What Ya Girl Won't Do (12 page)

Kylee turned on her stereo while getting dressed; music was a good way to get her pumped for her date. Trinidad James came on and Kylee instantly got hyped as she sang along with him.

“‘Gold all in my chain, gold all in my ring / Gold all in my watch, don't believe me just watch.'” Kylee walked back in the bathroom and grabbed the gel and rubbed it in all through her hair, and brushed it down to her scalp before tying it up with her scarf. Kylee sang loud and off key as Bobby Brown began singing “Rock Wit'cha.” Naturally beautiful, Kylee only applied NARS pink sherbet gloss to her lips before heading out of the bathroom and over to the bed to retrieve her skirt. She stepped into it and zipped it up on her way over to the full-length floor mirror to check out her rear view. Pleased with what she saw, Kylee continued getting dressed. Kylee then grabbed her red Giani Bernini handbag out of the closet and stuffed her phone, wallet, keys, and lip gloss inside of it. After a few last minute touches and accessorizing, Kylee sprayed on a few squirts of Jimmy Choo.

Finally, Kylee made sure her bedroom and bathroom were both on point just in case she was lucky enough to have an overnight guest. This time Kylee already had it made up in her mind that if Eli did ever stay at her house again, sleeping would be the very last thing on the agenda.

After checking herself for the fifth or sixth time, Kylee grabbed her belongings before turning off the stereo and lights and heading downstairs. Kylee was sitting on the sofa watching
Love & Hip Hop Atlanta
when her phone began ringing. She reached inside her purse, checked the caller ID, and answered it.

“Hello?” she answered with a huge smile.

“I'm on my way,” Eli said.

“Okay, I'm ready,” Kylee said.

“A'iiiight, be there in about ten minutes.”

“Okay,” Kylee said happily before pushing the end button on her phone. Kylee threw her phone back in her purse, quickly removed the scarf from around her head and rushed over to the mirror to see if her hair had lain down like she wanted it to. Loving the results of her do, she took her socks off and felt her heels to see if they were soft. Seeing that they were, she then slid her feet inside her shoes. She rushed over to the full-length mirror she had hanging in the foyer and checked herself out one last time. Giving herself a stamp of approval, she smiled and went back in the living room and sat back down on the sofa and anxiously watched the clock on the cable box.

Twenty minutes had passed and Kylee felt herself getting an attitude. Eli should have been there. Making her wait longer than she was told was absurd. Ten more minutes had passed and Kylee became furious.

“Shit, this nigga got me fucked up. I coulda been over at Tony's gettin' paid, but no, I'm sittin' here, waitin' on his stupid ass!” she fumed as she sat on the sofa, bouncing her leg. “I'ma cuss this muthafucka out when he gets here. Shit, he ain't gon' be playin' me like I'm average!”

Kylee stood up from the sofa and paced back and forth through the living room, ranting and raving.

“Fuck this shit! I'm 'bouta call this nigga and tell him I'm cool.” Kylee walked over and grabbed her phone out of her purse. As soon as she was about to call Eli the doorbell rang. Kylee threw her phone back inside her purse and stormed over to the door and swung it open with a mug on her face.

“Sorry I'm late.” Eli smiled while stepping in.

Kylee's demeanor quickly softened once she laid her eyes on the prize. Eli was dressed in a black Richard James blazer, with a light blue, white, and gray soft cotton Valentino shirt, and a pair of clouded-tone Levi's 513s, and he rocked a pair of black leather Gucci bamboo driving loafers. The top of his hair was twisted and pulled back in a neat ponytail while the rest of it hung loose. His cologne alone had Kylee wanting to fuck. “It's okay. I was just sittin' on the sofa watchin' TV.” She smiled.

“I had to handle some business before I came over here. I stopped by my dude Big Ness house and, man, that nigga will talk yo' head off. Once he start it's hard as fuck to get his ass to shut up,” Eli explained while laughing.

“How come you just didn't tell him to shut the fuck up?” Kylee laughed too.

“I tried to tell the nigga I had somethin' to do, but he just kept on talkin' like I ain't said shit.” Eli laughed even harder.

“You shoulda just walked away from his ass. He woulda caught on sooner or later,” Kylee joked.

“I don't know if he woulda. Anyways, enough about Big Ness. Let's talk about how good you look in that outfit I picked out.” He smiled.

