Scarlett (15 page)

“Hello,” she answered.

“I’m out here,” Luke. “Is this your lil cute Cavalier?”

“Yeah, that’s mine,” she grinned. “Don’t trip now, because it’s clean and it has a brand new motor. My lil mama runs like a smooth sewing machine.”

“I ain’t tripping. I like the lil sporty look with the spoiler. Bring your sexy ass out the door. I wanna see you now.”

“I’m coming,” she giggled, grabbing her purse.

“Call me if you have any trouble out that nigga,” Anton said.

“He’s good people, Ant. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in one piece.” They laughed and she exited the house. She was overly eager to be going out on her first date.

Scarlett ran out to the Mustang and got inside. She looked over at Luke and smiled. He smiled back at her.

“You look amazing,” he said.

“Thanks, you don’t look too bad yourself,” she responded. Luke was looking very good to her with his red and white
Atlanta
cap pulled down on his head. His eyes were barely visible, but she could tell he was handsome as hell. She checked out his gear quickly. He had on a pair of Khaki cargo shorts with a red and white striped Ralph Lauren Polo shirt. She could see the hint of his white tee underneath it. She couldn’t really see his shoes, so she would have to wait until they got out of the car to truly scope him out from head to toe.

“Why are looking at me like that?” he asked.

“Just checking you out, that’s all. You know you look different without your uniform,” she joked. 

“You got jokes already, huh?” 

“Yeah you can say that.”

Luke backed out of the driveway and looked over at her. “Look, Red, we’re gonna have to push the movies back about an hour or so. I may even need to reschedule that and just take you out to dinner.”

“Is everything alright?” she asked, trying not to show how disappointed she really was.

“Don’t look like that. Whatever we do is going to be on point. I’m gonna show you a great time tonight. We just might not make the movies.” Scarlett smiled because the quick thought of doing something was better than doing nothing. And it did feel good for her to be getting out of the house with a guy.

“I’m not tripping, but what has caused our plans to change?”

“It’s my mama,” he laughed. “She is really a trip. She and the crew are over at our house playing spades. Trust me, it gets real crunk around there when they are competing to win.” Scarlett laughed. “Well, she wants me to stop by Publix and get her three bags of ice, another deck of cards, some juice for her Grey Goose vodka, and…” He paused trying to think of what else. “Oh, and some toothpicks.”

Scarlett chuckled. “She must really be into her game.”

“You can say that. They’ll play cards until late in the mornings. She normally gets my dad to run her errands, but he is working tonight. That means that she is going to pick on me, date or no date.”

“I’m good, so don’t worry yourself. It’s nice to hear that you and your mom get along with each other.”

“Yeah, she and my dad are my best friends. I can talk to them about anything.”

“That’s good,” Scarlett said. She always wished she had her dad around, but he was in prison for raping and beating her mom half to death. She was blessed to have even been born. Maybe if he hadn’t tried to kill Gwen after he raped her, then he wouldn’t have had a forty-five year sentence with no parole. She sighed. “So what does your dad do?”

“He’s an ER doctor, so he works all types of shifts.”

“That’s got to be an exciting job.” She was impressed. “So is that why you’re going to school for medicine?” Luke grinned. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m going to school to be a Gynecologist.”

Scarlett immediately looked over at him. “Are you serious?”

“About as serious as I’ll ever be,” he responded.

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting that,” she laughed. “What makes you wanna attend school for that?”

“You can say that I have a fascination with women and their bodies.”

“You just wanna look in some woman’s ass every day!” she responded, sending them both into a fit of laughter.

“Have you actually looked at me?” he asked, pulling his cap off. He did look very good with his wavy hair slicked down on his head. His tape was very neat and his eyebrows were thick and noticeable. His round bright eyes were alluring and his inch-long eyelashes were very sexy on him. He smiled. “I can look in a woman’s ass every day right now if I wanted to.” He put his cap back on.

“You got jokes too, huh?” They laughed as he found an empty spot to park. They had made it to Publix in no time. He put the car in park and turned off the ignition. “So, if your dad is a doctor, what does your mom do?” Luke looked over at her.

“My mom owns a business. She and my dad, actually,” he added.

“What kind of business?” she asked.

“They have a franchise of Pizza Huts locally and in Carolina.”

Scarlett was shocked. “Are you serious?” 

