Dippin' Low: The Story of Honey (EDITING)

Chapter 8: Steppin' Out

"Hey,shawty is like a stripper. Look at her legs, she can't get no thicker."-Cali Saw District

                                                                                                                                                           Chapter |8|

I admit, for the first five minutes I was very nervous. I did my best not to show it but I'm sure he could tell, but showed no sign that he knew. For the next few minutes, he smiled and laughed and asked how my day was and what I did. I responded curtly, not on purpose but I couldn't really get my words out around this man and I was hatting at the fact that he had this effect on me.

"Sweetheart, relax." He said sweetly. He placed his hand on mine that rested on the table and I couldn't help but relax my shoulders. Maybe I was acting weird but again he had that effect.

"I'm good." Get it together Cassandra! I thought to myself. He was a man and he shouldn't be this intimidating. I looked into his warm eyes. "I promise, I'm good."

He leaned back in his chair and thanked the waitress that placed a new glass of water in front of him and asked if I wanted anything. I shook my head and she attended to another table.

"Well then, if you're okay, can you answer my question?" I nodded my head forgetting what that question was.

"What was the question?"

He chuckled. It was a warm, low laugh. "I asked what are you and your friends doing over here on the nicer side of Nevada?"

The "nicer" side of Nevada was twenty minutes in the other direction of Las Vegas. It was the quieter, richer side of the state and surely wasn't for those who lived in the hood which made me question what he did that he was able to even afford this restaurant. Then I allowed what he said to sink in.

"Are you suggesting that me and my friends can't afford this side of the state?" I said with a raised eyebrow. His smile widened and he threw his hands up in surrender and chuckled once more.

"No i'm not saying  that at-,"

"Then what else could you possibly have meant?" I folded my arms across my chest. Yes, I was genuinely offended about the comment. I had the money and definitely the looks to live on this side. Anything suggesting otherwise was pure bullshit.

"Oh, feisty. I like that, but that's not what im saying. Don't try to twist my words woman. All i'm saying is not many black people come on this side unless they're lawyers, doctors or celebrities at the least." I unfolded my arms because he was starting to make sense. Him and my friends were one of the many few black people that were sitting in this restaurant right now.

"Do you have a law degree or a doctorate?" I shook my head no. "I didn't think so lil' mama." He sipped his water. "All I'm saying is you must be stacking some serious bank if you're here. That's all. Believe me it's a compliment and nothing else."

I looked at him and I mean really looked at him. I could tell there was no type of ill intentions when he spoke. I believed him and let out a sigh. I looked back at Tyrone and Nova who was looking my way not even blinking. Nova had her eyes on me with her thumbs up and Tyrone..well Tyrone was a different story. He was looking at Zeke in a macho kind of way. Not as a borther would a sister but as a boyfriend would to his girlfriend's guy friend. I made a mental note to ask what his deal was later.

Looking back at Zeke I replied, calmly this time. "I get it now. Um, my friend Tyrone is a marketing representative for one of the casinos and Nova and I are.." I didn't know if I should tell him what her and I exactly did. Telling a man that a woman is a stripper wasn't something you would expect especially if you guys just met. I was really feeling Zeke and I didn't want anything to jeopardize a possible friendship. I know he wouldn't look at me the same way.