated them or anything. But I guess I could try a little harder.

“That was really nice of you. Thank you.” I said flatly.

“You're welcome.” He said back.

The silence was awkward until Nicki came back.

“Well, it’s getting late. You kids should get going!” she said, ushering us to the door.

“O…k. I guess we’ll see you later then.” He said.

“Great. Maria, baby, you have fun. Drake, you take good care of her.”

“Will do.” He told her.

I swear I hear sarcasm.

“Good! Maria, you be on your BEST behavior. Promise me you’ll try not to be a bitch.”

“Nicki!” I whined.

“And Drake, you're sure everything is ok. Reservation is made at some place nice? Do you need money?”

“Nicki!” it was him this time.

“Just making sure! I just want you to have a good time. You have condoms, right? Magnums because you know the other ones won’t fit.”

“NICKI!”

It was both of us this time.

“Ok, ok I’ll stop. Now go, go, go, go, go! You're gonna be late for dinner.”

She pushed us towards the door.

“Goodbye love.” she said.

Her voice was almost longing for him. It made me sick.

She pulled his face to hers & kissed him. They couldn’t pull apart soon enough. He licked his lips before walking into the hallway. I would make a sexual joke, but I'm too angry. There really wouldn’t be a point to it anyway since he would know for himself how I tasted if everything went according to Nicki’s plan. She turned to me, arms open. Ok, let me show him how it’s done.

I walked over to her, pulling her by her waist close to me as I locked my lips with hers. My hands found their way under her robe. I let it fall apart some, not enough to expose her, but enough for him to see that she only had panties on underneath. I could feel his discomfort rising. I smiled to myself as I pulled away, leaving her breathless. That is how you kiss a girl. You can stare down that Rolex all you want sir, I still know you're pissed.

“See you guys later!”

She waved & blew kisses before closing the door. There was really no turning back now. I didn’t even look at him while we made our way to the elevator. I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning against the back wall.

“So, how do you like Toronto so far?”

Why is he even talking to me?

“Have you gotten out much since you’ve been here?”

I shot him a look before bringing my hand up to rest my head on. Just stop it already. I'm not gonna talk to you. I heard him sigh. Good, you get the message.

The doors opened to the lobby & I was just about to step out when he crossed in front of me, pressing the ‘close door’ button.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you back.”

Was he serious?

He pressed the button for my floor & stood back. 

He was serious.

“What, did I hurt your feelings already?”

Now he was being silent. I don't have time for this. I just want to get this date over with. I stepped up to the door, reaching for the lobby button when he stepped in front of me. His hand was on the wall & he was breathing right in my face. He wants me to cut him. He has to.

“Look,” oooh, he’s using his big boy voice, “I could’ve came out here tonight & been exactly what you think I am, but I told Nicki I would try to make this work. But I'm not about to do that if you're going to act like a brat. I can just take you back & then you can explain to Nicki what happened.”

I hated that he had a point. If I fucked it up this early I know she would be mad at me. I could forget having my special time with Nicki tonight. Maybe even any other night. I promised her I would be good so I had to keep my word. No matter how much I didn’t want to. I huffed & relaxed against the wall. Ok, I'm in.

He moved back, pressing the button for the lobby. Once we were outside, he opened the door to the Maybach for me. I had never actually been one before. Nicki always liked to drive herself when she was home. It really had curtains & everything. He got in on the other side & the driver headed down the block. This was…different. In a good way.

“So, where are we going?”

Yes, I was making conversation. Crazy, I know.

“Just a place uptown. Kind of fancy.”

Great, now I feel plain & under dressed. I pulled up the front of my dress, trying to cover some of my cleavage. He looked over at me, smiling. Not like he was laughing though.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “you look perfect.”

I'm pretty sure my dress & my cheeks match right now. Even though I don't like him, he gives great compliments.

I love compliments.

“What kind of food do they serve?”

“Italian. Why? Did you want something else? I can order something special if you’d like.”

“No, that’s fine. I was just wondering. I already ate anyway.”

He cut his eyes at me. I smiled.

“You don't stop for a second, do you?”

“Never.”

He laughed to himself.

“Whats so funny?”

“You're cute when you're scared.”

“What do I have to be scared of?”

“Well obviously that Nicki will come to her senses & come home with me like she's supposed to. But right now I think you're more afraid that you might actually like me.”

I couldn’t think of anything to say because…well…he was right. Of course I was afraid that Nicki would leave. But if I liked him, it would be worse because I would understand why she liked him. I didn’t want to. I just wanted him gone.

We didn’t say anything for the rest of the ride. We arrived at the restaurant & were seated at a table by the window. This place was so upscale. It looked like all these people were coming from an Oscars after party. Was he sure I looked ok?

The waiter, who I could tell I wasn’t going to like already, marched right up to us, a smile plastered on his smug little face.

“Good evening, Mr. Graham.”

“Marcus.” He nodded.

“What can I get for you tonight?”

He looked at me, a brow raised. Uuuuhhhhh…

“Let’s just start off with a salad & a Chardonnay.” Drake said.

Mucus Marcus looked down his nose at me.

“Very well. Dressing?”

Oh, wait, I know this one.

“Italian?”

“I’ll have the same.”

“Alright. I’ll be back in a moment.”

He bowed & scurried off.

“He seems eager.”

