***
Ten minutes later, Angelique was sitting across from a brown-skinned man with wireframe glasses. He grinned as he extended his hand to her. “I’m Larry Powell. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His dimpled smile transformed his face from average to almost handsome. His glistening white teeth were the finishing touch.
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Angelique Shaw.”
“That’s a beautiful name.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I didn’t expect to encounter a woman like you here. I mean, you’re gorgeous.”
“Thanks. So can you tell me a little bit about yourself?”
“I’m a dentist. I live here in Harlem. How about you?”
“I’m a management consultant. I live in Harlem too. Technically, it’s Morningside Heights.”
“Well, technically, I live in Hamilton Heights, but it’ll always be home sweet Harlem to me no matter what.”
“One minute warning,” Yamilex announced on the microphone.
Larry frowned. “It looks like we don’t have much time left. But to be honest, I feel like I don’t need to talk to any other women here tonight. I know it’s kinda sudden, but I really feel a connection with you.”
“I’m flattered that you feel that way, but…”
“It’s been a rough year for me. I got divorced last spring, and…let me stop. I’m gonna scare you off with all of my baggage.”
“It’s okay. I actually appreciate your honesty. This past year hasn’t been easy for me either. I mean, I haven’t gone through anything as dramatic as a divorce, but being single in New York City often feels like a contact sport, except for the contact part. I mean, for me, I believe in taking it slow when it comes to sex because–”
“Time is up!” Yamilex shouted. “Gentlemen, please switch tables.”
Larry stood up. “I’m so glad I got to meet you Angelique. I’d love to continue our conversation…”
“Come on fellas. Let’s keep it movin’!”
As Larry walked away, Angelique was still on the fence about whether or not he was really her type. He was an inch shorter than her at 5’5”. He also had a little bald spot in the middle of his head. Despite his physical shortcomings, he seemed to be a sincere man. On top of that, he didn’t balk when Angelique mentioned that she didn’t rush into the bedroom. Maybe Larry was just the sort of man who could make her happy.
Cutting short her musings, the handsome, bronze-skinned brotha who Ebony had identified as Angelique’s type sat down across from her. He was even better looking up close. Angelique surmised he’d hypnotized his share of women with his sensual, brown eyes. He lifted Angelique’s hand and kissed it never breaking eye contact. “Hey there beautiful. My name is Dean. What’s your name?” The deep tone in his voice sounded like a radio DJ late at night on the Quiet Storm.
Angelique took a deep breath. She was so swept away in the moment that she thought she might faint. She blushed. “I’m sorry...what did you say?”
“I asked your name.”
“Oh, it’s Angelique.”
He bit his lip and said, “That name fits you; it rhymes with…” He paused. “I just wanna keep it 100 with you. You know what I’m sayin’? I didn’t come here ‘cause I’m desperate to meet women.”
“Sure. That’s obvious.”
“My cousin asked me to tag along with him. But anyway, I’m glad I did come through because meeting you was more than worth it.”
Angelique grinned.
“One minute warning,” Yamilex announced on the microphone.
“Looks like our time is coming to an end, but I have to know…”
“Yes?” Angelique perched forward in eager anticipation. At that point, the lips on her face and the lips below her waist longed to scream, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” As much as she wanted to stay true to her principles, a man as sexy as Dean could throw a big monkey wrench into her plans. She couldn’t help but wonder how big.
“Where are you from? You got a sexy, southern accent thing goin’ on.”
“Well, I’m originally from LA, but I went to Spelman, and I lived in Atlanta for ten years. I just moved to New York last December.”
“I always did have a thing for country girls, and I love Cali chicks too. Looks like you’re the best of both,” Dean said as he bit his lip again.
“Okay, time is up!” Yamilex shouted. “Gentlemen, please switch tables.”
Angelique met eight other men, but none of them caught her attention. When the speed dating sessions ended, she walked back to the bar to get a second glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. Seconds later, Ebony was standing next to her with a big grin. Her face was beaming as she sipped the last of her mojito.
“I told you this would be fun!” Ebony declared. “Aren’t you glad that we came out tonight?”
“I have to admit, this was fun.”
“Did you meet somebody you liked?”
Angelique nodded.
“Me too, girl! You know what he told me? He said, he only came here to tag along with his cousin, but he was glad he came because meeting me was more than worth it.”
