Page 39 of Love's Most Wanted

He stared down at his empty plate, nodding to the waiter who appeared shortly after to take it and offer dessert. We both declined as I polished off the rest of my food.

“If I tell them, mainly Daisy, everybody gon’ know, love. But had you not wanted to keep this shit a secret, I would’ve been told ’em.”

“And get left?”

“I don’t think they would if they knew the shit was an accident and we was trying to get it taken care of.”

“Whatever.” I scoffed, not wanting to admit that not telling his women was a good thing. If this got out, I would be done for life. A side chick who then married her ex’s co-star? My reputation would be mud.

Once the waiter was gone, Unique said, “You know what my biggest fear is?”

“Being married?”

“Nah… I mean, that’s part of it, but not the actual act itself.” He took a beat and then leaned in some more as if he didn’t want others to hear. “My biggest fear is getting married and then meeting the love of my life like the next week or some shit.”

We shared a laugh.

“That would be terrible, but that’s why you should wait until you feel like the person you’rewithis the love of your life.”

“Maybe I did.” He shrugged, and it rendered me speechless, to the point where I didn’t respond to the waiter asking if I wanted a box, so Unique did it for me.

I didn’t say much else as he paid the bill, and we exited the restaurant to head back to his car.

Once inside of it and on the dark road lit up by the streetlights, I said, “Unique, I like being friends with you, but you can’t say things like you did tonight or ask to spend time alone with me when you’re in a relationship.”

“A man in a relationship can’t have female friends?”

“Not unless his girlfriend, or girlfriends in your case, know about it in full.”

“I mean, I get it, but?—”

“There is no but, Unique. That’s just that, and if you want to be friends and kick it, your girlfriends have to know about it every damn time and that it’s me. Also, stop the little comments you make. I know you like to be funny but… you need to just not,” I ranted, saying too much.

I wished I hadn’t added the last part because I felt as if I’d showed my hand. Unique always made flirtatious jokes, even when I was on AJ’s arm, so the fact that I had an issue with it now probably piqued his interest. I didn’t need this man knowing I was attracted to him in any way. Or that I often thought about him.

“Why you so mad about this shit?” He glanced my way briefly as he pulled up to the apartment building. I’d never been happier that an eatery was only a few minutes from me like I was now.

Unbuckling my seat belt, I responded, “Because while I think you’re a good guy, you’re no different from AJ. No matter what arrangement you have, if they don’t know you’re out to eat with me and whatever else, that makes you a lying ass nigga, just like Alvin.”

Sighing while staring straight ahead, he said, “I do like you, Kabrina, and not in a friendly ass way, but when I say I wanna be cool, just friends with you, I mean that shit. It ain’t a way for me to weasel my way into adding you to my situation or being a lying ass nigga.”

“Friends don’t say the type of stuff you do or even do some of the things you have.”

“End of the day, I explained to you that while I’m yo’ husband on paper, I’m gon’ make sure you good. But trust me when I say I want yo’ friendship before I even think about shit else.” He let his eyes land on me, and I spotted the seriousness in them immediately. “Every relationship I’ve had with women has been built on sex, Kabrina. I mean every single one except for family, obviously.” He looked back through the front windshield then to me again. “So for the first time in a nigga’s life, I wanna have some shit with a woman that’s real. I don’t know why, but I want that with you. Even if you’d let me, I don’t wanna just fuck you. I want some different shit. Whether it ends with us being married by the heart as well or staying close friends, I just wanna be cool. Don’t ever think I’m doing some shit just to fuck. This ain’t that with you, love.”

I could see how much this meant to him, and it made me wonder why. Most men would love to say every woman in their life had given them some pussy. I wanted to ask him why this was so important to him, but it seemed like it would render a deeper answer than he was probably willing to give right now.

So instead, I nodded and replied, “I get it. Good night, Unique.”

Exiting the car, I turned to smile softly at him before closing it. I could feel him watching me as I walked into the building, but I didn’t look back.

Unfortunately, for the rest of the night, I couldn’t get his speech or that pleading look in his eyes out of my head.

“I’m tired as fuck.I need a fucking intermission or some shit.” Lequay threw the basketball at me, and I caught it.

“Nigga, how you tired and ain’t got no fucking job?” I jested, making Khari, Asif, and Bashar laugh.

“One ain’t got nothing to do with the other, muthafucka. You’ll learn that shit once you stop drinking breastmilk,” Lequay retorted, making them niggas turn the laughter on me.