Kintsugi Part II
Kintsugi Part II
By: Honey B. Baker
“Wow Nadia...” I woke up to that two-word text from Donovan. Dylan was still
sleep on the bed beside me. We’d ended up staying up all night just talking,
laughing, and getting to know each other. He’d fallen asleep on my old lumpy
couch so I’d invited him to bed. He politely refused but eventually gave into
my prodding. To my pleasant surprise he didn’t try me; he just went to sleep. I
read the text and quickly exited out of it.
I wasn’t
about to go back down the rabbit hole with Donovan. I’d clearly seen the
jealously in his eyes at the bar the night before. Donovan always thought he
was better than me and thus that meant I couldn’t do any better than him so he
could just treat me however he deemed fit. Last night he could clearly see he’d
lost out it was obvious that Dylan was a better man in so many aspects: better
looking, better dressed, and a pure aura. Donovan was not a bad looking man but
his insecurities about himself clouded him and made him nasty and arrogant; he
always had to be right.
I went
into the kitchen and quietly began making breakfast. As I put the finishing
touches on my pancakes Donovan slowly emerged from my bedroom shirtless and
still wearing the sweatpants. “Good morning, Nadia.” “Good morning, Dylan.”
“Something smells good.” He said as he came into the kitchen and look at the
small breakfast spread I’d prepared. “Looks good too.” He said before washing
his hands and fixing a plate. “No, I got that. Let me do that for you.” “Nah,
you already did enough. I haven’t had a homemade breakfast in forever. So this
is much appreciated.” He placed a plate in front of me as he joined me at the
table.
“What
are you getting into on this beautiful Saturday morning?” “Going into the
office I need to get some work done.” “You need
to get some work done or want to?” “A little of both.” “Take the day off and
hang out with me. Give yourself a break.” “What do you have in mind, Dylan?”
“Lunch, go check out this art exhibit downtown, see the sights, dinner, and after
that whatever you want.” He said as he gave me a warm, inviting smile as he
waited for my answer. “I’ll let you know something.” Dylan’s face took on a
look of disappointment. “Sounds about like a no.” “I’m sorry, Dylan.”
Dylan
reached across the table and gently touched my hand. “Nadia, remember what I
said last night. I just want us to get to know each other better. You are
different and I want to get to know you better. I want you to give me that
chance and I want you to take the time to get to know me.” His voice sounded
sincere and honest. “I’m not going to hit you with that I’m not like other
dudes shit because I am like other dudes. But I’m ready to do better and to be
better for the right woman. I feel like that’s you.” I gave him a skeptical look
as skepticism permeated my voice. “What makes me so different?” “Tasha used to
talk to me about you a lot. Nadia this, Nadia that. She told me about the shit
you went through with dude. And I just listened. She talked about you a lot and
I became interested. I mean from my understanding dude put you through a lot
but you still wanted to love him. Woman like you are rare. You just need to put
your heart in the right hands.”
I eyed him skeptically. “And you’re the right man?” “Nadia,
I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m the one for you. I do not know if I
am or not. But I do know this I won’t hurt you. I just want to see where things
go.” He sounded sincere but I just didn’t know. “I’ll let you know something
before ten.” “Okay Nadia.” He said as his voice took on a clearly disappointed
done. We finished breakfast and he did the dishes.
He hugged me before he left. “Let me know something. I’ll be
around.” “Okay Dylan.” I got dressed to
go out for my run when I returned Donovan’s black-on-black S-Class was in my
driveway. What the fuck?
As I walked up my driveway he emerged from his car. “Good
morning, Nadia.” “What the fuck are you doing here?” “Damn, no good morning?”
He said as he flashed his lady killer smile that used to make me weak in my knees.
“Like I said, what the fuck do you want?” “Nadia, can we talk for a minute?”
“About?” “Us. I thought we were friends.” “Donovan, we stopped being friends
with my grandfather died and you weren’t even decent to come check on me. We
stopped being friends when you saw me broke down on the side of 85 and kept
right on going. You thought I didn’t see you, huh? Fuck you!” With that being
said I stormed past him and went inside.
This was classic Donovan behavior. Donovan didn’t want me
but he didn’t want anyone else to have me, period.