“Yeah, he’s a dick. But he does a good job. Never messes up my order.”

“Of course. Wouldn’t wanna mess up that tip.”

“He wouldn’t dream of it.”

He must have known we were talking about him because he was on his way over to our table.

“Here you are. Two salads.”

I laid my napkin across my lap as he put the plate down in front of me. This is when I noticed I might be in trouble. There had to be like 10 pieces of silverware on this table. Shit. I could feel the waiter’s eyes on me as I tried to mentally decide which fork was the right one. I tried to look up at Drake without this guy noticing. No such luck.

“Marcus, I believe my date has a water spot on her salad fork. Would you mind getting her another one, please?” Drake said politely.

Ha, jerk! He picked up my salad fork (which was the long one. I knew it!), & took it back into the kitchen to get me another one.

“You didn’t have to do that.” I told him.

“I know.” He said before sipping his wine.

Marcus was back with my new fork.

“Thank you ever so much, darling.” I said with all the sweetness I could muster.

“You’re welcome madam.”

I could almost taste his frustration. I loved it.

“We’ll let you know when we’re ready to order. Thank you Marcus.” he said as he waved him off.

I was glad he would be gone for a while but with Marcus gone, I had nothing really to talk about. I poured the dressing on my salad & moved it around a bit on my plate. Silverware was scraping on dishes everywhere. Glasses were being clanked together. At the table across from us, a woman was laughing at something that couldn’t have been as funny as she was trying to make it seem. The wine looked very expensive & there was a live band playing. With strings & everything! It was all so beautiful. Just like the places I've always dreamed of going, but I couldn’t help but feel like I stood out like a sore thumb. All I could do was look down & nibble on my food, hoping I didn’t look like a pig.

“You don't look like you're enjoying yourself.”

I looked up from my plate.

“No, it’s fine, really.”

“But…”

I put my fork down, wiped my mouth with my napkin & cleared my throat. His eyes were boring into me. I know he wanted an answer. A real answer.

“I enjoy this place, I really do. But…this isn’t really my scene. I'm not really about the flashy lifestyle.”

Drake dropped his napkin on his plate, nodding his head. Shit! I really wasn’t trying to be an ass. I promised Nicki I’d be nice.

“It’s no big deal, really. Just…just forget I said anything.” I said as I stabbed at my salad. But it was too late; he was getting out of his chair. Shit, shit, shit!

“Get up.” He said, pulling out his wallet.

“What?”

“Come on, get up.”

“Where are we going?”

“Someplace else.”

He extended his arm to me. I hesitated, trying to figure out what was on his mind. He smiled.

“What, you don't trust me?” he asked.

“Not really.”

“Come on. You're gonna like this place, I promise.”

Well I didn’t have very much to lose. So, what the hell? I took his hand. He threw a $100 bill on the table before leading me out of the restaurant.

“Wait, don't you want your change?” I asked as we reached the door.

“Fuck it.” He said, waving me off.

Once we were on the street, we turned left down the block.

“Don’t you wanna call a car or something? I can’t help you if you get trampled by teenage girls.”

He smirked, his eyes catching the light of a taxi whizzing by. Damn, he was beautiful. Wait, what?! What was I saying?!  He’s the enemy……right?

“They don't fuck with me out here, man. I'm just a regular guy.”

 He pulled me close as he guided me across the street. He was warm. Wow, I hadn’t noticed how cold it had gotten out. Maybe it was because of the heat his body radiated. Maybe it wasn’t cold at all & I was simply reacting to him suddenly feeling very far away now that we were on the sidewalk. What was happening to me? I didn’t know, but I moved closer to him, my arm looped around his elbow as we walked. He looked down at me.

“You cold, baby?”

Baby? What the hell? I don't know how to feel about this. I mean, should I be mad that he called me that? He called Nicki that! What did that say about him? Maybe it was just a habit.

But then what did that say about me? Is it bad that I liked it?

We were standing still. Why hadn’t I noticed we stopped? Shit! Don't look up, don't look up.

“What?” I forced myself to say.

As soon as the word left my mouth, I could feel the slight shift of his weight. No, come back.

“Damn, sorry. Maria……Maria. Are u cold?”

“A little.” I almost whispered.

He moved back, shrugged the suit jacket off his shoulders & draped it over mine. Mmmm, he smelled so good. What is this, Dolce? But while his jacket was warm, it wasn’t the same.

“Better?”

Not really.

“Yeah.”

 He extended his elbow out to me. I intertwined my arm with his & we started walking again.

“So, how much farther do we have to walk?” I asked.

“Not far.”

“Boy, you're just full of information, aren’t you?”

“I just want you to be surprised.”

“I don't like surprises.”

“Humor me.”

I rolled my eyes. ‘Humor me’ he says. Ok, I’ll buy it. No more questions. We just walked. People bustled past us, chatter filling the air as we got to a row of shops. People were standing outside, smoking, talking. They nodded at us, smiles on their faces.

“Can I tell you a secret?” he asked.

“Sure, I guess.”

I looked up at him.

“I'm…kinda nervous.”

“Why?”

He reached behind his head, scratching the back of his neck. I could see the definition of his bicep through his shirt. Wow. I never noticed how buff he looked. His arms looked pretty strong. I wonder how it would feel if he picked me u-wait, no. Get it together, Maria!

Thankfully he started talking again.

