|| CHAPTER NINE ||

I turn to Yvette's open desktop. She's leaving it open so that I can play SIMS 4 or watch Netflix. Instead, I see live video footage that seems to be coming from Yvette like those cop-cam things. The guy she's on her date with. "Sweet, something interesting," I say. I sit down in her chair and grab her candy bowl. The guy reaches for her hand to hold it. She allows it.

"You look amazing," He says, while doing that affectionate thumb thing that you'd do while you hold somebody's hand.

Yvette smiles. "Thank you, so do you," She replies calmly. It seems as though she's let her guard down. She must've lost her mind. I lean back uncomfortably and watch the 4K footage of Yvette's date.

"So, I was thinking to take you to this restaurant, it's a personal favorite. When we get there, do me a favor, and pick whatever catches your eye," He says.

"So, you want me to make your pockets hurt?" She asks. She sounds a bit flirtatious.

Gross.

"I like my women expensive," He says smoothly. He looks her up and down, clearly checking her out. "And you're clearly an expensive girl," He looks her in her eyes, giving fierce eye contact.

This guy could so bag this one.

"You're in luck, I'm quite expensive," She says.

God, please don't let me throw up. Just when I think I'm about to throw up, my stomach settles. God is good.

She trails her fingers along his biceps. "You sure are interesting..." Her voice trails off.

"I could be a lot more interesting," He says. Yvette smiles.

"David, you sure are a character," She says. Something in her tone changed.

He looks intrigued by her body. I really never paid attention to her like that, but I do now realize that she is very curvy. I can understand why he's staring. I just don't appreciate it.

The elevator door opens and they step out and walk in silence to the car. They're so tense my stomach starts churning. The guy opens the car door for her, and she sits in the car with grace.

I watch the boring car ride. David is playing some old music. 'Just The Two Of Us' by Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr.

He sings along. "I see the crystal raindrops fall, I see the crystal raindrops fall, and the beauty of it all, Is when the sun comes shining through. To make those rainbows in my mind when I think of you sometimes, and I wanna spend some time with you,".

Yvette bobs her head to the toon. David's car is a vintage teal 1959 top-down Ford Thunderbird convertible. The sun is just setting, and the wind is blowing in the perfect direction for an aesthetic moment.

I try to get up to go use the bathroom, only to bump into Allen. I lean back against the desk a little bit as he stands close to me.

"Sorry about that," He says. He gently places his hand on my hip and moves me away from the desk.

I know I'm blushing.

He begins to slow dance with me to the oldies' toon playing from the computer. I don't know why I'm just going along with this, but I kind of like it.

I bury my face in his neck and sway with him. I hear him laugh softly as I smile to myself.

This must be what it feels like to be in a relationship.

"Hey, um..." He gently lifts my chin to look at him. "I'm sorry about before...I just, I don't know what I was thinking, but I um...I was wondering if-" I cut him off with a kiss.

"Yes," I say. I'm assuming he was going to ask me out. This is going to be embarrassing if that isn't what he was going to say. "I-if I...sorry-" He pulls me closer and kisses me.

"Meet me at our spot. The one outside," He says. I smile. This is so random.

"Okay," I say.

"Okay..." He replies. He smiles.