com•fort
noun
1.
a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.
"room for four people to travel in comfort"
2.
the easing or alleviation of a person's feelings of grief or distress.
"a few words of comfort"
Dom just wants a man to fee...
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I feel the base of the music in my veins. The crowd presses against me spiking my anxiety. I check my phone for the third time in twenty minutes but have already come to the conclusion that I've been stood up. Heading back to the bar I ask the bartender for the check. Pushing my way through the crowd I gasp with relief when finally get into the street, immediately struck by the balmy Texas night. It was still relatively early but I was no longer in a partying mood. I check my phone and see that there aren't any reasonable priced Ubers at this hour.
My stomach growls and I'm becoming aware that I haven't eaten anything but a bagel all day. Lucky for me there is a Wafflehouse with in walking distance. Glad that I opted for dunks instead of my strappy heels my friend Harmony insisted that I wear, I start to walk the thought of a crispy bacon and hash-browns spurring me on. The city is alive, 11 pm on a Friday. Music and laughter fills the streets. My phone dings with a text message. My would be date begging me to forgive him giving some sorry as excuse about how time got away from him. After being stood up for over a hour I was no longer interested in anything he had to say. I quickly block him and continue my pursuit of the comfort of breakfast foods.
To my surprise the diner is pretty vacant beside a couple and a man sitting in the corner reading a book and seemingly people watching. Picking a booth in the far corner I quickly order a bacon egg and cheese hash brown bowl with a cup of decaf coffee. Waiting for my order open the kindle app and search for something to read while I eat. The cooks have a radio that is placing the quiet storm station, Bilal's soothing voice serenading the patrons. I find a Beverly Jenkins book that I haven't read and am almost so immediately drawn into the plot.
Before I know it I'm five chapters in and my food is being place before me. I don't realize how hungry I am until I'm scarfing down the food in haste. Sipping my coffee I'm about to go back to reading I feel eyes on me. Turing I see the man from early eyeing me. We lock eyes and he quirks a brow as if daring me to say something about his staring problem. I quickly turn around to finish my meal. I finish a couple more chapters of my book and order another coffee to go before paying, tipping and ordering my Uber.Before I can even get out of my seat I feel him towering over me. His locs hang to his waist in two-strand twists, his body lean but powerful. His dark skin makes his gold septum and nose ring seemingly glow. A neat mustache and goatee frame thick pink kissable lips. I pry my eyes at him and notice him looking at my kindle with interest.
"Yes?"
"What are you reading?" He slides into my booth making himself comfortable much to my dismay. I clutch my kindle closer to myself not sure why he was even showing interest. He notices my discomfort before sliding his book across the table for me to see the title.
The Song of Mr. Suleman
And it was an advance copy. The cover shows clear signs that he's read it over again.
"What you know about EJD?"
"I know he'd one of the only authors I can read without feeling like I'm reading about someone else's experience. It's hard to find a black author that isn't just spewing black trauma and stereotypes. It's refreshing."
"He handles heavy topics too."
"Yeah but it's not for the entertainment of others. Lots of time I feel like black authors are confide in boxes of which they can write. It's either urban fiction or erotica."
"I think that's just laziness on your part. You're not branching out to other genres and looking for our people. Yes it'll be hard but I'm sure it'll be worth it." He nods and smiles deep dimples popping out of both cheeks.
Damn. I'm a sucker for dimples.
"Let me see your phone." He hands it to me and quickly put my number in just as I get the notification that my Uber is pulling up.
"Call me when you want to expand your horizons."
He nods his dimples even more pronounce as he appraises me pushing a loc out of his face.
"I gotchu." I nod and leave thinking that tonight might not have been such a bust after all.