“I do look good, don't I?” Kylee smiled while slowly turning in a circle so Eli could see her from all angles. “And thank you for everything. I love the flowers. I never seen green and orange roses before.”

“You don't have to thank me. I done it 'cause I like to see my women smile.” Eli smiled.

“I'm not ya woman,” Kylee said, trying to play hard while really wishing she was.

“Not yet.” Eli winked.

“Ummm, let me go get my purse,” Kylee said, all flustered, as she headed to the living room to get her handbag.

Eli shook his head and smiled, knowing he had Kylee off her square.

“I'm ready,” Kylee said, walking back into the foyer.

Eli opened the door for Kylee to go out first. She walked out and waited for him to join her. Once he did, Kylee turned and locked the door.

“Did I tell you how good you look in that outfit?” Eli asked teasingly.

“Yes, you did.” Kylee laughed.

“Oh, okay, just makin' sure.” He smiled.

Kylee smiled widely. “Oh okay.”

“How many niggas you know who can dress themselves and their woman?” Eli asked as they headed down the walk toward his car.

“Not many,” Kylee admitted with a smile. “And again, I'm not your woman.”

Kylee and Eli both looked over at Mr. Vernon, who was sitting on his porch with a couple of his buddies, sipping on a beer. They both waved. Mr. Vernon lifted his beer in the air and was about to open his mouth to say something slick as usual, but he thought about the tongue-lashing Kylee had gave to him earlier, and decided to keep his mouth closed for once.

Kylee could tell by all the cars parked in the lot across the street from the restaurant that it had to be popular. She sat quietly as Eli pulled up to the front of the restaurant. He put the car in park and waited for the valet to come up. One attendant opened the door and helped Kylee out while another one walked around and took the keys from Eli. Kylee stepped out, fixed her clothes, and waited for Eli to walk around the car to join her.

“What's the name of the restaurant we goin' to?” Kylee asked.

“It's called Enclave,” Eli said, pointing to the big sign on the front of the building.

“Oh, shit I didn't even see the sign.” Kylee laughed. “What you know about this restaurant?”

“My nigga Tim owns it,” he replied as he and Kylee headed to the door.

“Tim who?” Kylee asked, remembering a guy named Tim who owned a restaurant and tried to holla at her a few months ago at the carwash; but she quickly brushed him off by giving him a fake name and the number to Pizza Hut.

“You sure is nosey.” Eli laughed as he checked the caller ID on his ringing cell phone.

“I might know him.”

“Well if you do know him, you betta act like you don't,” Eli joked.

“Whatever, nigga.” Kylee laughed.

“Good evening,” the doorman greeted them while opening the door.

“Good evenin',” Eli responding while pulling a twenty dollar bill out of his pocket and tipping him.

Even though Kylee was used to the finer things in life, Eli's swag had her impressed without a doubt.

“Do you have a reservation?” the maître d' asked when Kylee and Eli walked in.

“He don't need no reservation when he comes up in here,” Tim came from out of nowhere and said.

Awwwwshit, that is the old-ass nigga who tried to holla at me at the carwash,
Kylee thought as he and Eli chopped it up. Kylee looked around the restaurant and prayed that the guy didn't remember her.

“Who is this lovely lady?” Tim inquired.

“This my friend, Kylee,” he introduced.

The word “friend” stung, even though that's all she really was to him.

“Kylee? You kinda look familiar. Do we know each other from somewhere?” Tim asked, trying to remember where he knew this pretty face from.

“No, I've never seen you before now,” she said, hoping they could hurry up and be seated before he remembered where he knew her from.

“Oh, okay. Well nice to meet you,” he said, looking her up and down.

“Nice meetin' you too,” Kylee said, forcing a fake smile.

“You know we got a jazz band playin' in here tonight,” Tim said, leading them over to the table he had reserved for them.

“Who you got playin' tonight?”

“This group called S'yVelt. They bad, too,” Tim said, pulling out Kylee's chair for her to sit.

“That's wassup,” Eli said, before taking his seat.

“Let me know if you need anything. I'm gon' send y'all's waitress over here and go back here in the kitchen to make sure everything is copacetic.”

“A'iiight, man, I will holla at you before I leave,” Eli said, sticking out his hand for Tim to shake. Tim took Eli's hand, leaned down, and whispered somethin' in his ear. Eli shook his head yes. Tim shook his head and smiled before turning to walk away.

“What was that all about?” Kylee asked.