“I never brought Nicki here before. I'm kind of worried she might get mad if she found out I brought you here first. Especially since it’s kind of…special to me.”

“Why haven’t you brought her here? I thought you shared everything with her?”

“I do. It’s just. She's not here a lot. And when she is here, neither of us is really interested in leaving the house, if you know what I mean.”

Sure I did. Whenever Nicki came home, which wasn’t very often lately, I found myself trying to barricade her with me. The world had her all the time. When she was with me, I wanted her to be mine. It’s hard not to want her all to yourself.

“I understand.” I told him. “Tell you what.”

“What?” he asked.

“I say we call a temporary truce. I won’t say anything if you don't.”

“You serious?” he said, skeptical.

“Yeah.”

And I was. I didn’t want Nicki to feel some type of way about it. And now that he told me this, I was just as guilty. I'm a bad liar under pressure, so if she pressed me, I know I would spill.

“But next time you go out, you have to bring her here.”

Wait, next time? What am I saying?

“Alright, bet.” He said. We walked a little farther, not saying anything, until he broke the silence.

“You know, I thought you would be more difficult tonight.”

“Oh? Am I not giving you enough of a challenge, Mr. Graham?” I said, raising my brow.

“l’m just saying. I'm glad I was wrong.”

This time, I didn’t stop the blush from settling on my cheeks. I know it’s stupid, but I really wanted him to like me. Even though I knew he could take everything from me, I wanted to be close to him. He’s such a likable guy. It’s hard to remember he’s the villain, when he acts like such a prince.

 The street we were on was getting darker. A lot of shops were closed. A book store, a travel agency. I saw a dead end ahead & was beginning to wonder if he really knew where we were going.

“Alright, you ready?” he asked me.

“I..guess?”

“This is it.” He said as we stopped in front of what I could have easily taken as a Starbucks. The entire storefront was glass & the lights inside were dim & romantic. I looked up at the moniker. It was a large wooden plaque with a name on it, backlit with indigo LED’s.

“Lula Blue’s?” I read aloud.

“Yeah.”

“What is this place?”

“You’ll see.”

He led me through the glass double doors. The inside of the place was beautiful. On one side was a quaint lounge area filled with plush couches & big leather wing backed chairs. The other side was dotted with small, round conversation tables, 2 chairs to each. In the far corner, I could see what looked like a stage. White candles of all sizes littered the space & the smell of sweets floated in the air. We walked up to the counter in the middle of the space when Drake cleared his throat, trying to get the attention of the dark skinned woman, crouching behind it.

“One second hunny, I’ll be right with you.” She said politely.

“I don't have all night Ms. Blue.” He said to her.

The woman stopped what she was doing & turned around, one hand on her hip. She looked like she was about to snap, but as soon as she realized it was him, she smiled really big.

“Jimmy!?” she exclaimed.

“Lula.” He laughed.

She came around the counter & hugged him tightly. While they exchanged pleasantries, I took the time to observe her. She couldn’t be taller than about 5’5”, peep toe pumps, white with a pink bow in the front. Her dress was kind of long, just below her knee. White with little cartoon strawberries all over it. Very 1950’s. Full skirt with a wide sash at her waist. It was cute. Reminded me of a cupcake. I was trying to figure out how the hell she got those victory rolls so perfect in her red & brown layered hair, when Drake grabbed my hand.

“Maria, this is Talula.”

“Nice to meet you, Talula.” I said.

She flashed me a warm smile. Wow, she was beautiful. Her skin looked so smooth, like milk chocolate. Did he know any ugly women?!

“Lula’s just fine, darling.” She said before turning back to Drake. “So, what brings you here tonight? It’s been a long time.”

He looked at me. What? I don't know what to say!

“We’re…kind of on a date.”

Why, Drake? Why would you tell her that?

“Oh? Last time I saw you, you were cuffed up.” She said with her hands on her hips. She must know about Nicki. This wasn’t going well. I feel sick.

“I still am. She's waiting for us at home.”

Talula, sorry, Lula, relaxed her stance.

“Ooooh. Ok.” She said with a knowing smirk. “You came on a good night. Feels like old times. Why don't you grab a seat? I’ll get you a drink.”

And just like that, she walked away. What the hell? This was strange. I didn’t say anything as he led me to a table in the far right corner & pulled out my chair. I sat & flipped his jacket over the back of my chair before leaning over the table, head on my hand. I wasn’t felling so comfortable with him right now.

“Hey, you ok?” he asked.

“Fine.” I spat.

He smirked.

“You wanna try that again?”

“What makes you think that something’s wrong?”

“Well, besides the frustration I could feel in that ‘fine’, any time u sit with your head perched on your hand like that, something’s wrong.”

“Oh, so you think you know me now?”

“Just an observation.”

“Whatever.”

The windowsill was glass, little white LED lights underneath that looked like tea candles. It wasn’t bright, just soft like stars in the night sky. I concentrated on them so I didn’t have to think about how mad I was that he was right.

“Maria.” He said softly.

I raised a brow, not looking at him. I felt his finger under my chin, tilting my head gently, forcing me to look at him.

“What’s wrong?”

He looked really concerned. I could see it in his eyes. He was making me feel bad. No, I won’t fall for it. I sat upright, folding my arms over my chest.

