OMARI

23: YANDI

Yandi stepped into the restaurant, closing her eyes briefly and taking one deep breath, exhaling as she opened them.

Its going to be fine, her subconscious assured her.

With each stride she took she felt more confident, this date couldn't be too bad.

She spotted Lawrence immediately, his attention caught in the pages of the restaurant's menu.

"Mr Brewer," he looked up, his hazel eyes meeting her own.

Lawrence looked as gorgeous as he did in his youth, probably even better. He gave up his curly hair for a bald look, but kept his beard short, showing off his sculpted jawline.

"Miss Tembo," He smiled, his pearly whites on full display. As he stood from his seat, Yandi was fighting the sensations from the lower half of her body, taking in his gestures. Dressed in an ash grey knitted sweater and dark khakis over black Chelsea boots, he looked model ready for a men's winter collection photoshoot.

She got a whiff of his cologne as he drew closer, trying not to topple over. He embraced her, wrapping his arm round her waist for a moment and pulling away.

Lord help me, she thought.

"We can skip the formalities now, yes?" He said whilst pulling a chair for her to sit.
"Of course, Lawrence," she laughed, silently thanking him as he too sat back down.

"Its good to see you, after so long," He began, his warm smile gracing his handsome face.
"Likewise. And yes, it's been a while. How have you been?" Yandi asked, returning a smile.

A waiter approached their table with some white wine that Lawrence ordered prior to Yandi's arrival. They thanked the waiter for filling their glasses before returning to their conversation.

"I've been good, life has not been so great but we ride the wave, " He answered.
"Well, you look like you've been handling life well," she remarked, sipping on her wine.
"Yandi, I'm pushing forty and bald, come on," he joked, earning a laugh from Yandi.
"Well it does suit you,"
"You think so?"
"Yeah," she chimed in, "I mean, sure now you look a lot less like Micheal Ealy with the bald head-"

Lawrence burst into laughter as she continued, laughing along.

"You look like the hot felon,"
"Yandi!" he chortled.
"Or ... you're the hot felon's elder brother that nobody knew that turned out to be an attorney," Yandi winked.
"You are weird," Lawrence commented as he took a sip of his wine, smiling at her explanation.

"Why thank you,"
"You're still the same bubbly, comical Yandi."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I like that I still get to experience this side to you," he added, gazing at her. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

Yandi simply smiled, downing her wine.

"So, what else has been going on in your life?" she leaned in, crossing her arms.
"Ah, I see you've been told of my divorce," Lawrence nodded, and so did Yandi.
"So, what happened?"

"We wanted different things out of the marriage. I could say I thought lightly of the issue until we tied the knot, things just spiraled out of control after that," he explained, Yandi nodding in understanding.

"I can only imagine what that must have been like," she finally spoke, thinking of what happened between her and Justin.
"Yeah, well. At least I glowed up after," he grinned.
"Ayy, look at you shinin'- literally, the lighting here is bouncing off your head like-"

"Wow, Yandi stop!" He chuckled, finding her laughter contagious and her smile still as beautiful as he remembered.

"What um... what happened with you and Justin? Last I heard you were engaged."