Angelique frowned. “Dean?”
“Yeah, girl, isn’t he fine? I know I pointed him out as your type, but after I sat down and talked to him, I was really feelin’ the brotha. I realize I only talked to him for two minutes, but I felt a deep connection with him.”
Angelique wanted to tell Ebony that she wanted Dean too, but it seemed pointless. Deep down inside, she knew that what she felt for Dean was merely a physical attraction. Now that she was away from his alluring presence, she was clearheaded enough to acknowledge that she didn’t want to be another one of his sexual conquests.
On the other hand, Ebony was better equipped to deal with a man like Dean. It wasn’t that Ebony was promiscuous, but sex wasn’t a big deal to her. Unlike Angelique, she didn’t fall to pieces if a man stopped returning her phone calls. After surviving her helter-skelter, bumpy upbringing in Fort Greene Brooklyn and rebelling against her parents by becoming a writer instead of a lawyer, Ebony didn’t waste time panicking over petty shit.
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, the moment of truth has arrived. You will see some lovely ladies handing out index cards. Please write your name at the top and the name of your dream date at the bottom. Once again, good luck to all of you. I hope we make some love connections tonight!”
A young woman in a black t-shirt and jeans handed Ebony and Angelique index cards and small pencils. They thanked her. Angelique scribbled her name at the top of the card. Then, she did the safe thing and wrote Larry’s name at the bottom. She glanced over Ebony’s shoulder and wasn’t at all surprised to see that she had written Dean’s name.
A few minutes later, the young woman came back to collect their cards and placed them inside of a big gift bag. The whole thing began to have the feeling of a raffle or a lottery, except Angelique wasn’t sure if she even wanted to win. Sure, she had written Larry’s name down on her index card, but she was beginning to have doubts as she glanced across the room and saw Dean. She couldn’t help but stare at him frustrated that she couldn’t match his looks with Larry’s personality.
“Good news! We have some matches!” Yamilex announced enthusiastically. “Please, don’t forget to invite me to the weddings!”
A few people laughed.
“Okay, okay, drum roll please!”
Some patrons played along, tapping on the hard surface of the bar.
“First up, we have Julio and Keisha!”
A heavyset Latino man stood up and walked over to a full-figured sista. They hugged as he kissed her on the cheek. People applauded the love connection.
“Next up, we have Dean and Tiffany!”
“What?” Ebony frowned as Dean walked over to embrace a chocolate sista who favored Naomi Campbell, from her almond-shaped eyes to her long, straight weave. There was, however, a distinct difference between the infamous supermodel and Tiffany. She had a round as
s that looked so plump and juicy that it might pop if she sat down on a sharp object. Her painted-on jeans even caused women to stare at her backside.
Dean grinned as he wrapped his arm around Tiffany. Clearly, he was ecstatic about his choice. He whispered something in her ear, and seconds later, they walked out the door together.
“Can you believe that he picked her over me? He needs his eyes checked,” Ebony snarled.
Angelique rubbed Ebony’s back grateful that she hadn’t written Dean’s name down on her index card after all. “Don’t sweat it girl; you didn’t need him anyway.”
Ebony took a sip of her drink and nodded. She knew Angelique was right, but that did little to ease the sting of rejection. It didn’t go over her head that Dean wasn’t exactly husband material, but that wasn’t the point. She didn’t like to lose to any other female, especially skanks like Tiffany.
“And finally, one more match…Larry and Angelique!”
Larry approached Angelique with a big grin. His smile disarmed her. He wasn’t a bad-looking man, and now she was really glad that she had given him a chance. With a closer haircut and some contacts, Larry might even be fine, she thought. So many sistas claim to want a good man, and this might be my chance to get one!
“I’m so glad that you picked me,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her. The aroma of his cologne was pleasant. “I promise to do all I can not to disappoint you.”
“Larry, this is my best friend Ebony,” Angelique said.
“Nice to meet you.” Larry extended his hand to Ebony.
“Hi,” she offered unenthusiastically, shaking his hand weakly then returning her attention to her drink.
Yamilex cleared her throat and said, “If your name wasn’t called, please don’t be discouraged. Finding love takes patience, but we hope you join us again next Thursday. Same place, same time. Good luck to all of you. Thanks for coming out tonight!”