it a pass because the mesmerizing sights, sounds, and people somehow made it all worthwhile.
Sometimes Dev and I would stop in the middle of what we were doing to say, âCan you believe that we live in New York! Aaahhh!â Then we would both giggle with excitement. This was exactly the type of invigorating experience I was longing for. I felt like I needed someone to pinch me.
Things with Dev and Mel were gradually growing more intense. During a chat one day, she even mentioned that he might be âthe one.â If she didnât show up to the apartment on any given night of the week, my safe guess was that she was with Mel, which gave me time alone that I loved. Consequently, everything in the world of roommates was going smoothly.
Meanwhile, Kari and I had been consistently spending more time together as well. But after the awkward first attempt at taking our relationship to the next level, we had not gotten back around to sealing the deal.
âDo you think Kari could be gay?â
âUh, where did that come from?â Dev looked at me puzzled as we walked crosstown on Fourteenth Street. âI thought you liked him. And no, I donât get a gay vibe from him.â
âDo you think he could have a secret girlfriend?â
âNo!â Dev looked at me. âAgain, I thought you liked him? Why the suspicion?â
âSurprisingly, I do like him, Dev.â
âYou should. He is sexy as hell.â
âBut you know me.â I shrugged my shoulders and rolled my eyes.
âContinue, chick, because you and I know how quickly you cut people off. Iâm glad he made it this far,â Dev said, her big brown eyes giving me a wary look. âAre you trying to find a reason to get rid of him, Scottie?â
âNo! Iâm confused, I guess. He really hasnât tried to push up on me since the incident at the house. And that was weeks ago.â
âWait, you mean the incident when you probably grossed him out with the bubble guts?â Dev laughed hysterically. âYouâre lucky heâs still talking to you!â
I had no choice but to laugh. The situation wasnât funny at the time, but it was hilarious looking back. Dev putting things in perspective made me feel slightly silly. Kari was obviously interested in me.
âHe probably thinks that you got scared the last time and heâs waiting for your cue. Maybe heâs trying to be respectful in letting you take your time,â Dev said.
âYou could be right. I hadnât thought of it that way.â
âIf you tried to jump his bones and he straight up rejected you, then maybe you would have a reason to be suspicious. Plus, does he really strike you as even possibly being gay?â
âNo,â I said sheepishly.
âI know you. If you thought even for a second that he was actually gay, or had a girlfriend, you would have dropped him.â
âTrue, nothing worse than everyone except you knowing that your man likes men.â
âExactly. So stop being silly and if you want it, then take it!â Dev said firmly as she puffed out her chest, then laughed at her own forcefulness.
âI think thatâs the spot ahead on the left,â I said, totally ignoring her last comment.
We were meeting up with a friend from college at a Hot 97 radio event. It was work for her, but all play for us.
The music was blaring and the after-work crowd was live. I couldnât get Kari off of my mind, but I decided that I needed to, at least for the evening. It was time to drink up and dance the night away. We caught up with our girl who introduced us to what seemed like the entire HOT 97 staff. To my surprise, there were actually a few cuties roaming around. One cutie could always help me get my mind off of another. Hell, I wasnât in a relationship so it was time to rotate and mingle.
I could see Dev from across the room showing off her moves on the dance floor. Her song must have
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