"Oh my goodness. Fuck," Samara mumbled as she turned to face the mirror again. "I'm nervous. Do I look okay? Do you think he's gonna like me in this dress?" She fussed over the fabric, tugging and pulling on everything. Samara wore a black midi dress with a slinky cowl neck and ruched sides. The criss cross straps on the back of the dress were gold chains. A dress with this much sass meant that Zen definitely picked it out. What could she say? She loved a head turner. Samara's natural hair was silk pressed and curled, hanging just below her shoulders. She looked amazing and Zen was quick to let her know.
"Sam, cut it out. You look stunning," Zen reassured. "Zay is going to love it. I have your purse and your phone. Let's go. He's waiting on you."
"Okay. You're right," she said with more confidence. Samara gave herself a final once over. "Yeah. You're right. What am I talking about? He's going to love it. I look good." Samara quickly fluffed her hair out, put on her model face, and sashayed out the door behind Zen. When they reached the bottom of the stairs Zen handed Samara her things and gave her a quick hug.
"You look fabulous. Enjoy yourself tonight, sis."
"Thanks boo. Love ya."
"Love you too," Zen said with a smile. "Now," she said giving Samara a little nudge, "Go getcho man, girl," she whispered.
Samara smiled and said quietly, "Okay, okay. I'm going."
Each step Samara took towards the living room to meet Zay she felt butterflies in her stomach. "Calm down," she told herself quietly. "It's just Zay." When she finally stepped into his view Zay couldn't stop smiling.
"Oh my goodness," he grinned, as he looked her over. "Damn girl. You look beautiful!" Zay took her hand and spun her around for a full view. "Wow," he exhaled. Samara could feel her cheeks getting warm.
"Aw, Zay. Thank you. You look really amazing too!" she beamed.
"Aw, well you know," he chuckled, "I do clean up nicely."
Samara placed her hand on his arm and laughed. "Yeah you do." she smiled. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah. Let's get outta here," Zay grinned. "Don't wanna miss our reservations." Samara slipped her hand in his and let him lead the way out.
Outside of the house, Samara was surprised to see a cardinal red Maybach SUV parked in the driveway. She looked over at Zay.
"We're not taking your car?"
He looked over at her with a grin. "This is my car," he winked.
"What?" Samara laughed. "What happened to the Acura?"
"It's in the garage with the others."
Samara looked over at him with wide eyes. "Excuse me big baller. The others?" she smiled.
"The other cars I own," he laughed. "The Acura is just what I use when I'm at school. Ya know, I don't wanna be too flashy."
"Wow," Samara smiled. "As your best friend I thought I knew everything about you," she teased.
"You do," Zay chuckled as he opened up the door for her. "All of the best friend things, but you my girl now and I gotta lot more I wanna show you."
"Oh. Okay," she grinned, "I like that."
"I figured you would," he crooned, "I can't wait to see what else you like."
Samara was at a lost for words when Zay shut her door and made his way around the car. He was making her feel all sorts of things and she didn't know what to do with those feelings. She just hoped that she could keep it together tonight, though it was already proving to be hard. She didn't have a clue as to what Zay had planned, but she figured it had to be something big, because the butterflies in her stomach kept fluttering.
..
On the ride to their destination Samara kept trying to guess where Zay was taking her, but he wouldn't budge. He just smiled at her and told her to be patient.
Samara playfully pouted. "Zaaay, I hate it when you make me wait."
"Oh really? I'll have to remember that," he said in her direction, taking a brief moment to admire her. Samara wanted to have a comeback, but lately, when it came to Zay, her brain was all muddled.
"Just drive," she stammered, running her fingers through her hair. Zay chuckled to himself as he made a left turn.
"We've reached our first stop, actually," he smirked.
"What?" Samara questioned, sitting up. She took a quick look around.
"Zay? Are we at a—" she looked around again, "heliport?"
Zay parked the car and looked over at her. "Yeah," he grinned. "And there's our ride," he said pointing to a Eurocopter Mercedes-Benz. Samara unbuckled her seatbelt and looked out of the car window in excitement. When Zay was outside of the car he walked around to open up Samara's door. He held out his hand and helped her out.
"Getting excited yet?" he asked as they headed towards their ride hand in hand.
"Maybe," she said giddily.
"Mr. Adams. It's so good to see you again," the pilot said reaching out to shake Zay's hand.
"Hey Mr. H," Zay grinned, "It's good to see you too." He looked at Samara. "I want you to meet my girlfriend, Samara. Samara this is Mr. H."
"Girlfriend?" he grinned. "Well, you must be special, because Isaiah never brings any ladies by to meet me."
"Come on Mr. H. Never?" Samara grinned.
