you?
Ty:
Of course. Wouldn’t wanna curse in front of a lady, would I?
Alyse:
Real smooth, Ty. You won’t curse, but you admit you read National Geographic for the naked women.
Ty:
What can I say? ;)
Alyse:
Hey, what about coming over to do some work on our project Saturday night?
Ty:
You wanna study on a Saturday night? What about letting me take you out?
Alyse:
I can’t leave Gavin.
Ty:
I’ll get you a babysitter.
Alyse:
That’s sweet of you to offer, but it’s too much money. How about we study and then I cook you dinner? I make a mean spaghetti. Then later you can meet up with your friends or whatever.
Ty:
Forget my friends. We’ll do a little work, have dinner, then rent a movie.
Alyse:
Sounds perfect. Thanks . . . you’re a really good guy.
Ty:
No, I ain’t. But I’m a guy who thinks you’re . . .
Alyse:
What???
Ty:
. . . different from any girl I know.
Alyse:
Is that a good thing??
Ty:
For you or for me?
Alyse:
Both.
Ty:
Yeah, it is.
Alyse:
Thank you, Ty.
Ty:
No, thank YOU.
Alyse:
Good night.
Ty:
Sweet dreams.
I sat there for a while, staring at my phone.
Something was starting between me and Alyse. Something real.
THE DATE
I knocked on her door at 8 p.m. sharp, rocking phat gear with everything—jersey, pants, socks, watch, and do-rag—matching perfect. I topped it off with an expensive diamond and sapphire earring I bought last week.
No way she wouldn’t think I was fly.
The door swung open.
The air whooshed out of my lungs. Lord, I never seen anything so fine in my life.
This wasn’t the jeans-and-T-shirt Alyse I was used to. She just cranked herself up from pretty to gorgeous. She wore a tight pink tank top under a black jacket, and a matching miniskirt showing offtwo of the finest legs I ever seen. On her feet she wore black heels. Her jewelry was dangly and gold. Her lips were shiny and pink. I was gonna kiss those sweet lips if it was the last thing I did.
“Alyse, you sooo fine.”
She smiled. “Thanks. Come in.”
I followed her in, almost dropping to my knees and begging for mercy when I saw how good she was looking round back in that skirt.
We went into the kitchen, where she poured me some orange soda.
“I know I promised to make you dinner, but I thought we could go out instead. Gavin’s sleeping over at a friend’s.”
“Two-year-olds is going to sleepovers now?”
“His mom’s my neighbor and a good friend. Maria’s always offering to take him for a night, you know, so I can have a life.”
“Nice lady.”
“Yeah. So”—she looked down at the books and papers on the kitchen table—“we’ll do this another time?”
“Sure.”
She grabbed her coat and handbag, and we left the apartment. In the elevator, she said, “I’ve got a two-for-one coupon for an Italian place on Court Street.”
“Save the coupon for another time. I got somewhere in mind. You got your MetroCard with you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“ ’Cause I’m taking you into the city.”
Her mouth opened like she was gonna ask where, but then she closed it. I think she liked surprises. I was hyped to see the look on her face when she saw where I was taking her.
We hopped the 2 train into Manhattan, riding it for half an hour to Columbus Circle. After walking three blocks, we were at Chez Gigi.
She stayed back. “This place looks expensive. Maybe we should go somewhere else.”
“I been here before. The food is the best. It’s on me, Alyse.”
“But—”
“Come on. I promise you ain’t gonna regret it.”
“Well . . . okay.”
I opened the door for her.
She looked around at the classy place. “You sure about this?”
“Don’t I look sure?” I turned to the slick-haired maître d’. “For two, please.”
“Follow me, monsieur, madame.”
I had to tug Alyse’s hand to make her follow the maître d’ to the table. When we sat down, the maître d’ handed us a wine list and two menus. “Your waiter will be with you momentarily.”
“Thank you,” I
Ty:
Of course. Wouldn’t wanna curse in front of a lady, would I?
Alyse:
Real smooth, Ty. You won’t curse, but you admit you read National Geographic for the naked women.
Ty:
What can I say? ;)
Alyse:
Hey, what about coming over to do some work on our project Saturday night?
Ty:
You wanna study on a Saturday night? What about letting me take you out?
Alyse:
I can’t leave Gavin.
Ty:
I’ll get you a babysitter.
Alyse:
That’s sweet of you to offer, but it’s too much money. How about we study and then I cook you dinner? I make a mean spaghetti. Then later you can meet up with your friends or whatever.
Ty:
Forget my friends. We’ll do a little work, have dinner, then rent a movie.
Alyse:
Sounds perfect. Thanks . . . you’re a really good guy.
Ty:
No, I ain’t. But I’m a guy who thinks you’re . . .
Alyse:
What???
Ty:
. . . different from any girl I know.
Alyse:
Is that a good thing??
Ty:
For you or for me?
Alyse:
Both.
Ty:
Yeah, it is.
Alyse:
Thank you, Ty.
Ty:
No, thank YOU.
Alyse:
Good night.
Ty:
Sweet dreams.
I sat there for a while, staring at my phone.
Something was starting between me and Alyse. Something real.
THE DATE
I knocked on her door at 8 p.m. sharp, rocking phat gear with everything—jersey, pants, socks, watch, and do-rag—matching perfect. I topped it off with an expensive diamond and sapphire earring I bought last week.
No way she wouldn’t think I was fly.
The door swung open.
The air whooshed out of my lungs. Lord, I never seen anything so fine in my life.
This wasn’t the jeans-and-T-shirt Alyse I was used to. She just cranked herself up from pretty to gorgeous. She wore a tight pink tank top under a black jacket, and a matching miniskirt showing offtwo of the finest legs I ever seen. On her feet she wore black heels. Her jewelry was dangly and gold. Her lips were shiny and pink. I was gonna kiss those sweet lips if it was the last thing I did.
“Alyse, you sooo fine.”
She smiled. “Thanks. Come in.”
I followed her in, almost dropping to my knees and begging for mercy when I saw how good she was looking round back in that skirt.
We went into the kitchen, where she poured me some orange soda.
“I know I promised to make you dinner, but I thought we could go out instead. Gavin’s sleeping over at a friend’s.”
“Two-year-olds is going to sleepovers now?”
“His mom’s my neighbor and a good friend. Maria’s always offering to take him for a night, you know, so I can have a life.”
“Nice lady.”
“Yeah. So”—she looked down at the books and papers on the kitchen table—“we’ll do this another time?”
“Sure.”
She grabbed her coat and handbag, and we left the apartment. In the elevator, she said, “I’ve got a two-for-one coupon for an Italian place on Court Street.”
“Save the coupon for another time. I got somewhere in mind. You got your MetroCard with you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“ ’Cause I’m taking you into the city.”
Her mouth opened like she was gonna ask where, but then she closed it. I think she liked surprises. I was hyped to see the look on her face when she saw where I was taking her.
We hopped the 2 train into Manhattan, riding it for half an hour to Columbus Circle. After walking three blocks, we were at Chez Gigi.
She stayed back. “This place looks expensive. Maybe we should go somewhere else.”
“I been here before. The food is the best. It’s on me, Alyse.”
“But—”
“Come on. I promise you ain’t gonna regret it.”
“Well . . . okay.”
I opened the door for her.
She looked around at the classy place. “You sure about this?”
“Don’t I look sure?” I turned to the slick-haired maître d’. “For two, please.”
“Follow me, monsieur, madame.”
I had to tug Alyse’s hand to make her follow the maître d’ to the table. When we sat down, the maître d’ handed us a wine list and two menus. “Your waiter will be with you momentarily.”
“Thank you,” I
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