She Used to Be the Sweetest Girl(11)

“I do what I can,” he said, smiling. “How are you Brix?” he asked while licking his lips. He couldn’t control the attraction he felt for her and genuinely wanted to know how her morning was so far.



“I’m fine. How are you doing?”



“That you are,” he said seductively, letting his eyes burn a hole through her. Brix shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The temperature in the place seemed to rise as she pulled on the collar of her shirt. He was so smooth and straight up with how he was feeling, she couldn’t help but smile and accept his compliment.



“Thank you. I think you may have been over here a little too long,” she said, grinning at an impatient Reilyn, who had walked over to be nosey.



Rubbing Mel’s arm, she asked, “Hey babe. Who are these ladies?”



“None of your business,” he said with no enthusiasm at all. Not feeling the least bit worried by Mel’s tone, she decided to introduce herself.



“Hi, I’m Reilyn, a close friend of Shemel's,” she fake smiled.



“And why do we need to know who you are?” Mrs. Carla said, before Brix could respond. Taken aback from the sarcastic response, Rei tossed her hair over her shoulder before turning to walk away. Placing her hand over her mouth, Brix chuckled at her mom’s feisty attitude, while Shemel laughed lightly.



“My fault about that. Some people just don’t get the hint,” he said.



“No worries. Are you done eating? It looks like you have a full plate?” Brix asked.



Shemel looked over his shoulder at the table and shook his head. Rei was taking a bite of his food, while looking directly at him.



“Nah, I was actually just about to eat, then I saw you walk in,” he said, grinning.



“You didn’t have to ditch your meal and date for me.”



“It’s no big deal and definitely not a date. I’ll let y'all get back to y'all morning though. I’ll be sure to holla at you before I head out,” he told Brix.



“Um sure, okay,” she replied apprehensively. She wasn’t sure what he wanted to “holla” at her about, but the thought of them holding another conversation brought butterflies to her stomach. The entire time he stood there, she forced herself not to stare at the bulge in his sweat pants. Seeing as though she had just left church, she felt like the Lord was watching her.



“I like him,” Mrs. Carla said out the blue after their food had been served.



“But you don’t even know him ma.”



“I can tell he has a good heart baby. That’s all I need to know,” she replied, taking a sip of her coffee. She didn’t speak highly of many people when first meeting them, but she felt something about Shemel. She hadn’t even felt that way when Brix first introduced her to Drew. Now that boy had rubbed her the wrong way for years, but her baby loved him, so she just dealt with him on the strength of their relationship.



Thirty minutes and a full stomach later, Brix got up to use the restroom before they left. She glanced towards Mel’s table and they were still laughing and carrying on. Rei and her group of friends had left a few minutes prior, annoyed at the fact that the guys wouldn’t pay for their meals as well. None of them were dating the chicks, so what did they look like footing the bill? Mel watched as Brix disappeared in the restroom and figured this was his chance to get Brix alone, so he could really chat with her for a second.



Mrs. Carla paid the bill and headed to the car to wait for her daughter. Walking past Shemel on her way out, she gave him a smile before he got up to wait for Brix to return from the restroom.



Turning the corner to head toward the car, Brix grabbed her chest and bumped into the wall. “God you scared me,” she laughed nervously.



“My fault, my fault. Just wanted to get at you before you left out,” he replied nervously. No female had ever made him this hesitant to ask for her number, but for some reason, Brix did.



“Okay. What is that you want to get at me for?” she said, mimicking his slang terminology.



Shemel chuckled before responding. “I know you don’t know me that well, but I figured we could get to know each other a little better. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m quite attracted to you,” he blurted out, not even realizing it.



Brix’s faced turned warm instantly at his confession. Sure, the attraction was there, but was she really ready to know him personally? She must not have responded fast enough because he continued.



“And you’re attracted to me. It’s written all over your face, beautiful, but I will definitely understand if you’re not tryna go that route with a nigga,” he said while licking his lips, hoping she wouldn’t say no. Running her hands through her hair, she grinned awkwardly, not really sure how to respond, but knew she should.