Take Her Man

“Well, that’s why I’m here, Angel—to make sure you get through this.” He playfully tapped me on the nose.

“Ha, ha. So how are we supposed to do that?” I asked, sounding a bit more flirtatious than I wanted to.

“I don’t know, Troy,” Kyle answered me, grinning. “I just had the idea. I was hoping you’d have the plan.”

“I don’t care what you say, this shirt looks completely ridiculous on me.” Kyle looked at himself in the dressing room at a store we’d stopped at. After I checked in on Tamia, we’d gotten something to eat and ended up walking around aimlessly in Los Angeles. While I felt a little guilty about shopping during such an odd time, Tamia’s father said the doctors told him her vitals were getting better and that she’d be coming around very, very soon.

“Kyle, you look amazing.” I stood behind Kyle in the mirror. “Your body was made for Versace.”

“Troy, I look like a mob boss or something,” Kyle said, pulling at the silk shirt. “I look like a fake thug.” He popped up his collar.

“Um, no. That’s even worse,” I said, laughing. “Just look cool and collected. Just relax. Versace is for strong men—men who know who they are and what they want.”

“Oh, that’s me.” Kyle flexed his muscles.

“Yeah, so wear the shirt. Don’t let it wear you.” I closed the last button on the shirt and looked back at his reflection. “Perfect. Now this shirt is all you. You have to buy it.”

“Are they paying you, Troy?” Kyle joked. “Because you sound like you have stock invested in this place.”

“Stop playing, Kyle.”

“Okay, how much is it?” he asked. I looked at the tag and didn’t bother to say aloud what I read. I just held up two fingers. “Twenty?” Kyle asked. Versace at $20? In my dreams. I rolled my eyes. “What? What is it? Two hundred?” I shook my head from side to side. “Two thousand?” I nodded my head. “You know I’m not paying two thousand dollars for this shirt, right?”

“Kind of steep?” I frowned.

“Steep? That’s off the charts. That’s insane. I know you don’t pay that much for those clothes you wear. I know you don’t.” He paused. I nodded.

“Almost,” I murmured. “I have to look good.”

“Oh, no. Oh, no.” He started taking the shirt off. “Please put this thing far away from me. I don’t even want anyone to think I’m paying that kind of money for a shirt.” Kyle pulled the shirt over his head like there was a bug in it. He threw it on a rack and pulled my hand. “Let’s go,” he said, dragging me out of the store.

“It wasn’t that bad.” I stepped out of the store behind Kyle, laughing. Everyone was watching us. A security guard came out of the store. “He thinks we stole something,” I whispered in Kyle’s ear.

“Well, that’s the only way I’m getting anything out of there.” We both started laughing and Kyle grabbed my arm.

“First trying on Versace, now you’re talking about stealing,” I said teasingly. “I’m going to have to report you to the Pastors Commission or something.”

“Make sure you add this, too.” Kyle stopped walking suddenly.

“What?”

“This.” He bent down and kissed me on my lips.

“Kyle,” I said softly. I felt heat growing in my heart and my knees felt weak beneath me. I wanted him to do it again.

“I’m sorry.” Kyle massaged both of my arms with his hands. “It’s just that…”

“What?” I said, trying not to jump on Kyle.

“This is a beautiful city, it’s such a beautiful day, and I’m with a beautiful woman.” He let me go. He looked into my eyes. “I hope it’s okay.”

“Yeah, it’s fine,” I managed. We stood there for a second looking into each other’s eyes. “Ice cream?” I said, looking at an ice cream parlor on the other side of the street.

“Yeah. What do you have in mind?” he asked.

“Rocky Road.” I pointed across the street.

“My favorite.”