“So, what is this? You bring bitches here when you're sneaking around on Nicki? You wine & dine them here, giving them bullshit stories about how this place is ‘special’ & Ms. Lula, or whatever her name is, keeps your secrets? Maybe you fucked her too.”

His brow furrowed angrily before he recoiled back to his chair. Oh, you mad now? Did I figure it all out, just like that? Hmph, whatever. I knew he wasn’t as good as I thought he was. As Nicki thought he was. Ha! Now I know for sure she's gonna leave him. This was a victory! So…..why did I feel so shitty about it?

I didn’t like that he wasn’t sticking up for himself, copping a plea like most men would. Made me feel like a bully.

“So you don't got nothin’ to say?” I said, trying to egg him on.

He shrugged.

“Why say anything? You’ve already made up your mind about what kind of man I am.”

He was right. I had judged him already & I didn’t even know him. I knew it was wrong, but what could I do?

“Well, it’s not like you're giving me anything to go on.”

Ok, hopefully, this would play out well. And if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be my fault. The ball was in his court now. Come on, Drizzy. Change my mind.

He let his hand wash over his face, sighing heavily.

“Talula is a very dear friend of mine. This place used to be her father’s & when I was in high school, he used to let me & my crew perform here. He was one of the 1^st people to ever give me a real shot. So when he died, I gave her a little money to keep this place going. She ended up making me a co-owner.”

Hmmm, sounds legit. He looks like he does that sort of thing. He always wanted to help someone out. But that didn’t explain everything.

“So what about how she's acting like she knows what’s going on?”

“Because she does.”

I must have looked confused because he laughed at me. He moved his chair closer to mine.

“You see those 2 girls right there?” he whispered, nodding to the other side of the room. Out the corner of my eye, I spotted 2 women standing close to each other.

One was a tall, slim ginger. Black peep toe pumps & a tight red dress; mid length halter with a sweetheart neckline. She was curvy, very Jessica Rabbit. Her hair was down & wavy. Her skin looked like porcelain & her vibrant blue eyes pierced the darkness. Bad.

The girl standing next to her was a little shorter. Spanish, maybe? High waist cropped jeans & white & blue striped shirt. Very nautical. Peep toe pumps (geez was that uniform?) & an Audrey Hepburn up-do with a bandana tied in the front. She reminded me of that old 1950’s poster with the woman flexing her bicep. ‘You can do it!’ it said on the bottom. What did they call that woman? Oh, Rosie. Rosie the riveter. Also bad.

“Yeah, what about them?” I asked.

“They’re Lula’s.”

“Oooh.” I said as I watched the red head slide her hand down Rosie’s back. She then leaned in, kissing little read on her lips.

“There’s another one. At home watching the children I suppose.” He informed me.

Lula came from behind the counter, playfully slapping Rosie on the butt. They both looked at her. She must have been telling them to get back to work because they kissed her lips before heading off in different directions.

“That’s a bad bitch right there.” I said in awe.

I continued to watch them. Little red & Lula were together now behind the counter. Lula was mixing up something in a blender while red stood behind her, kissing her neck. Rosie looked from the corner where she was serving a group drinks & smiled. They looked so happy. The more I watched them, the more I wondered. Maybe this could work. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as I was making it out to be. Maybe if I was really open to this & we worked at it, we could be as happy as them one day.

I let my fingers thump on the table to the rhythm of the song that was playing, as I thought about how much of a horrible person I was. I shouldn’t have been so quick to assume the worst in him. I needed to apologize, but I didn’t know how. I was never really good at them.

“Drake.” I said, exasperated. He turned his head to look at me. “I…I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

His posture softened.

“It’s ok. Just…just try not to do that. I pride myself of being a man of my word & I don't want you thinking I would ever lie to Nicki like that. Or you. I would never hurt either of you that way.”

Either of us? Why was he worried about not hurting me? Did he really think this would work out? I mean I was considering it but…I don't know. I guess I didn’t think we were on the same page.

“I’ll try.” I said.

And I really would. No promises, though.

I tried to distract myself from the awkward silence between us by listening to the music. Hmmm, I like this song. Can’t go wrong with John Mayer. I was singing along in my head.

And if you want love…we’ll make it. Swim in a deep sea of blankets. Take all your big plans…and break ‘em. This is bound to be a while.

Yeah, his body definitely was a wonderland. I still wasn’t over those arms. Wonder what else was under that shirt.  And I love his eyes. Eyes that were staring at me right now.

I hated when he did that. It always made me feel naked.

“What?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Just trying to figure out what you're thinking right now.”

“Why?”

“I don't know. I always wanna know what people are thinking.”

“Ok Edward Cullen, what do you think I'm thinking about?”

He looked up at the ceiling & stroked his chin.

“Well…” he began, “either you really love this song, or you're thinking about me. Maybe both.”

What?! Think about him? Ha!

“You’re funny. Why would I be thinking about you?”

“Because you're wondering what I’d be like in bed.” 

“Huh? What the hell makes you think that?”

Why am I sweating again?

“Just a guess. But by the way your voice just cracked, I’ll say that’s a yes.”

I was about to say something back when Lula came up to our table. She sat down a huge vintage milkshake cup, filled to the brim with something pink & fluffy. Like whipped cream.

“Just a little something to lighten the mood. Don't drink it all too fast.” She said as she plopped in 2 bendy straws.

