“I’m not sure. That’s what I’m trying to get to the bottom of,” Blacc responded.
“Hello, I’m right here,” I said, looking at both Ced and Blacc.
They were acting like older brothers finding out I was dating for the first time.
“Spit it out then,” Ced replied.
“He’s not sniffing around, as you put it. We are friends. He asked me to go with him and his daughters to their friend’s house for dinner. It’s a whole back story, but I’m just going for support.”
“On a date?” Blacc asked.
“That’s the very definition of sniffing if he asked you on a date,” Ced said.
“It’s not sniffing, and it’s not a date. I’m going for support,” I countered, feeling the need to explain myself.
“Do I need to speak with Moe?” Blacc asked.
“Blacc, if you don’t carry your light bright ass back over to your side…”
“As long as he knows you got people. Negros act differently when they know you got people,” Ced said.
“Who needs some act right?” Nelson asked.
“What’s going on?” Ed added.
“Oh my gawd see what you started?” I said to Blacc.
“Moe started it,” Blacc responded.
“Aye, for real, if he likes you, then cool, but just let him know that we don’t fuck around when it comes to y’all,” Nelson said.
“Go and cut some hair or something,” I laughed and started pushing them towards theFadeside of the building.
* * *
“Is this water too hot?” the nail technician asked.
“No, it’s perfect, thank you.”
Keeva, Robin, and I were at the spa having a girls day out. We had talked on the phone a lot, but our schedules were so hectic that we didn’t get to see each other in person unless they were at the shop getting their hair done.
“How are the swim classes going?” Keeva asked.
“They’ve been great. I wasn’t nearly as afraid as I thought I’d be. Morris is extremely patient with me. If he tells me to do something and I mess it up fifteen times, he’s still just as patient when he explains it to me the sixteenth time. I haven’t seen him irritated or frustrated yet. He even makes me take a step back when I try to get frustrated. I love being in his class.”
“He is the best swim instructor we have,” Keeva responded. “And he does it for the price of the girls’ dance classes, which is amazing to me.”
“What does he look like wet?” Robin asked. “Cause he’s fine fully dressed.”
“He’s covered the entire time. He wears a wet suit and swim trunks. The only thing that’s out are those hairy legs and arms,” I responded.
“It’s not a requirement for him to wear a wet suit, but I think he feels like it makes the parents more comfortable. It doesn’t matter how covered he is, those mommas still stare and lick their lips. Some of the dads, too,” Keeva chuckled.
“I saw some of those thirst buckets hanging around after the class was over.”
“They do every time,” Keeva said.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Keeva.