Hate That I Love You

19

Damian

Imani and Domenico are gonna be occupied for a while, so I figured they're gonna need their alone time with Junior. My adorable little nephew, but damn does he have his daddy's ears. We're surely not gonna need Maury for that DNA test. Leila offered me a ride back home considering I came here with Dom. In actuality, I wasn't going home. I made plans to meet up with Trey for this double date he had set me up with later. Oh, y'all thought I was getting back with Ava? Ha!! Fuck that. I don't want that dirty bitch no where near me. Honestly, I'm growing tired of the drama that comes with these relationships I've been in. I'm not gonna leave Trey hanging, but it's about damn time I worry about my own shit for once.

It was getting dark soon and I had nothing to do until 7pm. "We need to talk. Why don't we go grab a bite? You hungry?" I asked Leila.

"Uh, sure. I haven't eaten all day."

"Bet. Hand 'em over." Leila submits her car keys to me without hesitation. I go to the passenger side to open her door for her. A tiny smile creeps on her face before wiping it away.

"Thank you." She politely says as she places herself inside. I got a quick glimpse of all that ass she's carrying. Mm. Fuck, Damian. Eyes up. Can't say the same for Damian Jr though. "Where are we going?" Leila asks as I started the car.

"Somewhere that's not new. Well, to me at least." I drove us to the other side of the city. A low-key restaurant. The same restaurant where we went on our very first date. Café Marroni.

"Oh my God," Leila whispered to herself when we pulled up to the side of the curb.

"Feel familiar to you?"

"Um, well. A little." She scratched behind her ear.

"Mhm." I hopped out of the car to open her passenger door.

"How would Ava feel that you're doing this with your ex-fiancé?"

Before we were able to make it inside, I stopped her by gently grabbing her upper arm. "Let's get this straight, Leila. Not a God-given soul has control over me or what I do. Besides, I didn't bring you here to talk about an ex-girlfriend. I don't wanna have to hear about her again. There's something else I wanna talk about."

"What is it?"

"Why don't we head inside first? Yeah?" I held the door open, waiting for Leila to make her next move and when she did, I followed behind her. The restaurant held very few customers which I didn't mind. The less the better. I don't want our conversation to draw too much attention.

"Ahh! Damian!" The owner, Enzo Marroni, greeted me in his thick accent. "Ragazzo mio! Come stai?"

I shook his hand before he placed two kisses on my cheeks. "Mai meglio, Enzo. È passato molto tempo." (Never better, Enzo. It's been a long time.)

"Si. Too long." He turns his head to Leila. "Mio Cielo. Who is this splendida bellezza?" Enzo takes Leila's hand and leaves an honest kiss on her skin. She giggles. (My Heavens. Who is this gorgeous beauty?)

"You don't recognize her, Enzo?"

"Usually, I don't forget a beautiful face. I send my absolute apologies, amore mia. That age is catching up with me."

Leila continues to giggle at his respectful manners. "That's alright."

"Wait a second." Enzo wiggles his finger back and forth. "I know that soft-spoken voice anywhere. Bellissimaaa. Leila?"

"Yes?"

"Mio Dio! Sei cresciuto! I remember when you were just a buck twenty. Abbi pietà!" I almost forgot Enzo can be an old creep sometimes, but he's a very respectable man. "Damian, Damian. Ti sei benedetto con questo." (You've grown! Have mercy! You've blessed yourself with this one.)