What did she mean by that? And why did she say it so seductive? I leaned forward, taking a sip from my straw. Drake did the same. I was suddenly very aware of how close his lips were to mine. I admired them. He had the most perfect little Cupid’s bow. And I couldn’t help but notice how full they were, wrapped around his straw. Hmmm, I wonder how they would feel on my-oooooooooooooh, wait a minute! No! I backed up, clearing my throat. Of course he smiles. He sits back, arms folded over his chest. Yikes! I know there’s a 6 pack under there.

“What’s wrong?” he asked seductively. “Too close?” he was taunting me. I crossed my arms.

“No.” I said. I was secure. Your tricks won’t work on me, Mr. Graham.

I was not prepared for what happened next. He quietly pushed the table out of the way, grabbing the front of my chair & pulled it between his legs. He leaned forward, whispering in my ear.

“How about now?”

His breath was so warm & delicious on my ear. His tone making goose bumps rise on my skin. I clenched my legs together tightly. Oh lord.

“I need to use the bathroom.” I stammered.

Yeah, that was a good excuse. Wait, where was it again?

“Sure.” He said.

He got up from his chair. I did the same. He only let his fingertips touch me. Pressing gently on my ribs as he spun me around.

“Go straight.” He said into my neck as he let his fingers glide down my side. Ugh, his touch was heavenly. He stopped at my waist, gripping it tightly & forcing me back on him. Did I just…moan?!?!

“Then turn right.” I shuddered. Why was he doing this to me? I had to get away from him. As quick as I could, I scurried off in the opposite direction.

I busted through the doors & darted for an empty stall, locking it behind me. Come on, breathe Maria, BREATHE! I just don't understand. I hated him this morning. Now, I don't know what I feel. Lust? Did I actually like him? Like, like like him. Does that even make sense? I don't know.

Now that my panic attack had passed, I walked out the stall to the vanity. Ugh, look at my face. It’s still a little red from blushing so hard. I can’t believe he did that to me. But I couldn’t figure out if I liked it or not. I mean, yeah…it turned me on a lot. Like, a LOT. But this was Nicki’s man. My baby, my best friend. It felt so wrong! I kept trying to remind myself that this is what she wanted. She wanted me to like this. To enjoy it. But I just couldn’t let it go. Maybe I wasn’t as attracted to him as I thought.

Who am I kidding, OF COURSE I WAS. I haven’t stopped thinking about him since he picked me up this evening. Every chance I got, I was undressing him with my eyes. I couldn’t help it! So what could I do? I can’t keep beating myself up over this. I sighed. I can’t believe I'm even about to say this, but….I had to remove Nicki from my mind. I have to think of him less as a part of her & more as a separate entity. I had to set in my mind that I am actually dating him & not just doing this because Nicki asked me to. 

Ok. I was really going to do this. Eeep! Ok. I'm calm. Ugh, this dress is slipping. I adjusted my boobs & straightened the skirt, ruffled my curls & blew a kiss to myself before heading back out to my table. I was feeling really confident right now so I strutted a little harder, swayed my hips a little wider.  

He was talking to Lula & little red at our table & caught the sight of me out the corner of his eye. He stood & moved to pull out my chair.

“Find the bathroom ok?” he asked as he pushed in my seat.

“Yes. Thank you.” I said politely.

This caught him off guard. I think he was expecting me to be a little more frazzled than I was.

“Well, we’ve got to get back to work. We’ll chat more, later. Come on baby.” Lula said as she and red made their exit.

I waved at them & smiled as they left. Oh, there was some milkshake left. Good, because it was tasty. I bent down, taking a sip. Oh yeah, this was hitting the spot.

“So…” he said, “are you enjoying yourself so far?”

“Yeah, actually. This place is pretty chill. A lot less pressure than the last place. Nobody here is going to care if I can’t tell my dinner fork from my salad fork.” I giggled.

I sipped the drink a little more. I wonder if Lula would give me the recipe. What was in this that made it so good? Drake was looking at me funny. What? Can a girl drink her milkshake in peace?

“Don't you think you should slow down a bit?” he asked.

“What for?” I said?

It was so good! So cold, but it kind of burned on the way down. Should milkshakes burn? The only time I've drank anything that felt like this what when it had……shit.

I pushed the cup away from me slowly. But I knew it was too late. The cup was half empty & my face began to feel flushed. This would make for an interesting night.

“Maybe we should get something to eat.” He said.

“Maybe you're right.” I agreed.

He waved for Red to come over to our table.

“What can I get for y’all tonight?” she asked in a southern twang.

Her accent was cute.

“I don't know, Ms. Scarlett. What do you suggest?” Drake asked.

Ha, I like the way he says her name.

“Well, we have our house special, bacon grilled cheese. And as you know, Lula’s burgers are to die for. We also have steak, chicken & we serve breakfast all night long…”

I liked the way her lips moved when she talked.

“Well, I'm up for the grilled cheese. What about you, Maria?”

I loved the way he said my name. So soft & sultry. Say it again.

“Maria, sweetheart. What do want?”

You. With Nicki on top. Or Nicki with you on top. Me in the middle. Yeah. I liked that.

“Is she gonna be ok?” Scarlett asked.

Did I say that out loud?! Oh my god! I cleared my throat.

“Um…do you guys have waffles?”

“We sure do, hunny. Anything else. Drinks?”

