UNRAVELING AMAYA.

4

Within minutes, Ryan's Genesis G90 pulled up, a sly smile on his face as I got in. Waffle House wasn't my usual post-club destination, but apparently it was a tradition amongst the real party goers. I changed out of my club attire and into something casual—leggings, and my Spelman hoodie. Since my curls dropped from all of that damn humidity in the club, I threw it into a bun.

My sudden adventurousness surprised me; I wasn't much of a spontaneous girl, especially when it came to men. Jared was my only serious relationship; the rest were just rebound hookups and boring situationships until he'd come back to lick my wounds(amongst other things).

Ryan seemed like another guy who'd be here one day and gone the next so I guess he could be a good distraction for now.

"You look good," he complimented. I smiled and took note of his change of clothes—sweats and a simple black tee. Despite the casual outfit, he wore a gold Cartier Santos watch and a matching chain—subtle pieces that quietly showcased his wealth. Even in a relaxed look, he managed to exude effortless style.

"Thanks. You don't look half bad either." I joked. I don't know how I ended up in the car with this man after rejecting him but yolo, I guess. It's not like I would be missing out on anything at home.

Damn, I can't wait to tell Cordelia and Ximena about this.

As we cruised through the city, the banter with Ryan continued. "So why you holding out on that Instagram follow?" Ryan's question held a teasing edge. I decided against following him back that night—the 'strictly business' Amaya had possessed me again.

I chuckled. "Gotta keep it professional. I can't be following everyone I meet."

His grin widened. "Oh, you gon' do me like that?" I smirked as he rubbed his chin, his gaze never leaving the empty roads. "You women are something else. No follow back but I can take you out for some late night grub."

"Don't flatter yourself." I bit back a smile.

When we got to Waffle House, Ryan insisted that we place To-Go Orders—I asked where the hell we were going but he told me to trust him. Usually, I wouldn't dare trust a man that much; not even Jared's lying ass, but my judgement was still a little clouded from my shots of liquid courage earlier. "When it's late like this, I like to get in my head for a little while." Ryan interrupted my thinking. "I chill at the pier sometimes and it seem like yo' kind of vibe too."

I tried my best to bite back a snarky remark. That's how you get them? Pretend to be sensible? I can't lie, I did watch a few of his interviews and whenever he was asked about his love life, he'd raise the corner of his lip and say some bullshit like 'I ain't trynna be tied down just yet, you know?'. I wanted to see what I'd be getting myself into and with each observation I made, I was judging him a little harder.

The break up with Jared was still fresh so my trust in men was drained down to 0%.

The pier stretched out over the water, illuminated by soft lamps. The boards creaked slightly beneath our steps. Moonlight painted the sea silver, and boats bobbed nearby, tied to the dock. I wasn't one for the beach...especially at night but Ryan managed to make me feel comfortable—I took in the view, the water and him.

Ryan, leaning against the railing, casually started conversation. "So, what's your story, huh?" He nudged me with a smirk.

I glanced at the horizon, attempting to hide my smile. "What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you wanna tell me."

I cleared my throat. "Well, I'm originally from Augusta but moved here for school and just kind of...stayed. My brother followed me." I started to think back. "After my parents split, it wasn't much left back home." I thought aloud.