He shook his head and laughed. "No. Never."
"I believe you. Apparently he's very picky," she teased.
Zay smiled at her comment and shook his head before giving his attention back to the pilot. "A'ight Mr. H. We gotta get ready to go. I don't wanna be late."
"You got it boss. Let's go."
..
Finally seated, Samara exhaled. Zay, sitting across from her, smiled.
"You ar'ight?"
"Yeah," she said smiling over at him, "I'm—I'm good."
"You look good." Zay quipped, flashing a grin.
Samara blushed. "Zay. Don't you start."
"What? I can't give you a compliment?" he teased.
Samara bit her bottom lip and tried not to smile. "Thank you."
"Mmhm. You welcome," he grinned. Samara smiled to herself before unwittingly grabbing the pendant on her necklace and moving it back and forth along the chain.
"Why you getting all shy on me now?"
Samara looked up at him, her cheeks beginning to feel a bit warm. "I'm not. I'm just...taking everything in. Ya know, trying to adjust," she fidgeted.
Zay leaned forward in his seat with a hint of glee in his eyes. "Mar? Am I making you nervous?" He waited for a response then moved closer and let his fingertips graze her knee. "Or am I turning you on?" he whispered.
Samara drew in a quiet breath and sat back, the answer visibly, yes. "This is. Really nice," she said looking around. "Your dad's business must be doing really well."
"It is," he answered, trying to meet her gaze. "Maybe one day you'll get to see its success from the other side." Samara looked at Zay with a raised brow, a little unsure of what to say.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" he grinned.
Samara just smiled. "Let's just see how well this date goes first before you start dreaming Mr. Zaytavious."
"Ouch," Zay said playfully, clutching a hand over his heart. In the pilot seat, Mr. H chuckled to himself, "Real smooth, Isaiah."
..
"Okay you guys. We're about to land in ten minutes," Mr. H said into his headset. "Be prepared for landing."
"Finally!" Samara squealed. She scooted closer to the small window and looked out of it. It was dark outside now, but the bright lights from the buildings down below lit up the city skylines. The view from where they sat was breathtaking. Samara took it all in.
"Beautiful isn't it," Zay said coming up behind her to share the view.
"Yeah. It is."
The minutes on the helicopter flew by and before they could even blink twice they were being transported to the rooftop of a Michelin star restaurant. Mr. H announced their arrival and expressed his hopes for them to have a lovely night. When the door opened they were greeted by two men waiting outside of the helicopter to escort them inside. One was an average height, slender man, dressed in a black suit and tie, while the other, standing at over six feet tall, was dressed in black jeans and a black t-shirt. Zay didn't seem too happy to see the tall one, who Samara quickly learned, preferred to be called Ace. Zay helped Samara out of the helicopter visibly peeved.
"Mr. Adams! Welcome to—"
Zay unwittingly ignored the slender man in the fitted suit and turned his attention to the six-foot something man. "Kareem, what are you doing here? I thought I said I didn't need you tonight."
"Zay, what I tell you about using my government?" he said huskily.
"My fault Ace," Zay said quickly, trying not to get off task. "Didn't I call you and tell you that I didn't need you tonight?"
"You did, but when the plans change you and I both know that I ain't got nothing to do with that. I don't set the schedule and I for damn sure don't make the rules. That's all your pops."
"Well, did you tell him what I said?"
"Nigga, hell no! That's my boss. He pays my salary, not you." Samara's eyes bounced between the two men who were now in a quarrel.
"Zay, is this your bodyguard?" Samara interrupted.
"He's really more my dad's, but yeah Mar," he said quickly, before looking at Ace again and asking, "Why did he send you here?"
"Now, you and I both know why he hired me tonight. Don't get all brand new on me because you wit your lil girlfriend. You know how this goes."
Samara moved in closer to Zay and uttered quietly, "Um. Is he really necessary?"
Ace butted in. "Look, if you gon' be around here then you need to catch up. He's one of the top picks for the NBA and I've been hired to protect their investment. So yes. I'm really necessary."
Samara stepped up. "So. Let me get this straight, Ace. You're here to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid while he's on a date with his girlfriend? Did I get that right?"
"Correct. I see you a fast learner, Mar."
"It's Samara to you," she snapped back. "We ain't friends." Ace sized her up wanting to say more.
"Will y'all two calm down? And Ace back the hell up! Cuz when you disrespect her, you disrespect me and you've known me long enough to know that I don't play that shit. You need to apologize."
Ace sucked his teeth. He knew he had gotten a little out of pocket and since he wanted to keep his job, he sucked it up and did what Zay asked. "Look," he said turning to Samara, "I ain't mean no disrespect ar'ight. I apologize Samara. It won't happen again." Before Samara could accept his apology, Ace looked over at Zay and said, "Yo we good?"