“I'm gonna go with a Sprite & I think it’s safe to say she needs a water.”

He looked at me, trying to hide his smile. It’s not funny!

“Ok! It’s gonna be about 15 minutes. Think you’ll be ok until then? I can bring you some bread or somethin’ to munch on while you wait.”

“I'm fine, thank you.”

Red sauntered off. Ugh, I feel so stupid. Now what Lula said when she put the drink on the table made sense. I should have known that this had alcohol in it. That’s where my courage had come from. I put my head down on the table, too embarrassed to look at him. I could hear him trying to muffle his laugh. Great, now he thinks I'm a joke. His laugh was getting louder. And louder.

“Jesus Aubrey, is it really that funny?” I whined.

He burst into laughter.

“Awwww man.” I groaned as my head hit the table again.

I could feel him patting my head. Oh great, now he’s patronizing me. I looked up at him, pouting.

“You probably think I'm some crazy lunatic.”

“No, it’s kind of cute that you have no brain to mouth filter when you drink. And I think it’s a little endearing that you can see me & you in bed together. I like a woman that knows what she wants. There’s no shame in that.”

“You know, you're not making it better.”

“Hey, I'm not here to make it better. I'm just being honest. And it actually helps to know what you want from me.”

“That’s not what I want from you.”

“Oh?”

“No! I mean, yes! Wait, uuuuuugh!”

He was laughing again.

“Don’t stop talking. I'm trying to take advantage of your drunken honesty. If that’s not what you want from me, then tell me. What do you want?”

I looked up at him. Did I really want to tell him what I wanted? Could I afford to be this open with him so early in the game? What if he used this against me later? Would he? Ok, I told him I wouldn’t assume the worst in him. So what could it hurt to tell him how I felt? It’s not like it was some big secret or anything. I just wasn’t used to being so open to people.

I mulled it over in my mind a few times, trying to gather my thoughts. Which is especially hard for me to do when I'm buzzed. At least the lights were low. I ran my hand through my hair. Alright, just spit it out.

“Ok, what I meant to say was….that’s not the only thing I want from you. I mean, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. But what I really want is…is for s not to hate each other at the end of all of this. Even if this doesn’t work out for some reason, I don't want there to be any bad blood between us. I'm not just worried about losing a lover, I'm really, really scared of losing a good friend in the process.”

He nodded his head.

“You know, I feel the same way. Yeah sure, up until a few minutes ago, I saw you as competition. I still do, a little. It’s hard not to when I know you want the woman I love. But I want to give this a real shot. For Nicki at least. This might be a real learning experience. And if this doesn’t work, I would hope that we could remain friends because I'm never going to stop caring about her. Or you.”

Every time he opens his mouth, he surprises me. I never really thought we would be on the same page about this whole situation. I just thought we would fight to the proverbial death on this & in the end; one of us would chicken out. Hopefully him. Sure it might work for a while but I just always felt like Drake was too selfish a man to share something, or someone rather, he really cared about with me. But now, I wasn’t so sure.

“You really care about me?” I asked him.

“Of course I do. Nicki loves you. And you're not that bad of a person. You're kind of adorable.”

Yep, I'm blushing.

“You're not too bad yourself, tiger.”

“A grand compliment if it’s coming from you. I'm flattered.”

Rosie walked over with our drinks balanced on her delicate hand. She sat down her platter & put our drinks in front of us.

“If ya need anything else, let me know. I’ll come right over for ya. Food should be done in about 5.”

She had a real jersey girl accent. Reminded me of that clown girl, Harley Quinn, from the Batman cartoon. You know the one that always called The Joker “Mistah Jay”. Real cute. It suited her.

“Thank you very much. Roxanne, is it?” said Drake.

“Yeah, but everybody calls me Roxy. Either one is fine.”  She said waving him off.

“Well I think Roxy suits you just fine.” He smiled at her.

“Thanks, Mistah Graham. Enjoy the show!”

She walked away, her heels clacking in the distance.

I sipped a little of my water, hoping it would cool down some of the heat I felt all over my body. As promised, our food was served nice & hot to us not long after. These waffles looked delicious! And they had that little scoop of butter on top that looked like ice cream, just like at IHOP. She sat down what I could only assume was maple syrup (this is Canada & all). I poured it on & dug in. Ooooh, this was heavenly. I wanted to scarf it all down but I didn’t want to seem like a pig, so I ate as slow as I could without going crazy.

 Drake was seriously enjoying his grilled cheese. Geeze, if food could make him moan like that, I wonder what sex could do.

“This is amazing. You have to try it.” He said.

“Um, I'm ok with my waffles.”

“No. you haven’t lived until you try this. One bite, come on.”

Is it bad that I think it’s absolutely adorable that he’s sharing his food with me? I don't think I've ever done that with a guy. Goodness, either I had horrible taste in men or he was really nice. Either way, I couldn’t say no. He held his sandwich out to me, letting me take a bite.

Ok, so I think my taste buds just exploded. This was sooo good!

“This is really great.” I said, covering my mouth.

“Right?!”

We laughed at each other as we ate our food.  

 I could hear static in the distance, then a tapping sound & an extra bit of feedback. I looked over to the stage & there was Lula in front of one of those beautiful vintage microphones.

“How’s everybody doin’ tonight?” she asked.

A murmur of ‘fine’ & ‘good’ spread around the room.

