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“OK. What is it?” I quizzed before taking a swig of the drink.

I always got the urge to burp after that first drink of ginger ale. I was able to suppress it. Not only did I not want to be rude, but I was sure that if I burped there was going to be something coming behind it.

“Have you ever seenCooley High? That’s one of my favorite movies. I figured we could sit back and watch something while you try to feel better.”

“I’ve seen it, but it’s been so long that I wouldn’t mind watching it again.”

Watching a movie would buy me some time. Hopefully, he didn’t think this was a Netflix and chill situation because I wasn’t going for it.

“Come on,” he said, leading the way to the living room where there was a huge TV.

Zane’s home was beautiful. Everything was black and white, which seemed a common theme with men. I loved it though. There was no way that he’d decorated himself.

“Your home is beautiful. I didn’t really get the chance to admire it during the pool party.”

“Oh, that’s right. You were sick that day, too,” he noted.

“Right. Obviously, I need to take better care of myself.”

“You ain’t joking. You sure whatever you have isn’t contagious?” he asked with a smirk.

“Not that I can tell.” I shook my head and took another sip of my drink.

“I don’t know why I don’t put the remote control in the same place every time. I always have to look for it,” Zane complained.

“Take your time. It’s not like I’m on curfew or anything.” I laughed.

“I know, right? I noticed that your security didn’t follow us here. He left, right?”

“Yeah. He’s on call for whenever I need him.”

“Right,” Zane mumbled, preoccupied with finding the remote.

“Did you decorate this place yourself?” I asked him.

“I used a service. I have their card somewhere if you want to try them.”

“Sure,” I said, knowing that I wouldn’t use it. I just needed to make conversation.

“How’s the drink working?”

“It’s keeping everything settled I think.”

“Good,” he said, holding up the remote. “Got it.”

“Yay!” I laughed playfully. “Now, I don’t remember what we were about to watch.”

“Only the best movie in history.”

“Oh, that’s right.”

As he sat down next to me, he turned on the TV. While it was loading, he pulled out a black box from under the table. It looked like a chess set. I’d seen enough of them in my day to recognize one when I saw it. He opened the box to reveal black and white glass chess pieces. Just when I thought he was about to ask me to play, he removed a small baggy. Apparently, chess wasn’t the only thing Zane was into.

“I would offer you a bump, but I know your stomach is already fucked up,” he said as he poured some of the cocaine on top of the chess board.

“Yeah. I have enough problems already.”

With all his talk about how I should look and behave, Zane didn’t give a damn about what he did. He didn’t know or seem to care how I felt about drugs. He seemed to assume that I might be into the same thing. He casually offered me cocaine as if he were saying let’s go for a walk. He didn’t even have the decency to try to hide it from me. I could not wait to be done with him.