"Why you askin' me? You ain't come at me with that bullshit. You gotta make it right with Samara before you try to talk to me playa."
Ace looked down at Samara. "We good? We straight?"
"Yeah, but now you gotta refer to me as Ms. Hayes, cuz now I really don't like yo ass."
"Come on bro? Are you serious?"
Samara kept a straight face. "Do I look like I laugh?"
Ace sucked his teeth. "Ar'ight fine whatever." Samara folded her arms and looked up at him.
"Say it."
"Zay, getcho girl man. Is she serious? Is she being forreal right now? I really gotta address her by her last name?" He looked at Zay, who then looked at Samara, whose face broke out into a grin. Her and Zay burst out laughing.
"I'm playin," she chuckled. "We're good. We're good. The look on your face did it for me," she laughed. "You can just call me Sam or Samara. I don't need all that extra."
Ace's face broke out into a slow grin. "Ah. You thought that was funny? Okay Sam. A'right," he laughed, "You got me."
The skinny suited man, their host, thought this was the perfect time to interject and make his introduction.
"Mr. Adams and Ms. Hayes, I am so sorry to interrupt, but I am Michel and I want to personally welcome you to Geraldi's. We are so happy that you decided to dine with us this evening. If you would follow me right this way, I will take you inside to your private dining area."
"Thank you," Zay said politely and then he grabbed Samara's hand to go inside. As they were walking inside, Samara just happened to look behind her, taking in the place when she saw Ace following a few paces behind them. She leaned over and whispered to Zay, "Not to be that girl, but this is still weird."
"You'll get used to it," Zay whispered back. "Plus Ace is really cool once you get to know him."
"It's not that. I just don't want a bodyguard following us everywhere."
"Well, if you're with me, you don't really have a choice," he said without any thought of how it might come across to Samara.
She looked at him with an addled expression. "I'm sorry. I don't have a choice?"
"Wait. I—I didn't mean it like that," Zay tried to explain. He caught ahold of his surroundings, remembering that they weren't alone and said calmly, "Look, can we please talk about this when we sit down?"
"Fine," Samara sighed and then she didn't say anything else.
In silence the two traveled down a short hallway and past the main dining area, until they reached their private dining room.
"Here we are," Michel smiled, before opening the door and revealing a luxurious room for two overlooking the waterfront with a private balcony. He led them to their seats. "I'll be right outside if you need me. Your waiter will be in in a few minutes. I hope that you two enjoy your evening with us."
"Thank you," they both replied politely.
"Ar'ight y'all. I'll be over by the door," Ace started. "Raymond and Kels are already posted up outside."
"Thanks Ace," Zay said dapping him up. "Preciate it."
Once everyone was out of ear shot, Zay was the first to speak up and clear the air. "Mar, look, about the bodyguard thing, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that when I'm home this is a norm for me and really that's more of my dad's thing than mine's, but if we're still together when I make it to the NBA this would become your normal too." Samara slowly nodded her head. "But believe me," he continued, "I know you and your initial reaction is exactly the reason why I didn't want Ace coming out with us tonight."
"Or Raymond or Kels," Samara teased. Zay's face broke out into a grin. "So, you usually travel with three bodyguards?"
"At least. Yeah."
"Wow. So you really are a big shot, huh?"
Zay put his head down and chuckled. "Nah. Nah," he said shaking his head.
"Nah, yes you are." Samara smiled. "And it's okay. You're a superstar. I've know that for a while now. It just—caught me off guard. I'm sorry."
"Mar, you have nothing to apologize for. This would be a crazy adjustment for anybody. Not just you. And I shouldn't have worded it like that. It sounded real—"
"—Matter-of-fact. Demanding. A little bossy, maybe." Samara interjected.
Zay smiled. "Damn. Sorry."
"All is forgiven. I don't even remember it," she smiled.
Zay reached out to Samara and grabbed her hand. "I love you," he said kissing the back of it.
Samara's face beamed with happiness. "I love you."
..
When Samara and Zay had finished their candle lit dinner, they decided to step out onto the balcony for some more private time away from the new set of watchful eyes. They thought a few uninterrupted moments together would be nice.
Samara leaned against the balcony railing that overlooked the new city that they were in and just basked in it's beauty. Zay walked up behind her and whispered a bunch of I love you's in her ear that made her swoon and laugh all at once. She fell lightly against his body and wrapped his arms around her waist. "This is the best first date I've ever been on and the most romantic," she said to him.
Zay leaned forward and grinned in her ear. "And it's not over yet."
Samara turned around to face him with a look of surprise on her face. "What?" she smiled. "You have more planned?"
...
