Free Trouble with Luv' by Pamela Yaye

his smile danced across his face. I wonder how the rest of his body moves. “Have you been involved in the program for a long time?” she asked, changing the subject before her lax tongue got her into trouble.
    â€œThis is my fourth year as the program coordinator, but I’ve been going to Jubilee for years. The members have become part of my extended family. Pastor Henderson and his wife, Necee, are my second parents and their teenage sons are the brothers I never had. I don’t work too far from the church, so when I need a quiet place to work, I come by and use one of the upstairs offices.”
    â€œWhere do you work? Oh no, let me guess,” she said, imitating him to a tee. Letting her eyes rove over his thick, juicy lips, she wondered if it was possible for him to look anything but delicious. I bet he’d even look good in a pair of neon pants, she thought, holding his gaze. “You’re a natural born leader, so I’d guess you work in Human Services. You’re a firefighter, a medic or maybe even a cop.” A picture of Xavier in a blue polyester uniform and handcuffs dangling from his hips flashed in her mind. Then a devilish grin rippled across her face. “Am I right?”
    â€œNot bad. But you’re wrong.” He chuckled heartily at the exaggerated look of shock on her face. Xavier finished his milkshake. “I’m the guidance counselor and home economics teacher at Christian Academy High. But—” he paused for effect “—when I was a little I used to play cops and robbers.”
    Xavier’s heart warmed at the sound of Ebony’s rich, throaty laugh. It was playful, sexy and flirtatious all in one. And he wanted to hear more of it.
    For the next forty-five minutes, conversation flowed smoothly between the pair. Flirtatious smiles, shrieks of laughter and amusing tales punctuated the meal. Ebony was shocked at how much they had in common. They shared more than just a birth date. Sushi was their favorite food. Baseball their sport of choice. They both played the piano and were the biggest John Coltrane fans of all time. And they had each seen the movie Love Jones about fifty times.
    The waitress bounced back over to the table. “How’s your meal, ma’am?”
    â€œTerrific.”
    When the waitress took the plates and asked if they needed anything else, Xavier draped his arms over the back of the booth. “Could you bring us a couple of dessert menus? I think my date is in the mood for something sweet.”
    Am I ever, Ebony thought, cleaning her lips with a napkin.
    â€œHad you always dreamed about owning your own business?” he asked, returning to the topic they had been discussing before they were interrupted. “Is this what you imagined yourself doing when you were a kid?”
    â€œNope. When I was seven years old, I wanted to be a firefighter.” The words were barely out of her mouth when she felt a sharp stab of pain in her stomach. Ebony’s eyes watered. Gripping the side of the table, she took a long, deep breath. It didn’t help. She felt like the room was spinning.
    Xavier examined her face. “Are you okay? You don’t look too good.”
    â€œBe right back,” was all Ebony could say. Cupping her mouth with one hand, and cradling her stomach with the other, she hurried toward the washrooms.
    Once inside the ladies’ room, Ebony threw herself over the sink and emptied her stomach. She thought the worst was behind her, but when she tried to stand up, she felt her stomach twist into tight knots. Holding her side, she slumped against the wall and dropped to her knees. Closing her eyes, she prayed that the pain would end.
    â€œOh my God!” she heard someone yell. She felt a hand on her shoulder. “What’s the matter?”
    Ebony’s eyes flittered open at the sound of the soft and caring voice. The scent of onions permeated the tiny jail-cell-size bathroom.