okay. I’m okay. I’m okay, I coached myself. Regaining control, I wiped the tears that dripped from my eyes. My heart still pounded in my chest, but I was able to breathe again.
The time seemed to accelerate after showering and doing my hair in a pretty up-do. As 7pm inched closer, I decided to try Emily again. Not knowing if she was still with Emanuel, I just sent a text.
Sahara Lee: I’m about to leave. Call as soon as you can. Freaking out.
Emily Mills: So sorry! Still at the studio. Manny is setting up the computers and speakers in the auditorium. He is literally staring at me right now. I can call if you want but I wanted to check with you before calling.
Sahara Lee: No, please don’ t. Delete the message and call me when you get home.
Emily Mills: I’ve been deleting them all. Are you okay? He’s in the middle of telling me a story but I can go to the bathroom in a few minutes and call you from there.
Sahara Lee: No it’s fine. I’m fine. I’m just nervous.
Emily Mills: Being nervous is natural. You will be better than fine. You’ll be great. Regardless of what happens, you got this.
Sahara Lee: Thanks. I’ll keep you posted.
Chapter 7
Walking up the sidewalk, I stopped directly in front of Jimmy’ s. The two story brick structure was beautiful. White uplights highlighted the building’s unique first floor windows and the black cursive Jimmy’s scrawled across the space above the windows. Shaking out my arms and rotating my head in a circle, I tried to quell the knot of nerves that was growing in the pit of my stomach. Even though I didn’t need to, I adjusted the strap on my black Nicole Miller lace cocktail dress. The dress fit my body perfectly. Paired with 4 inch Alexander Wang leather ankle strapped pumps, the outfit was short without being too short, sexy without being too sexy. The plan was to distract him long enough to convince him to speak to me. With this dress and these heels, hopefull y Ty will see me and at the very least entertain a conversation with me so I can apologize, I thought hopefully as I walked up the steps to the front door.
As soon as I walked into the welcome area of the soul food restaurant and lounge, memories flooded my brain. Trying to distract myself with the mission, I quickly scanned the area to see if Ty was around. He wasn’t so I moved toward the hostess desk.
“Welcome to Jimmy’s. Do you have a reservation?” An exotic looking woman with long dark hair greeted me as I walked up.
“Hi,” I began nervously, “I, um, was actually just looking to speak with Mr. Barker. Is he available?”
“Mr. Barker isn’t available. He’ll be in Boston for the next few weeks. Mr. Cooper is available if you’d like to speak with him,” she offered brightly. Who is Mr. Cooper? I thought as I quickly ran through the list of people who were in managerial positions with Jimmy’s.
Looking over my shoulder at the group of six who walked in loudly, I stepped to the side. “Go ahead and take them,” I offered. Ty never missed a Saturday. On the way to New York, he told me that it was the first Saturday he had ever missed at one of his restaurants. Bennett said he was okay. Before I left, Bennett said he was okay. He said he was okay. If he was okay, he would be here. He wouldn’t miss a Saturday, I thought to myself in a panic.
Unconsciously, I started pacing in front of the desk. My mind was spinning and worse-case scenarios inundated my brain. Feeling the ball of anxiety grow inside me, I fought the tears that threatened to fall.
“Ma’am… would you like me to call Mr. Cooper? He may be able to help you,” she proposed again. I took a calming breath and nodded slightly.
She stared at me for a beat too long before
The time seemed to accelerate after showering and doing my hair in a pretty up-do. As 7pm inched closer, I decided to try Emily again. Not knowing if she was still with Emanuel, I just sent a text.
Sahara Lee: I’m about to leave. Call as soon as you can. Freaking out.
Emily Mills: So sorry! Still at the studio. Manny is setting up the computers and speakers in the auditorium. He is literally staring at me right now. I can call if you want but I wanted to check with you before calling.
Sahara Lee: No, please don’ t. Delete the message and call me when you get home.
Emily Mills: I’ve been deleting them all. Are you okay? He’s in the middle of telling me a story but I can go to the bathroom in a few minutes and call you from there.
Sahara Lee: No it’s fine. I’m fine. I’m just nervous.
Emily Mills: Being nervous is natural. You will be better than fine. You’ll be great. Regardless of what happens, you got this.
Sahara Lee: Thanks. I’ll keep you posted.
Chapter 7
Walking up the sidewalk, I stopped directly in front of Jimmy’ s. The two story brick structure was beautiful. White uplights highlighted the building’s unique first floor windows and the black cursive Jimmy’s scrawled across the space above the windows. Shaking out my arms and rotating my head in a circle, I tried to quell the knot of nerves that was growing in the pit of my stomach. Even though I didn’t need to, I adjusted the strap on my black Nicole Miller lace cocktail dress. The dress fit my body perfectly. Paired with 4 inch Alexander Wang leather ankle strapped pumps, the outfit was short without being too short, sexy without being too sexy. The plan was to distract him long enough to convince him to speak to me. With this dress and these heels, hopefull y Ty will see me and at the very least entertain a conversation with me so I can apologize, I thought hopefully as I walked up the steps to the front door.
As soon as I walked into the welcome area of the soul food restaurant and lounge, memories flooded my brain. Trying to distract myself with the mission, I quickly scanned the area to see if Ty was around. He wasn’t so I moved toward the hostess desk.
“Welcome to Jimmy’s. Do you have a reservation?” An exotic looking woman with long dark hair greeted me as I walked up.
“Hi,” I began nervously, “I, um, was actually just looking to speak with Mr. Barker. Is he available?”
“Mr. Barker isn’t available. He’ll be in Boston for the next few weeks. Mr. Cooper is available if you’d like to speak with him,” she offered brightly. Who is Mr. Cooper? I thought as I quickly ran through the list of people who were in managerial positions with Jimmy’s.
Looking over my shoulder at the group of six who walked in loudly, I stepped to the side. “Go ahead and take them,” I offered. Ty never missed a Saturday. On the way to New York, he told me that it was the first Saturday he had ever missed at one of his restaurants. Bennett said he was okay. Before I left, Bennett said he was okay. He said he was okay. If he was okay, he would be here. He wouldn’t miss a Saturday, I thought to myself in a panic.
Unconsciously, I started pacing in front of the desk. My mind was spinning and worse-case scenarios inundated my brain. Feeling the ball of anxiety grow inside me, I fought the tears that threatened to fall.
“Ma’am… would you like me to call Mr. Cooper? He may be able to help you,” she proposed again. I took a calming breath and nodded slightly.
She stared at me for a beat too long before
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