“I wanna thank all of you guys for coming out tonight. As you all know, I am Lula Blue. Tonight we have someone real special in the house. I’d like all of you to say hello to a very dear friend of mine. You know him, you love him. Mr. Drizzy Drake!”

A spotlight hit & applause erupted around the room. He wiped his mouth with his napkin & waved sheepishly. He looked a little embarrassed. Can you believe it? Him, embarrassed. Shy even. Talk about humble.

“OK, OK, we don't have time to gawk at pretty boy superstars. You came for the blues, right?!”

We all clapped.

“Alright, I want you guys to give a big round of applause for a very talented young man, Sid Sriram!”

As we clapped, a young man emerged from the side if the stage, hugging Lula before taking his place on a black bar stool in the middle of the stage. He couldn’t be older than about 21. Indian was my guess of his nationality. He looked nervous. He fixed his left leg onto the stool, the other keeping his balance on the ground. He pulled the mic closer & cleared his throat.

“How are you all?”

His voice was so tiny.

“Thank you all for being here & thank you to Talula for having me. Ummm….I guess I’ll get right to it then.”

The guitarist started strumming out something slow & bluesy. The lights went to a deep blue, focused on him. He nodded his head to the melody, took a breath & began.

Where are we going? When are we going to talk? Lovin’ without knowing, when this bomb is going to drop. But baby I still see the beauty in your eyes. And we will never again watch our sun rise….

Unless you talk to me. Can you tell me…what I'm doing, oh so wrong.

Won’t you please talk to me. Can you tell me…what I'm doing, ooooh so wrong.

His voice was so wispy & raspy. It was really chilling. I didn’t expect that to come out of him. I looked over at Drake. His eyes were closed, lips puckered as he nodded his head to the music. The way he cocked his head slightly to the side, gritting his teeth as Sid belted out each distinct riff was so completely passionate. Something about him being encompassed in this young man’s music touched me. You could tell he really loved it. That he was experiencing something he really enjoyed like sex or a relaxing massage. I knew he liked music but I've never seen the passion before. I don't know why but it made him seem deeper to me. Like there were still things to be known & understood about him. I wanted to know. I wanted to understand…to feel the passion he felt. To know what things he was passionate about.

The song ended & everyone applauded. I was still staring at Drake. He looked down, seeing me, & laughed nervously.

“Sorry. I guess I got carried away.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“That kid was incredible, eh?”

“Yes, he was amazing.”

“Aw, man. So much soul in that kid.”

“You really love music.”

“Well, yeah. It kind of is what I do for a living.”

“I know that, but you really love it.”

“Yeah, yeah. But enough about me. What about you?”

“Me? I'm sure Nicki’s told you all about me.”

“But you haven’t. Come on, what are some of your interests?”

Hmm, let’s see. Nicki, sex, food, sex with Nicki, sex with Nicki involving food…

“I…paint…..a little.”

“Wow, really? That’s pretty cool. What kind of stuff do you paint?”

“Mostly water colors. Nothing fancy.”

“Oh, so you just paint flowers & fruit & stuff?”

“Yeah pretty much.”

“Well I’d love to see it some time. Maybe you could teach me. Or maybe…you know….if you need a nude model or anything.” He said, wiggling his brows suggestively.

“Shut up!”

“What? You don't think you can paint me?”

“Probably not. Portraits are a long way from flowers & fruits.”

“Well, I could model for you anyway. It’ll give an excuse to see the goods. You know you want to.”

I had to laugh. He’s such a clown. He laughed too.

“Wait, did you just snort?” he asked.

I covered my mouth & nose.

“No, I did not just snort!”

“You did. I heard you!”

“You did not!”

“I totally heard you snort.”

“Oh my god!”

“It’s ok. It’s cute.”

“A snort is never cute!”

I threw my napkin at him. He dodged me. We both leaned over the table, laughing.

We talked more, quietly, while the music kept flowing. A Frank Ocean cover, something more conscious about what we would do after this point in life & how we can elevate ourselves. Some things I didn’t remember. I wasn’t really paying attention. We had stumbled into a conversation about 1^st kisses & unlucky romance.

“So she just left you there after you basically expressed undying love for her?”

“Yep.”

I chuckled out of sympathy.

“Oh Drizzy. What did you think was gonna happen? She was old enough to be your mom!”

“I know, but I had to tell her. I needed her to know how I felt. I've always been like that.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t always work to your advantage.”

“Yeah, girls can be hurtful, man. You’d think that after hearing so many time that they ‘just want a guy who’s honest & tries to understand me’, that when they finally get what they asked for, they’d appreciate it.”

“Who are you telling? I know that feeling all too well.”

“I think I could deal with it if they just left. The thing that gets me is how after they know they fucked up, they just wanna hurt me. I mean, I like to think I'm a nice guy. I'm a loving individual so I get really attached. And when I feel comfortable with a woman, I like to think that, as my woman, I can talk to you. But then when things don't work out, you’re telling my life story & essentially selling me for fame and or monetary funds. And I don't get that. If you needed it, I could have helped you out. Now, you got printouts of my text messages & outrageous stories about me all over TMZ. And for what? What does it amount to at the end of the day?”