“Very serious, Red.” We own two here in Augusta, one in Atlanta, and two in Columbia, SC. They are in the process of opening one in Statesboro, too.” Scarlett was a little embarrassed, because she thought he was just a delivery guy for Pizza Hut, not the son of the franchise owners of Pizza Hut.

“So that explains why you were delivering pizza in your lil Pizza Hut uniform.”

“Yeah, I keep one on back up,” he laughed. They got out of the car. Scarlett was still embarrassed. “Don’t look like that, Red. I only help out when I’m not in school or when my parents need the extra help. I’m glad I delivered to you that day, or I wouldn’t have met your sexy ass.” He slapped her on the butt. She liked that and he knew it by the way she grinned. “I’ve fooled a lot of women with that one.” They laughed and walked inside Publix.

Once inside the supermarket, Luke grabbed a buggy and started pushing it. Scarlett followed behind him.

“Do you want me to push that for you?”

“No baby, I got this,” he said, looking back at her. “Come walk with me, not behind me, Sexy Girl.” Scarlett walked beside Luke and he took her arm and wrapped it inside his as they walked the aisles. She enjoyed the moment; no matter how small it may have seemed to someone else.

They walked down the aisle as she giggled at his jokes. Scarlett pointed at the toothpicks.

“I wouldn’t have ever found them down there,” he said picking up a container full of toothpicks. “I’m glad you are with me. Give me some sugar for that.”

Scarlett grinned and leaned in for a kiss.
Wow,
she thought. She couldn’t believe Luke was showing her public affection like that, even if it was just only in a grocery store. Her lips were so locked to his, that she didn’t even recognize Sheila coming down the aisle.

“Scarlett, girl is that you?” Sheila asked. Scarlett snapped out of the alluring hold and turned to look at Sheila. “Damn, girl. That was a serious kiss.”

Scarlett cleared her throat. “Hey Sheila, what’s up?” Luke stood back a little and watched them communicate.

“Aren’t you gonna introduce me?” Sheila asked.

“Oh yeah, Sheila this is Luke. Luke this is my home girl, Sheila.”

“Nice to meet you, Sheila,” Luke responded, extending his hand for a handshake.

“Home girl?” Sheila paused, and then grinned. “Luke, I’m her best friend in the whole wide world, and am very shocked that she hasn’t mentioned you to me.”

Scarlett put on a fake smile. “Sheila, come on… You know we haven’t talked as much lately.”

“We work together, Scarlett. What do you mean?”

Luke looked confused.

Scarlett frowned. “Okay, we’ll talk about this later.”

“You bet we will,” Sheila said, admiring Luke’s handsome face and great sense of style.

“So, what are you doing in here?” Scarlett asked.

“Oh girl, Jay is in here somewhere. He’s cooking me a steak tonight at his crib.”

“Speaking of the devil,” Scarlett commented as Jay hit the corner and walked over. He was stunned to see Scarlett.

“Jay, meet Luke. This is Scarlett’s new boyfriend that she’s been hiding from us.” Sheila grinned in a playful manner, but Scarlett and Jay didn’t think it was that funny. Luke and Jay shook hands, but Jay was heated to see Scarlett with another man.

“So, you’re the one who has been sending my bestie roses and a four hundred dollar purse to the job,” Sheila questioned, putting Luke on the spot. Scarlett’s face would have turned red if she was light skinned from such an embarrassing moment. She looked over at Jay, then at Luke. Jay was shocked that Sheila went there, but Luke was smiling as if it didn’t faze him.

“Well, let’s just say that those roses and that purse isn’t all she’ll be getting,” Luke responded to Scarlett’s surprise.

Sheila grinned thinking she had figured out who was spoiling Scarlett. She hated it with a passion, because she never thought she’d see Scarlett look this happy with a guy. On top of all that, the man looked good enough to be someone she’d date. Jay smiled a little, shaking his head back and forth.

“Okay, so I guess we’ll see you at work on Monday.” Sheila stated.

“Yeah, I’ll see y’all then.”

“What?” Sheila added. “You better call me tomorrow so you can tell me all about Luke.” She looked in Luke’s direction with a smile. She was hoping he’d flirt back with his eyes or something, but he reached over for Scarlett’s hand and held it. “You ready, Jay baby?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” Jay responded.

Sheila reached in for a hug from Scarlett. “I’m happy for you, my bestie,” she said.

