Perfect Storm

Four

Cashmere steps into her apartment, the familiar scent of vanilla candles filling the air. It's a comforting smell, one that reminds her she's home. The loft she shares with Kyla has been her sanctuary for the past couple of years, a place where they've laughed, cried, and supported each other through any and everything. But tonight, something feels different.

"Kyla, you home?" Cash calls out as she kicks off her shoes by the door.

"In the kitchen!" Kyla's voice floats back, accompanied by the sound of something sizzling on the stove.

Cashmere makes her way to the kitchen, finding Kyla stirring a pot of what smells like Rasta Pasta. Kyla looks up with a smile, her curls bouncing as she turns to greet her friend.

"Hey, girl! How was your day?" Kyla asks, noticing the slight tension in Cashmere's expression. "You look like you got something on your mind."

Cashmere leans against the counter, folding her arms. "Yeah, I got something to tell you. You might wanna sit down."

Kyla raises an eyebrow but obliges, turning off the stove and grabbing two glasses from the cupboard. She pours them each a glass of wine and slides one over to Cashmere before sitting down at the small kitchen table.

"Alright, spill. What's up?"

Cashmere takes a deep breath, then starts talking. "So, you know that dating site I signed up for? The one where they match you with someone serious?"

"Yeah, I remember. Did they find you a match or something?"

"Yeah, they did. His name's Luciano and he's... girl, he's fine as hell." Cashmere pauses, taking a sip of her wine. "But there's a catch."

Kyla leans in, curiosity piqued. "A catch? What kind of catch?"

Cashmere sighs. "If I agree to meet him for a date, I'm agreeing to marry him."

Kyla's eyes widen, and she nearly chokes on her wine. "Wait, what? Marry him? Just like that?"

"Yeah, just like that. That's how this site works. It's all about serious relationships, no playing around. If I meet him, I'm saying I'm ready to be his wife."

Kyla sits back, processing the information. "Damn, Cash. That's ode. You sure you wanna do this?"

"I'm not sure about anything right now," Cashmere admits, running a hand through her hair. "But I met with the matchmaker today, and she showed me a picture of him. He's gorgeous, Ky. And there's something about this whole thing that just feels... right, I guess? I don't know, maybe I'm crazy."

Kyla nods slowly, taking in her friend's words. "You ain't crazy. You just know what you want, and that's something a lot of people don't. If you think this could be good for you, then I'm all for it. I just wanna make sure you know what you're getting into."

Cashmere looks at her best friend, grateful for the support. "I appreciate that, Ky. I do. But I've been thinking... If this works out, if I end up with Luciano, things are gonna change around here. You and I might not be roommates much longer."

Kyla's face softens as she nods in understanding. "Yeah, I've been thinking about that too. You know, me and your cousin have been talking about moving in together. Nothing's set in stone, but it's on the table."

Cashmere's heart skips a beat. The idea of Kyla moving out, of their lives heading in different directions, feels like the end of an era. But she knows it's inevitable. They're both growing and sometimes growth means change.

"So what do we do?" Cashmere asks, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "Do we start looking for new places? Figure out who's staying here and who's leaving?"

Kyla smiles, a bittersweet look in her eyes. "We can cross that bridge when we get there. But no matter what happens, we gon be good, you know that. We're family."

Cashmere nods, feeling a mix of emotions—sadness, excitement, fear, and hope—altogether. "Yeah, we are. And I'm gonna need you more than ever if I'm really about to do this."

Kyla reaches across the table, squeezing Cashmere's hand. "You got me, Cash. Always. If you're going through with this, I'm right here with you, every step of the way."

Cashmere squeezes back, feeling a little more grounded. "Thanks, Ky. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out," Kyla replies with a grin, lifting her glass. "To whatever's next—for both of us."

Cashmere clinks her glass against Kyla's, the sound ringing in the quiet kitchen. As they sip their wine, the reality of what's to come begins to settle in. The loft that has been their shared home might soon become just a memory, but the bond between them is something that no move or marriage could ever break.

They spend the rest of the evening talking about their future plans, laughing, and reminiscing about all the good times they've had in the loft. And as the night wears on, Cashmere feels a sense of peace. She's about to embark on a new journey, but she knows she won't be doing it alone.

Later, as she's getting ready for bed, Cashmere's phone buzzes with a new message. It's from Brianna.

Brianna: "Hi, Cashmere! Just wanted to confirm that you'll be meeting Luciano tomorrow at 7PM. The location is Rao's in East Harlem. It's an exclusive spot, so be prepared for something special. See you then!"

Cashmere stares at the screen, her heart pounding. Rao's? She's heard of the place—regular people can't get in without knowing the right people. This just got even more real.

She takes a deep breath, replying with a simple, "Got it. Thank you!"

As she lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, she tries to imagine what tomorrow will bring. Meeting Luciano at a place like Rao's feels like stepping into a whole new world, one that's both exciting and terrifying. 

This man is something else.