2
The next morning, she had a message waiting for her. “I’m happy you made it home safe, and even happier that you called me. I really want to get together later. If you’re interested, give me a call.” Craig’s voice sounded so sexy on the phone.
“Call him, girl,” Roni advised her. “He was cute and you can have some fun. Don’t be all serious. He can be your rebound man.”
Kayla should have known not to ask Roni, but she had popped up at the music store to meet Kayla for lunch and she couldn’t resist telling her about the message.
“What do I say?” Kayla asked her. Out of all her friends, Roni was considered the wild one. She always had a trail of guys who she had on call, so if there was an event she wanted to attend that required an escort, she had an abundance of men to choose from. She never got too serious or “caught up” and always said she would never get married.
Because of this, Kayla thought, she had never had her heart broken.
“Come on, Kay. Say you’re interested. Go out. Have fun. Get some. Girl, you are young and free. Enjoy it,” she said between bites.
“I don’t know, Ron.”
“I know you ain’t still dwelling on that nigga Geno. Kayla, he’s had no problem getting footloose and fancy-free. I know you heard about his new girl. You better get real. How long has it been? A year?”
“A year and some change. But you’re right. I do need to get on with my life.” Kayla nodded. She didn’t dare tell Roni that she had hooked up with Geno last month on a whim. They had talked occasionally and run into each other at the music store.
“Get out and get some, Kayla. Call him. Go out. What’s the worst that can happen?” Ron reached for the check. “It’s on me, girl.”
“Which one of your suitors hooked you up this weekend?”
“Trey. He got his income tax check and he won’t be here next weekend for Valentine’s. He feels bad.” Roni laughed. “I guess I’ll have to go out with Darren so I won’t feel bad, huh?”
“You are crazy. You give the word player a whole new definition. I can’t wait for the day you fall in love.”
“Never that, sweetheart. I got too much game.”
“Okay, game. Let’s go before I get fired,” Kayla said and rose to leave.
“So, when are you gonna call?”
“After I get off.”
“Handle your business, girlfriend. And let me know how it goes.” The two women parted ways and Kayla went back to work. She decided to return Craig’s call during her last break. She found the paper that she put in her pocket before she left for work and again paged him with her cell number and the code sixty-eight. She hoped he would call back as soon as she paged him because her break was only fifteen minutes long.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. The vibration of her phone startled her to the point that Kayla nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked at the caller ID and recognized the other number Craig had written on the piece of paper. She took a deep breath and let the phone ring twice more. Don’t want him to think I’m sweating him.
“Hello,” she answered.
“So what’s with the sixty-eight, beautiful?” Craig asked in his deep voice.
“I’ll always leave you wanting more. What’s up with you?” She was trying to sound nonchalant.
“I’m doing better now that I’ve talked to you. You sleep a’ight?”
She could hear him stretching and wondered if he had just gotten up. Maybe I should have called later. “I slept fine. Thanks for asking. You busy?”
“No. I’m ’bout to hit the gym and then grab me some food. Would you care to join me?” he asked. She didn’t know if he meant the gym or dinner.
“No, I have to work until four. As a matter of fact, my break is almost over. I did want to return your call, though.”
“Well, can I take you out later? After you get off? I mean, that’s still early. We can catch a movie or something.” He seemed really interested in her and she was flattered.
“Okay. What if I call you around seven and we can meet somewhere?”
“A’ight. I’ll talk to you then. Bye, Beautiful.”
“Bye.” Kayla couldn’t help smiling as she put her phone back in her pocket.
They met for drinks and a movie that night. Kayla had to catch her breath when she saw him for the second time. The resemblance to Geno was still noticeable; there was no denying the boy was fine. But Craig had a hardness about him that Geno didn’t have. He told her he was a chef at a local hotel. He took much pride in his cooking skills and offered to demonstrate them the following weekend, which was of course, one Kayla was dreading. It was Valentine’s Day.
“I have to think about it and let you know,” she told him as he walked her to her car. She looked at him and still could not deny the attraction she held for him. It wasn’t that he looked like Geno. Craig had that same sparkle in his personality that made her laugh, something she hadn’t done in a while.
“What’s there to think about? You already got plans? I know it’s the day for lovers, but it can be for friends, too.” He grabbed her hand and held it for a moment as he looked into her eyes. She immediately felt self-conscious and looked away. “Do you know how beautiful you are?” he said.
This totally took Kayla by surprise. She’d been told before how attractive she was. She had even been called beautiful before, but Craig said it with such intensity that it stunned her. She looked up at him and as if on cue in a romance film, he pulled her to him. He kissed her so passionately that time seemed to stand still.
That kiss stayed on her mind for days. It was on her mind Monday when she woke up and got dressed for work. It was on her mind when she was stuck in traffic, leaving school and headed to the music store listening to Musiq sing about “love.” It was on her mind as she listened to the messages Craig left on her voice mail at home and on her cell phone.
“Hi, Kayla. I know you’re at school, but I woke up with you on my mind and I wanted to hear your voice. So, your voice mail will just have to do until I talk to you, if you decide to grace me with a phone call. Have a great day, beautiful.”
Kayla could not help but smile as she hung up the phone late that Thursday evening. She still had not decided what she would do for Valentine’s Day. Yvonne wanted everyone to go out, but Roni of course had plans and so did Tia. Kayla figured she would play it by ear. She had a long week and didn’t really feel like going out and seeing other couples all hugged up, knowing that this time last year she was happily involved herself. Geno. Wonder what he’ll be doing tomorrow? Probably with his new trick, she thought. At that moment, the phone rang and she was surprised to see Geno’s cell number on the caller ID.
Taking a deep breath, she answered with a low, “Hello.” “Hey, Kay. How’s it going?” He sounded great, as usual. The sound of his voice caused waves of memories to come flooding back.
“Great, G. And you?” she asked, monitoring her breathing.
“I’ve been good. I just called to check on you. I mean, it’s been a while since we talked and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine, G.” She didn’t know what he wanted to hear at this point.
“You weren’t busy, were you? I mean, you sound kinda distant. Am I disturbing you or something?”
“No. I just got in from work. But I do have some papers I am about to grade. And I gotta get these gift bags together for my kids.” She sighed, still wondering what brought this phone call on. She and Geno had not parted on the best of terms, but they had gotten to the point where they were at least friends. It still hurt her to know what he had done, but it hurt even more that they were no longer together.
“Well, I’m not gonna keep you long, Kay. I just wanted to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day and make sure you’re doing all right,” Geno said quietly. She could hear him fumbling in the background.
“Where are you, Geno? You sound muffled,” Kayla asked him, straining to decipher the background noise.
“The door is locked!” She heard a female voice yelling.
“I’m picking my friend up from work. Hey, it was nice talking to you. I’ll call you back later,” he quickly said and the phone went dead.
That nigga had the nerve to call me while he was picking up some other chick from work. She shook her head and threw the phone on the bed. She had to remind herself that they were no longer together so she had no right to be mad. Again, she told herself that he had moved on, so it was time for her to do the same thing. The kiss again was on her mind as she picked up the phone and dialed Craig’s number.