What did it amount to? I can’t even count how many times I've seen stories about him & 1 scandalous woman after the next on my twitter timeline. Where were they all now? Modeling, dancing….making their way from one rapper to the next? The point was that nobody cared. People barely remembered their names. But these stories about him linger forever. People judge him on this stuff, whether it’s true or not. I'm ashamed to say I was one of them. I just don't get how anyone would wanna hurt a guy like him.

I put my hand over his.

“I'm really sorry, Drake.”

“It’s ok really.”

“No, it’s not. Those bitches were stupid. You're such a smart, handsome, amazing guy & they’re pieces of shit to do that to you.”

“It’s fine. I can’t really say I don't return the favor. I write songs about them.”

“How can you compare your poetry to those trash stories on MediaTakeOut or whatever? They should feel lucky you even thought about them.”

“Yeah, well it all worked out in the end. I'm successful, happy & have an amazing woman that loves me. Nicki wouldn’t do that to me. Even if this didn’t end well, she wouldn’t do me like that.”

That was true, Nicki was, above all things, a great friend. She wouldn’t do something like that to a person. She believed in treating someone the way she wanted to be treated.

“The only thing they have left is their child support checks from baby daddys that they wish were me & memories of amazing, indescribable sex we once had.”

“Indescribable? That good, huh?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

He took a swig of the drink he had been nursing for the past 10 minutes. Oh? How soon was soon enough?

I looked at the clock on the wall over the counter. Wow, it was 2 already? Time was flying. It was getting late & Sid was on his last number. It was a dreamy sort of piano number. Something I never heard before but familiar just the same. It was sexy. As soon as he began, the crowd cheered.

You don't know what’s in store. But you know what you're here for. Close your eyes & lay yourself beside me. Oooooh. Hold tight, for this ride. We don't need, no protection. Come along. We don't need attention.

The drums picked up & everybody sand along.

Open ya hand. Take a glass. Don't be scared. I'm right here. Even though, you don't know. Trust me girl. You wanna be, high, for this.

The melody got softer, violins & guitar added drama. Everyone quieted down & let his voice serenade them.

Take it off. You want it off. Cuz I know what you're feeling. It’s ok. Girl, I feel it too. Let it be. Baby, we. I swear I'm right here. We’ll be good. Promise we’ll be so good.

As he sang, I looked at Drake. His dimples, deep as he mouthed the words. I kept staring, willing him to look at me with my eyes. He did, licking his lips. I let my hand creep over to his side of the table, taking his. He looked down as he interlocked his fingers with mine, then back at me. Something surged through me that made me want to be closer. So close that our lips touched. I didn’t know if it crossed the line & I didn’t take time to think about it. I just let my body move. His lips were so soft & warm against mine, massaging me. My tongue skated across his bottom lip, begging for entry. He refused. I bit down on him gently, sucking his delicate skin. He pulled away & let his forehead rest on mine.

“You wanna get out of here?” he whispered.

Yes, fucking yes.

He took my hand, leading me to the door slowly. The cold night air hit me hard. Suddenly I wasn’t feeling as warm & as confident as I did inside Lula Blue’s. He pulled out his phone, I'm sure to call for a car. I grabbed his hand, stopping him.

“Can we walk a while? I'm not quite ready to go home yet.”

He put his phone back in his pocket.

“Sure.”

Our fingers never came apart.

 We walked toward the concrete blockade at the end of the road. One after another, we squeezed past it to a rickety boardwalk. He guided me carefully over a wobbly plank, onto sand. I paused to remove my shoes. We walked a little further before taking a seat on the beach. I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent. It wasn’t the ocean. The smell was cleaner, no salt. I let me head rest on his shoulder as I listened to Lake Ontario lapping the shore.

“What happened between 5 minutes ago & now?” he asked.

I lifted my head & sighed.

“I remembered that there was another person we share our lives with. The one that makes the rules.”

He sighed too.

“So where do we draw the line?”

I didn’t know. It’s not like I read a book on it or anything. The only thing I could think of was to keep going until I felt it was enough. But, what if none of it was enough? What if I just wanted all of him? I guess I wouldn’t know if I didn’t try.

“You stop when I say stop?”

I looked at him, making sure he understood me.

“Always.”

I pulled him to me, letting my lips touch his, slowly, then fast, then slow again. He laid me down, his tongue entering my mouth, massaging, wrestling mine into submission. I had forgotten what it was like to let someone else lead my body. Before long, he was between my legs, his mouth at my neck & his hand on my thigh. His fingertips got higher & higher. My arms were around his neck, fingers in his curls. I could feel the heat of his skin on the other side of the thin fabric that hid my pleasure.

Oh god.

His fingers rubbed gently. Putting pressure on my center. I'm sure his fingers were moist by now.

Oh god.

His fingers made their way to my bikini line, tracing the seam of my panties. He was hesitating. Why now? I didn’t say stop yet. I felt his teeth softly biting at my flesh & I remembered. I saw her face. Felt her lips, her hands, her hips & knew I had to stop.

I let my hands fall from around his neck & sat up on my elbows. I couldn’t do it. Not without her. Neither could he. We both knew it.

He pulled me to him, his arms holding me close.

“I guess that’s the line.” He said.

I looked down at where we had just been in the sand, then back out to the water.

“Yeah,” I breathed, “I guess it is.”

If you have a moment, pleeeeeaaaase, check out the amazing sid sriram on youtube. His cover of the weeknd's "High For This" is outstanding. You can see that HERE