She has a set of tits on her that just won’t quit. I can only imagine how they look in the buff, feel, and taste… Oh, shit. What the hell am I doing? Sitting here talking in my head to a dead man… Talking about her breasts and demons ’nd shit.
I have lost my damn mind.
I told myself I didn’t wanna deal with any women any time soon in the first damn place. More times than not, they’re nothing but trouble. But she may be worth the aggravation; it sure seems that way, that’s for damn sure. Aiden said he liked her, too, that she’s really nice. He told me she talked to him about school and they laughed in my father’s library. I overheard them a few times enjoying themselves. He also said she invited him to her store and said he could have some pastries and cocoa, check out the books about gaming. Aiden is usually more reserved than that. He took right to her. Isn’t that something?
“I’m back.” She sat down with a smile and folded her napkin back over her lap. She drank some of her water.
“Aiden used to think Black people were made out of chocolate.”
Water sprayed across the table.
“Oh, shit! I’m sorry!” The woman was still laughing her head off as she patted the table. She could barely catch her breath. The sound was contagious.
“It’s all right…” He helped clean up the table. “It’s true, though. He was about four or five years old. I had him out with me at the grocery store one morning. He’d seen Black people before that, but I guess he’d never thought much about it until then. He looked up at me and said, ‘Daddy, how come that man is made of chocolate and we aren’t?’ He was downright mad about it!”
At this, the woman started laughing all over again, her silky, brown complexion deepening as her cheeks plumped.
“Thank you for the laugh! That’s so cute and funny, Aries.”
“Thank you for coming out with me this morning. Now raise your water glass. Let’s make a toast.” They lifted their glasses and clinked them. “To a new friendship, and I hope to dear God, with a face, personality, and body like yours, that it develops into so much more!”
“Aries, you don’t have any good sense.” Her face reddened.
“That may be true, but I’ve got common sense. And I have no doubt you’re far from common. I think I may have found me a diamond in the rough…”
CHAPTER NINE
The Ice Cream Man
Druid Hills was a picturesque historic neighborhood with handsome homes, exquisite architecture, English gardens, and eye-catching details. Renovation was also underway in some parts, bringing new construction, fancy strip malls, trendy eateries, and charming shops to the area. The larger houses screamed old money and a seasoned ambiance. Many great minds loved Druid Hills considering its proximity to Emory University, one of the top colleges in the country. The buildings and environment also had an artistic flair that couldn’t be denied.
The sunshine shone brighter than the previous day. Perhaps it was just Lauren’s chipper mood, despite the evident letdown. It wasn’t often she got to simply breathe, and walk in the outdoors without a specific place to be or go.
Her time was often gobbled up by the demands of her store or tending to her family. As of late, two of her friends had been using her as a therapist, keeping her up all hours of the night. She wished they’d not just call when they needed something, but she didn’t have the heart to turn either of them away. One was in the middle of a legal separation and the other had had a miscarriage. Life was hard. She wrapped her light cherry colored shawl around her shoulders and tied it in a knot. She let out a breath. This was good.
Aries rocked back on his feet, eyes hooded. He blinked a couple of times, his expression thoughtful.
“Well, that’s it. Nobody knows my father’s name or remembers any family living in this area. I have no idea why they took that picture here.” He shrugged. “It was a nice try though. Thanks for the idea.” He offered a watery smile as he reached into his jeans pocket, pulled out the old photograph nestled in a paper frame, and looked at it one more time before slipping it back where it came from. “Guess we better head back.” Lauren looked up at the hill at an older brick