“What ya talkin' 'bout?”

“All that whisperin'. Now that's some rude shit,” Kylee said, rolling her eyes.

“It would only be rude if we were talkin' about you, but since we weren't, sit over there and just look pretty,” Eli teased.

“That's not hard to do.” Kylee smiled.

“Hello, my name is Tena and I'll be waitin' on y'all tonight.” The waitress walked over and smiled while handing them their menus.

“Thank you.” Eli smiled back while taking the menu from her hand.

“Thanks.” Kylee smiled, taking her menu as well.

“What can I get y'all to drink?”

“Gimme a sweet tea,” Eli said, pulling his ringing cell phone out of his jacket pocket and checking the number before placing it back inside his pocket.

“Let me get a glass of Moscato. Bartenura please,” Kylee said.

“Okay,” the waitress said before turning to walk away.

“You like to drink, eh?”

“Not really,” Kylee said. “I like to sip on Moscato while eatin' though.”

“That shit too sweet for me. My wife drinks that shit too,” Eli said.

No, this nigga didn't just bring up his wife while he's out on a date wit' me,
Kylee thought.

“Here y'all go,” the waitress said, setting their drinks down in front of them. “I'm gon' let y'all look over y'all's menus for a few more minutes and I'll be back to take your orders.”

“A'iiiight,” Eli said.

The waitress smiled at Eli before turning to walk away.

“It's really nice in here,” Kylee said, looking around the semi-crowded restaurant.

“Yeah, he did it up. It took him awhile to get it together though. The city kept fuckin' him around wit' his permits and shit. I found out real quick that these white folks in this hick-ass town don't wanna see a nigga wit' shit!” Eli said, shaking his head in disgust. “They think all black men who try to open a business here are tied up in the dope game in some kinda way.”

“That's true,” Kylee agree. “But you have to admit that most of 'em are.”

“Yeah, but a lot of us ain't. Majority of my money is legit. You shoulda seen how they treated me when I bought all my buildin's and shit wit' straight cash. They had the police watchin' me and everything. I got pulled over at least twice a week, hopin' they would find dope in my car. I ain't no fool. Why would I ride dirty, especially in the expensive cars I drive?”

“Wow, that's crazy,” Kylee replied, amazed how crooked their city was.

“Every time they pulled me over I would just hand them my license, registration, and insurance card. And when they asked if they could search my car I would get right out and tell 'em to have at it. They would be mad when they didn't find shit. I would smile at 'em , ask 'em if they were done, and leave.”

“That's a damn shame,” Kylee said as she scanned the menu.

“It is. Hold on,” Eli said, pulling his phone out of his pocket and answering it. “I'll be there in a few. No, I won't be there by the time Sy'onn goes to bed. Tell her Daddy love her and will see her in the mornin'.”

Kylee was quite annoyed by Eli answering the phone for his wife while he was out spending time with her.

“I told you I don't know what time I'm comin' home. But I'll be there. Look, my phone is about to die. I'll call you back when I charge it,” Eli said, annoyed, before turning his phone all the way off.

“Your wife?” Kylee asked, already knowing it was.

“Yep.”

“You betta get home before you get in trouble.” Kylee smiled sarcastically.

“I'll get there when I'm good and ready!”

“She gon' put yo' ass on punishment,” Kylee teased.

“She wish she could. I'm the man.”

“Whatever,” Kylee said, rolling her eyes.

“Anyways, did I tell you how good you look tonight?” Eli asked, smiling.

“Yes, Eli, this is like the third time you told me.” Kylee smiled widely.

“I'm just makin' sure.” He smirked.

“Are you guys ready to order?” the waitress walked back over and asked.

“We sure are,” Eli said, before ordering a Kobe steak cooked rare, with a salad and baked potato.

“And you?” the waitress asked, looking at Kylee.

“I'll have a porterhouse, well done, with a side of lobster bisque and a house salad.”

The waitress repeated their orders before taking their menus and walking away.

“I can't believe you eat your steak rare.” Kylee frowned.

“It's not all that bad. Trust me, I've eaten worse.” He smirked.

Kylee shook her head and laughed. “You gotta be more careful about what you put in yo' mouth.”

“Trust me, all my life I've been a picky eater. The older I get the worse I get.” He winked.

“Is that so?” Kylee asked.

“That's so,” Eli replied.

