Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112755 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“So uh,” he stroked his beard and beamed, “you were about to tell me the ways that you know me better than I think you do.”
“I was, and I do.”
“All right. Bet. Prove it.” He loved a challenge. Sitting back, he waited for the show to begin. This is a game. She’s playing with me. Cat and mouse… foreplay…
“Will you be honest if I’m right about something? Even if it’s not a good thing?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“I know you’re a playboy.”
“What do you mean by playboy?”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious. What’s your definition of a playboy, Desiree?”
“A man who is good lookin’ and uses it to get what he wants. Usually to run through a bunch of women, to get favors and money. Things like that.”
“I used to be like that. Today? Not so much. I’ll give you a half right on that.”
“Whatever. I’m still right because you probably just pulled game on some lady last week. Now, on that same line of questioning… You get a lot of female attention in class, but that’s nothin’ new to you.”
“I do get a lot of female attention, period, but I’m sure you get a lot of male attention, too, so don’t even try it. I don’t have bad taste, so I know I’m not the only man who wants to spend some time with you, and—”
“But we’re not talking about me right now. We’re talking about you. Next, I think—”
“Do you think I deserve that attention, baby?”
“What do you mean?”
He looked down at his sneakers, then back at her, biting his lower lip.
“I don’t care about what other women think right now. My question is, do you like what you see? I like what I see in front of me.” He winked.
“There you go again.” She huffed as if frustrated, causing him to smile all the harder. “You’re probably just fishing for compliments right now, but yeah, I find you attractive. Still, I just want to be friends.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“That’s because you’re not used to women tellin’ you no.”
“I’ve approached women and been shot down before. It doesn’t happen a lot, but it does from time to time. I still don’t believe you’re not interested in me, and it has nothing to do with my ego not being able to take it. You’re just scared I’m going to disappoint you like so many others have.”
“I know even if I wanted more from you, Legend, it would never be exactly what I wanted anyhow. You can’t deliver.”
Now, she had his full attention. He turned to face her. “What are you talking about?”
“You can’t give me what I deserve. My requirements exceed what you’re capable of. I can find a fuckbuddy anywhere. I’m beyond that in my life right now.” She went on and on, telling him everything that was wrong with him, shot him a dirty look, then went back to watching the television.
“Are you done?”
“Done what?”
“Done talking for a minute? You want to just keep runnin’ off at the mouth, talking to me about a laundry list of all that is Legend, and I can’t get a word in edgewise. Can I take the stage, ma’am? Damn. I’d like to speak uninterrupted, please.”
The woman sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Thank you. Now, first of all, if someone is going to give something to someone else, that means they have to possess it. You’ve never fucked wit’ me, in ANY capacity, except for my role as classmate. Yes or no?”
She only glared at him, looking empty and despondent.
“Yes or no, Desiree?”
“…Yes.”
“We’re grown ass people, okay? This isn’t high school, so we’re not even classmates with that same, childlike mindset. From my understandin’, you love to cook, but you’re interested in the business side of this, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I, on the other hand, love to cook, and want my own shit. I’ve always loved to cook, but I only just recently realized that this could really be achieved—meaning, I could do something with it. It took some people around me, that I care about, to bring it to my attention. Regardless of how long it took for it to finally sink in that I can do something a lot of people can’t, behind a stove, here I am, thirty-six years old, and it happened.”
She nodded, smiling. “I get it.”
“It’s not too late for me to accomplish this, so I’m going for it. I happen to want my own restaurant. Someone else can take care of the marketing, the books, the hosting and staff, all that shit, but I want it to be my food, my recipes. My name on the shit. ‘Legend,’ in lights. Church. Now… since you don’t know what I have, Desiree, outside of the classroom and in the kitchen, you are not in any way qualified or capable of tellin’ me, or anyone else, what I can and cannot offer to anotha mothafucka when it comes to a relationship with a woman.”