Scarlett hugged her back, but knew it was all so fake. “Thanks Sheila, I’ll call you later.”

Jay and Sheila walked off.

Scarlett looked over at Luke.

“Let’s get this cranberry juice and ice so we can go.” Luke commented.

“I agree,” she said.
I sure wouldn’t wanna run into nobody else in here.

Luke and Scarlett walked out to his car. Scarlett got inside while Luke put the bags in the backseat. He then got in and closed his door. He started up the ignition and looked over at Scarlett. She hadn’t said much of anything after running into Sheila and Jay.

“Are you alright, Red?” Luke asked.

“Yeah, I’m good.” 

“You seem a little distant after running into your best friend. She is your best friend, right?”

“It’s a long story behind that. It’s one that I don’t feel like talking about right at this moment. But, I do have a best friend and her name is Nina. Sheila is someone I work with and have known for a very long time.”

“So, she works at the shop with you?”

“Yeah, we’re the only two who work in the office. Her daddy owns the place.”

“Oh, okay so that explains a little bit. She seems so bourgeois with her proper talking and shit. I ain’t crazy about women like that. Just keep it plain and simple for me. That’s why I like you. It’s like you don’t try to look this good; you just do and your personality is very down to earth.” Scarlett grinned, but knew that if Luke had met her three weeks earlier, she wouldn’t be sitting in his car right now.

“I’m not a fake person, Luke, please believe that. I’ve done some things to enhance my features by keeping my hair done, wearing nice clothes, getting pampered with polished toenails and fingernails, but I don’t live for that stuff.”

“I can tell, baby. And there is nothing wrong with keeping yourself up. I love that about women. Don’t ever feel bad about that, because you’re not supposed to.” He began to back out of the parking space. “I have one question for you.”

“Go ahead.” She said.

“Are you still seeing the person who is sending you those gifts at your job?”

Scarlett thought about Jay and Greg. “Actually, I’m not, and the purse was from a good friend. Nothing more, nothing less,” she commented.

“That’s all I needed to know.”

Luke drove to his neighborhood. Scarlett smiled as they passed by all the big houses on the block. She was still feeling the high from walking around Publix with Luke, but a small part of her felt bad that Jay saw her with him. Luke was very attentive and touchy feely with her, and she enjoyed every minute of it. He wasn’t at all ashamed to be seen with her. Luke pulled up in his driveway.

Scarlett’s eyes widened at the sight of his home. It looked huge. Luke looked around.

“Damn, I wonder why it’s so dark. She even turned off the porch lights,” he said, turning back the ignition. “I know they are still playing cards because the cars are still here. No wonder she wanted an extra deck of cards.”

“Maybe they’re in the back of the house or something.” Scarlett mentioned.

“Yeah, you’re probably right. The porch lights may have gone out. It looks like mama done invited a few more people over.” He shook his head.

“Come on, Red. Get out,” he said, opening his door and grabbing the bags. He had a nice muscular frame and he was strong. Scarlett admired his strength.

“Are you sure you want me to get out? I can wait here until you come back.”

“Nonsense,” he said. “I want to introduce you to my mama while we’re here.” Scarlett beamed on the inside. This would be the first time that she ever met a guy’s mother.

“I thought people only do that sort of thing when they are really into a person.” She commented.

“Who says I’m not into you like that? Get out and come on. You be acting so paranoid.” Scarlett got out of the car. She looked down at her outfit.

Maybe I should have put on something different,
she thought.

“You look great, so stop looking at yourself like that. You act like this is the first time you’ve met somebody’s mama. Even I know better than that.” She looked over at him with a smile on her face. She grabbed the back of his shirt and followed him to the house door.

“Get my key and unlock the door.” Scarlett took the key and unlocked the front door. Luke pushed the door open and walked in.

“SURPRISE!” Luke flinched and Scarlett jumped as the lights came on. Luke’s parents had given him a surprise birthday party. He smiled from ear to ear as his mom walked up to him holding a big square sheet cake lined with twenty-three lit candles.

“Happy Birthday, Adonis!” She kissed him on the cheek. “Blow out your candles and make a wish.” Luke’s father walked over and took the bags from him and stood back to watch his son blow out the candles. Scarlett was still in shock that this was actually taking place and she was a part of it. She stood as still as can be, continuing to grip the back of Luke’s shirt. She looked around the house at all the people that were there.