Always With You

•s i x

The One With The First Date.

What the fuck did I do? I haven't been on a date in 7 years!! You should call and cancel. That's just rude. At the moment I'm sitting in my closet trying to figure out what to wear to this dinner with Drake. To say I'm freaking out would be an understatement.

"Mama, you need help?" Naomi comes in with her tablet in hand.

"Yes please baby. Thank you."

"I knew you'd be nervous, so I spoke to Aunt London and Kiana, they said you should wear the sequined dress, you know the one that reaches your ankles with the black Jimmy Choo heels. Aunt Kiana said just middle part your curls and go with natural make up. Oh I suggested the black clutch Bianca and I got you for your birthday last year." She finishes and walks out the room with her head down, reading what looks like a book on her tablet.

I've been trying to figure out what to wear for the past 2 hours and all it took was a presumably 5 minute conversation between my sisters and a 7 year old to figure it out. Un-freaken-believable.

After the initial way of shock past, I began getting ready. 45 minutes later I was finished and on my way out the door. Drake offered to fetch me but I don't want him to know where I live. I get in my Pearl white Mercedes Benz G350 and embark on the drive to the Italian restaurant.

At exactly 20h30, I arrived at the restaurant. Is it too late to chicken out? Yes, yes it is. You already 30 minutes late. Just get in there. Whatever happens, happens, right? With a large intake of oxygen and a little pep talk I step out of the car and head inside.

"Welcome to Felicita, reservation for 1." The hostess greets.

"Ahhhh, no. I'm here meeting someone. Uhmmm, there he is. Thank you." As I approached the table, he stands up.

"Kenya. You look... amazing."

"Thanks,  you don't look to shabby yourself." He pulls out my chair and I sit down before he sits across from me.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Had a little trouble at home so yeah."

"Its cool. I'm just glad you actually showed up. Thought you were going to ditch me."

"Do I seem that cruel?" I say feigning some hurt. The waiter soon comes and takes our orders.

"So Kenya Smith, tell me your story."

"What are 17? This isn't the Fault In Our Stars."

"Hey that is a great movie,okay." He says with a slight blush on his cheeks. He looks so cute.

"Anyway. I'm 25. I grew up in Chicago. Moved here after my senior year. I graduated at UCLA with a degree in Business Communications. I own Smith Corporation. I have a 7 year old daughter, had her senior year. I have a fraternal twin and a older sister. Never knew my daddy. Mamma was/ is on crack, haven't seen her in 19 years. I'm obsessed with cars. Hate make up and getting dressed. I love living in sweats. I enjoy watching rugby instead of any other sport. And I hate homophobes and transphobes. How about you?"

"Wait... You own Smith Corporation? That's a multibillion dollar company. Your only 25! You're unbelievable. This might sound creepy but I try googling you, I found your company but not you. Why aren't there any pictures linking the two? If you don't mind me asking."

It deeply pains me to admit that him going crazy over my achievements sent shivers down my spine and butterflies dancing in my stomach.

"Well, thank you. And do you google every woman you like or am I the exception?"

"Not all the woman I like vanish for 3 days. And I'm usually not rude to woman I like. So there's that." He says looking at me dead in the eyes. I feel like his staring at my soul.

"Well, being a woman in the technology industry is difficult, so not having my pictures linked to my company gives my competitors a fair opinion of my company. I also venture out a lot. I dabble in everything so more targets on my back. It also gives me the opportunity to give my daughter a normal childhood."

"I see your point. But being with me will bring attention, not to toot my own horn but I'm pretty good at what I do."

"Modest much. I've managed to stay out of the spotlight for the 5 years my company has been mainstream so I think I can manage. So what's your story?" The waiter brings our food before he begins talking.

"Well. I'm 30. Born and raised in LA. Spent a couple of years in Miami. Came back to LA when I was a senior. I went to Harvard Law School. I'm a DA. My mom lives in Riverside, California. Never knew my daddy. I'm an only child. I love basketball and video games. I enjoy boxing in my free time. Uhmmmm and I suck at this." He laughs a little before digging into his food.

"Its okay. There are somethings we have to decrypt about a person and that takes time."

"Is there a second date in the near future that I need to prepare for?"

"Easy there, Jordan. Let's just get though this one first okay? But if things continue going this well then, who knows."

To say that the dinner went great would be an understatement. The evening was just amazing.