Kylee and Eli were laughing and talking while enjoying the smooth music the band was playing. Eli shared his future plans with Kylee and she did the same. The more they talked the more they found out how much they had in common. They were really enjoying their conversation until the waitress came with their food.

“Here are your orders,” the waitress walked up to the table and said as she and another waitress placed their food down.

“Thank you,” Kylee and Eli said simultaneously.

They both bowed their heads in prayer before digging in.

“This is really good,” Eli said, tasting his steak. “My mother would love this.”

“I remember you sayin' your father passed. Where's your mother?” Kylee asked, before blowing on a spoonful of soup, trying to cool it off.

“She's deceased too,” Eli answered. “They both died in an automobile accident.”

“Oh, wow, I'm sorry to hear that,” Kylee said sympathetically.

“Yep, they got killed by a drunk driver. My dad died on impact, and my mother passed three days later in the hospital.”

Kylee was speechless. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't imagine living life without either of her parents. Even though her dad got on her last nerve, losing him would be devastating.

“I'm sorry, Eli,” was all Kylee could think to say.

“It's okay. I'm copin' wit' my loss,” he said.

“How long has it been?” she asked carefully.

“Almost a year.”

“You have any brothers or sisters?” Kylee asked, while cutting into her tender steak.

“Nope, I was their only child. That's how I inherited the entire estate. I got my dad's business, which my uncle is runnin', I got all their houses, and they had real nice insurance policies. I'm set for the rest of my life, but I would give it all up just to have them here wit' me,” Eli said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“We can change the subject,” Kylee said, sensing the pain of losing his parents was still sort of fresh.

“You good,” Eli said. “Sometimes it's nice to talk about 'em. All I can say is love and respect 'em while they here 'cause when they gone, ain't no comin' back.”

“You're a strong individual, because I would lose my mind if my parents passed.”

“It's bound to happen, ma.”

The thought of losing her parents brought tears to Kylee's eyes. “Can we talk about somethin' else, please?”

Eli shook his head yes, before sticking a forkful of salad in his mouth.

S'yVelt announced they were taking a five-minute intermission before Eli changed the subject.

“You ever been to Jamaica?” Eli looked over at Kylee and asked.

“Nope,” Kylee replied, shaking her head no. “I've been to Honduras, Belize, Mexico, and the Bahamas, but never Jamaica. I would love to go though.”

“I'm gon' have to take you to my country. It's a beautiful place.”

“So I've heard. Do all the men there look like you?” Kylee asked.

“I'm sure they wish they did.” Eli laughed.

Kylee laughed too.

After their break, Eli and Kylee both began bobbing their heads as the band started playing “Bonita Apple-bum.”

“Tim didn't lie, this band is good,” Kylee said as they began playing the Commodores's “Brick House.”

Kylee was enjoying the music and the rest of her meal when she heard a man's voice behind her. “This doesn't look like Ja'Nay to me,” he said, laying his hand on her shoulder.

Kylee quickly turned around and looked up while Eli went into straight territorial mode. “Oh, hey, Tony,” Kylee spoke. She had been busted. She was sure Tony was going to be mad about her lying to him, but it was nothing she couldn't smooth over with some good head.

“I thought you were goin' out wit' Ja'Nay.” Tony frowned.

“I was, but she chose to go out wit' her boyfriend instead,” Kylee said, hoping he would buy her story.

“Oh, well how come you didn't call me and tell me that?” Tony asked.

Eli cleared his throat, feeling slightly disrespected by Tony and Kylee.

“Oh, Eli, this is my godfather, Tony. Tony, this is my friend,” Kylee introduced.

Both Eli and Tony felt slightly disrespected with their titles during Kylee's introduction, but felt better knowing each other's position in her life.

“Sup,” Eli replied with a head nod.

Tony nodded his head without uttering a word.

“I guess I better let you two get back to your food. You take care of my li'l chocolate chip cookie,” Tony looked over at Eli and said.

“Oh, I plan on it,” Eli responded snidely.

Tony leaned down and kissed Kylee on the cheek while looking at Eli, and winked
. God, please don't let Tony start no shit,
Kylee thought as Tony tried to antagonize Eli.

“Call me tomorrow,” Tony said before turning to walk away.

“All right,” Kylee said before turning her attention back toward Eli. “That's my dad's best friend and my best friend I'reon's dad,” Kylee said, hoping Eli didn't pick up on anything between her and Tony.