“Hey, I’ll take you up
on your offer.” “I’ll be you up at one. Dress casual.” I peeped out of my
blinds to make sure Donovan was gone; I peeked out just in time to see his car
turning off of my street.
“You look beautiful.” Dylan said as he gave me a dozen rich red roses. “Awww these are gorgeous. Thanks!” “You’re welcome.”
As we drove downtown Ari Lennox’s album flowed through the
luxury sound system. “Are you familiar with Kehinde Wiley’s work?” “Oh my God!
Yes! I love his work! I’ve been trying to get down here to see his exhibit
since it’s been in town.” “Well today’s the day.” He said as he flashed me a
playful smile.
As we walked around the gallery he held my hand as we
discussed the art. “This is cool. You’re the first guy I’ve met who was into
art.” “Yeah, I dabble in painting a little bit myself. Nowhere near this level
though.” “I’d love to see your work.” “I’m not that great. It’s just a hobby.”
“I hear you.”
We went to lunch at my favorite restaurant downtown. Over
lunch I studied his face. His features were gorgeous; long eyelashes, heavy
well-defined eyebrows, warm and expressive eyes, even his nose was beautiful,
and his lips had just the right amount of full and were gorgeous. I got so lost
in his face that I didn’t even realize he was talking to me.
“Nadia, Nadia...” “Huh? My bad.” “I was asking is your food
good?” “Oh yeah, it’s delicious.” “Cool. I walk past this place everyday on the
way to the office but never tried it. But I guess you know all the good places
here. Since you’re from here.” “I wouldn’t say all that.” “Well next time
you’re going to take me around and give me a tour.” “I can do that. So what’s
next?” “It’s on you. I just want to spend time with you.” As he said that he
looked directly into my eyes and I felt radiant warmth spread through my body.
“So Miss Jones, what’s the move?” “Well since we’re downtown we might as well
go to the movies.” “Sounds good.”
As we sat down in our seats the theater Dylan cautiously
pulled me closer. He smelled so good. As the movie started to play Dylan’s cell
phone started to ring. He whispered that he had to take the call and briskly
walked out. When came back in and sat down he looked dejected. “I have to go. I
just got called into the office. I’ll call you an Uber.” I tried to hide my
anger and disappointment but it seeped through. “No, I’m good. I’ll get my own
ride. Handle your business.” “Nadia, I’m so sorry. Please don’t be mad.” “I
said you’re good.”
Dylan slowly walked away leaving me sitting by myself. I
don’t even know why I had wanted to believe in him. After the movie was over I
caught a Lyft home and started working on my homework; I needed to get this
done anyway. Fuck Dylan!
“Nadia, I am so, so,
so, sorry. Please let me make it up to you ASAP. I know today’s date wasn’t
ideal.” “Yea.” “Nadia don’t be like
that.” “No it’s cool. I understand. I honestly do.”
I feel asleep on my couch reading about cognitive
development and intelligence. I woke up to Roscoe barking alerting me to the
fact someone was at the door. I looked out the blinds and saw Dylan’s Porsche
Panamera in my driveway. I opened the door and Dylan was standing there with
another dozen roses, two bags of takeout from my favorite restaurant, a bottle
of Wine, and a Redbox DVD plus a box of my favorite chocolate. “I told you I
was going to make it up to you. Can I come in?” He said as he gave me a puppy
dog face. I shrugged, “Yeah, come on in.”
He placed the food on the kitchen table and went into my
cabinet and took out plates. Over dinner, I began to thaw towards him. I could
tell he was really trying to get on my good side. After dinner he popped in the
DVD and sat on the couch beside me. He slowly pulled me closer as we laid down
to watch the movie. As the movie progressed gently touched my bare thigh and
lightly kissed me on the neck—hitting just the right spot. He moved his other
arm and wrapped it around my waist.
I could feel his heart rate and pulse quickening. He moved
his hand to my inner thigh and let it rest there then slowly inching it up as
he kissed my neck again this time more passionately. A light moan escaped my
lips as his hand moved further up.
Dylan got on top of me and positioned himself between my
legs—he kissed my neck and slowly lifted my shirt kissing on my stomach as he
looked up at me. It felt so damn good.
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“Dylan, we need to stop. This is too soon.”
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