The Build Up (73)

“Well, you know, just in case. Besides. You already know I have like four more copies.”

Ari threw up her hands. “Of course, you do, Doris James!”

Doris smiled, reaching for her purse on the opposite end of the counter. Its bright red color also matched her hair. Doris was a whiz at coordination and had a flair for style. I wondered if Ari would be just as fly at her age.

“Well,” Doris declared with a florid swoosh of her Burberry cape. “I’m going to leave you two to your hooky day from work. Get back to...you know...whatever it was you all were doing before I came in. I wouldn’t mind if you made me a grandbaby. Ari, are you on the pill?”

“Goodbye, Mama,” Ari huffed.

Doris kissed Ari on the cheek and stretched her hands out to me for a hug. I hugged her, and she squeezed tightly.

“Treat my baby right, Smokey,” Doris whispered in my ear. “Even if she resists!”

“I will,” I said.

I watched as Doris threw her hand up and switched her hips out of the door. I turned to Ari with a smile. “Your mom is something else.”

Ari, still reeling from embarrassment, put her hands in her hair. “Ugh. I know. My mama is just...a lot. Listen, about the key thing. When the time is right, we will talk about it. Until then...”

Before I knew it, I pulled out my key ring and located my extra key. I slid it across the counter toward Ari. Her bright brown eyes widened. I didn’t know why, but it felt right.

“Only if you want to,” I said. “No pressure. We don’t even know what we are. But I’d rather you find me before my cats ate my remains in my loft. Also, clear my search history.”

“Clear out search engine for Big Booty Judy 3. Got it. Wait.” Ari squinted. “You have a cat? Multiple cats?”

I snorted. “God no. But if I had cats, that would be my worst nightmare.”

Ari slid my key toward her, placing it in her pocket. She handed me her key that Doris left on the counter. “No pressure either. But you make a compelling argument with the cats.”

“So, what does this mean?” I asked, hesitantly.

Ari sighed, stared up at the ceiling, and then looked at me. “This means I’m willing to try. If you’d like.”

“I’d like that. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure?”

“Are you still going to be my date at the gala?”

Ari smiled, leaned over the kitchen counter, and placed a kiss on my cheek. “I’d be delighted to escort you, Mr. Harrison.”

I beamed. “It’s a date. An official date.”

Ari frowned. “Wait, so all the other times we’ve gone out for lunch? Or drinks after work? Or sex? Those weren’t dates?”

I shook my head. “Nope. We were just friends. Friends who had sex but friends.”

“Okay, then what are we now?”

I scratched my chin. “Lovers and friends?”

Ari laughed, then started dancing to some unheard beat. “Okay Usher...”

I laughed too. “Listen, let’s not think about it. No pressure, remember? When the time is right, we’ll know. Okay?”

“Okay. No pressure.”

I winked as I took Ari’s hand in mine, pulling her into my lap. “Okay. Now, let’s get back to the lovers part, you know, before your mama saw you in your Underoos.”

“I hope a dozen cats eat those pretty eyeballs!” laughed Ari as she pressed her lips against mine.



Chapter Twenty-Seven


Ari


I couldn’t breathe.

No, I literally couldn’t breathe because I had on at least two pairs of Spanx under this dress. I was nervous. This Hampton Atlanta Alumni’s Blue and White gala would be our first truly public outing as a couple. And this was a hell of a public place to debut. A fundraiser gala with some of who’s who in Atlanta. Were we a couple? I mean, I wasn’t entirely sure. Yes, we spent time together. Since helping me find my new car, and coming to the hospital, Porter and I literally saw each other 24/7. We hadn’t really defined what this was. We were still at a crossroads. But it felt nice. Natural. Like Porter had always been a part of my life.

I wasn’t driving my new car tonight. Porter had insisted on picking me up. For the gala, I decided on a gold, low-cut sequin dress that had a small train. It hugged every single curve. My hair was half up/half down and I threw on a very expensive red liquid lipstick that I had been saving for special occasions. I looked at myself in the full-length mirror and attempted to take a breath. I was second-guessing the choice to wear false eyelashes when the doorbell rang.

I grabbed my purse and my heavy winter wrap and opened the door. Standing in front of me was Porter, who looked every bit the part of Black James Bond. Damn, he looked good. And knowing Porter, that tux was custom-made. Instantly, I wanted to unravel his bow tie slowly, feeling the delicate silk run through my fingers, and use it to blindfold him. Or tie him up. All the dirty thoughts were running through my head.

“Wow. That dress! You look amazing, Ari,” said Porter as he bit his lip slightly. He was holding a corsage. I looked at him, a bit puzzled.

“A corsage, Porter?”

“I remembered you saying you didn’t go to the prom in high school. So, I thought I’d make up for lost time. You look amazing. Did I say that already?” Porter rubbed his hand over his softer, shorter curls.