Page 145 of Certified to Handle You
But with Sha’Nelle…
I wasn’t even tryna fight it no more.
Me and Sha’Nelle had been at the Airbnb for hours, but eventually put that shit on and stepped out for dinner.
Soon as we walked in earlier, I already knew I did right with the spot I picked. The muthafucka was big, open, and clean. It felt like money without it bein’ too loud about it.
The livin’ room had tall windows that let all the light in, and was lookin’ out over the city, sittin’ above everything. The sectional sat off to the side in this deep charcoal color with wide cushions that matched the rest of the livin’ room.
The kitchen was all marble and chrome with a big island in the middle, a wine cooler tucked under the counter and cabinets stocked like whoever owned the house m expected people to really live in it, and not just pass through.
The bedrooms was spread out through the crib, and each one had king beds laid in clean white sheets, so everything looked untouched and expensive like nobody had really stayed in here like that.
The bathrooms matched that same energy, with glass walk-in showers and deep tubs sittin’ off to the side, and fresh towels lined up on the counters like they expected you to use ’em but still keep everything lookin’ perfect.
’Nelle walked through the house slow, lookin’ around, touchin’ shit, smilin’ in a way she was tryna hide but couldn’t, and I just leaned back against the wall watchin’ her take it in.
“You did this…” she said, glancin’ at me.
I shrugged like it wasn’t nothin’. “You like it?”
She looked around again, then back at me. “Hell yeah… this is nice, Renza.”
We chilled for a while after that, not doin’ nothin’ crazy, but just talkin’, sittin’ close and lettin’ the time pass without it feelin’ forced. Eventually I told her to go get dressed, and when she came back out, I had to take a second before I said somethin’.
She had on a maroon dress, and that shit was doin’ exactly what it was supposed to do.
It hugged her all the way down and laid over them curves like it was made for her. The way it sat on her hips made it real clear I was gon’ have to keep my focus in check once we got out in public.
I ain’t say all that though.
I just looked at her, then nodded once. “Yeah… we gon’ have a problem tonight.”
She rolled her eyes but smiled anyway.
I grabbed my keys and we headed out.
Like I always do, I found somewhere that matched the energy I was on. I found a spot with low lights, a clean setup, real food and people in there mindin’ they business with money in they pockets. I ain’t care what city I was in, I was gon’ find that type of spot.
We got seated, and I ended up across from ‘Nelle, which probably wasn’t the best idea I ’cause now I had a full view of everything I was tryin’ not to stare at.
I picked up my menu, but I ain’t even see half the shit on it, ’cause every time I looked up, there Sha’Nelle was… sittin’ there smilin’ at me like she knew exactly what she was doin’.
I had to force myself to look down at my plate once the food came, takin’ a bite just to give myself somethin’ else to focus on, but that ain’t last long either.
“You good?” she asked, tiltin’ her head a lil’.
“I’m great,” I said, glancin’ back up at her. “I’m just tryna eat my food without disrespectin’ you in public.”
She laughed at that, shakin’ her head while she flipped her hair back over her shoulder like it was second nature.
For a second, she just sat there lookin’ at me, then she laughed again and leaned back in her seat.
“Renza… what the fuck are we doin’?” she asked.
I looked at her. “What you mean?”
She shook her head, still smilin’. “Like… how did we even get here?”
