Not to love

9

Quintin's POV:

I was over the moon.

Thank you God! Thank you for this opportunity!

After our date, I cleaned up the picnic quickly before rushing back to my hotel room. A hyped skip in my walk as happiness filled my being.

I fell asleep content with my evening, thanking the Lord over and over again for Eminia and the date that we had.

I found myself waking up each morning and grabbing my sketch book, immediately drawing the first that came to mind.

Which was her.

I was head over the moon.

"Whats got you bouncing around like that", Dante asks. We were currently at his house, I was helping him out with an audition that he needed to send in later that day. I smiled at the question as I adjusted the camera.

"Nothing".

Dante squints at me, "Yeah right, you think I believe that? Who is she?".

I snap my head at him, "Man I might just be smiling because God is good, why it gotta be about a girl?".

"Quintin Alexander Henely, stop playing games", Dante deadpans. Dang he knows me too well! "Now who is she?", he asks again.

I look off the side before perking up and responding, "Her name is Eminia Harris and she's a bank clerk".

"I knew it", Dante chuckles, "Where'd you meet her?".

"At her job, she was helping me set up my savings account".

Dante sighs before shaking his head in disbelief. He knew how I was when it came to dating, whenever I was in a relationship I was all in. Though Eminia and I weren't close to that stage as of yet, I had already decided that I wouldn't be pursuing anyone else.

"And she fell for you? Girl must be off the rocks", Dante comments. I reach over and playfully hit his arm.

"Ay shut up. No she hasn't, we're just getting to know each other right now. But Te'.. ugh lemme tell you.. she's like.. everything Ive ever wanted in a woman".

"Go on".

"Intelligent, funny, kind, but a little stubborn. You can tell she doesn't play around with herself and her life", I sigh, sitting at the table in front of my best friend.

"She's a Christian too?".

"Oh yeah, and she carries herself with so much poise. I mean, I feel the Holy Spirit between us when we're together".

Dante hums, "Sounds like she's the one".

I make a face his way, "What?".

"Nothing".

"Nah man, what? Why are you saying it like that?".

The man sighs before lifting his head up and looking at me, "Look I'm sure she's a lovely girl, but Quintin don't forget how you are when it comes to relationships".

"What do you mean?".

"You know how you are, you love God which is amazing. But these girls you've dated.. they don't. Or at least they don't love Him as much as you do. And then boom, they leave you because of your relationship with Him".

My eyes widened as my friend spoke. Has it always been like that? I don't go around looking for women, in fact I make sure to be very careful when it came to that. But the truth was, my dating history has never been the greatest.

"Eminia isn't like that", I reply.

"How do you know?".

"I...", I choke. Truth was, I didn't know, I didn't know much about the woman. But something inside me told me she wasn't, "Maybe you're right. But I'll only know if God tells me so. And right now, I feel absolutely no conviction when I'm with her or when I think about her".

Dante sighs solemnly, "If you say so man".

"Whatever. Let's shoot this audition".

Dante's comments plagued my head as I walked back home. I knew he was right. I've always been very clear that Jesus came first and foremost before anything else.

But that always ended in the argument of me loving someone more than I loved my partner.

It was complicated even though it shouldn't have been. A relationship could only work if two children of God came together.

But Eminia wasn't like that right? She was different. I know she's different. I can't explain it yet but I know that she isn't like those past relationships.

Whatever. Whatever. Dante was just talking, didn't mean what he was saying was the truth.

"I need to clear my head", I sigh to myself as I walked down the road, "And I really need to get a job".

Technically I already have a job, and believe me, if I could solely make a living on my art I would. However, I was only able to cover hotel nights with the money I saved up from back home. I couldn't keep staying there.

It was hard out here but I knew that God was going to make a way.

I stop in front of a store, my head cocking to the side as I read the uplifting sign. 'Now hiring!'.

I smile, looking up at the sky, "Always got my back".

I open the door to the music store, the door bell jungling behind me. "Oh hello there!", a woman exclaim. She was a short girl, with Carmel skin, long ginger locs, and a face full of freckles.

"Hi", I look at her name tag before chirping, "Melanie! I saw your sign out front and I was wondering if I could get an application".

"Oh don't you worry about that! You're hired!", Melanie raises above the counter with a large smile.

"Wait.. really?".

"Yup!", the woman exclaims, walking around the counter and coming near me, "My husband bought this place so we aren't under any companies, so I can hire anyone I want. You want this job right?".

"Yeah-- yes! Thank you", I exclaim, grabbing the woman's hands and jumping for glee, "When can I get started?".

"Of course! And today if you want, I need some sweeping done in the back".

"Absolutely. Whatever you need ma'am".

A/N: if you've read my other book 'Underestimate' yk exactly who Melanie is. Tho I wonder who her husband is tho👀