Unparalleled Love

Chapter 2

Three Months Ago

It was now 8:30 at night & I'd been on my feet all day. I was overjoyed that my last client was now finished & in love with her hair. It took me an hour and a half to wash, treat, sew-in, & style my clients hair. I was really hoping she'd get her Beyonce wanna-be self out of this mirror & pay me so I could lock up and leave. To say i've had a long day would surely be an understatement.

My first client was rsvp, 6:00 a.m. this morning. My girl Shanny had a wedding to go to later on today & wanted to get her hair done & out of the way. Shanny had been coming to me to get her hair done for years, way before I had my shop when I was a freshman in highschool doing caps & sew-in quick weaves for a little to nothing out of my bedroom. That's why I didn't mind hooking her up that early, even though I'm definitely not a morning person. I was surely paying for it. My back & feet were killing me, & to make matters worse, I hadn't heard from Kinsley all day. He knows when I don't speak to him for a while I get worried. He hates it, but i'm more of a realist & I see every situation for what it can turn out to be; good or bad.

While calling Kinsley, I start to reminisce on how we met. I remember it so vividly. I was in the mall after a short day at work just going into random stores and picking up whatever caught my eye. I had seen this guy eyeing me down when I walked out of Footlocker but I paid him no mind.

Don't get me wrong, he was fine. But I don't usually entertain guys.. or anyone else really. If he'd approach me properly, then yeah I'd give him the time of day. While stopping off at Aunt Anne's to get a cinnamon sugar pretzel, I spotted him again. I didn't think too much of it because Footlocker was just a couple of stores down so he could've been just strolling by.

I started making my way towards Burlington Coat Factory. I had parked my car out in the parking lot in front of Burlington. I decided to stop and look at these cute Raulph Lauren kids dresses and pick one or two up for my goddaughter Alaeya. But when I saw the line, I decided against it because I was too impatient and I could pick her something up later. I put the dresses back and started for the door. Just as I was exiting...

"Excuse me.. um, excuse me!"

I heard a male voice getting closer & closer behind me.

I stopped & turned around to see the guy who'd been staring at me in the mall. He was surely better looking up close.

"Hi, how are you?"

He said while extending his hand.

"Hi, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

I replied. Neglecting to shake his had.

I then turned around and began walking towards the parking lot. It was always like me to walk away from guys. I just didn't need the drama associated with dating. I wasn't looking for love & neither were most of the guys who approached me. No, I didn't want to be in a relationship. But no, I didn't want casual, no strings attached sex either. I had convinced myself a long time ago that I wasn't fit for a relationship mentally, physically, or emotionally.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Damn.. I thought. This guy is still here.

"To my car.."

I said sarcastically.

"Can I talk to you for a second?..."

I kept walking.

"Please?... I understand that a beautiful woman like you probably has a million better things to do than stand outside, in a parking lot, & talk to some random dude, but I just need to ask you something.."

I stopped in my tracks. Usually, when a guy tries to talk to me, & I keep walking while paying them no mind, they scream all type of profanities at me. "Dumb bitch!" "I ain't want you anyway!" Stuck up ass!" I've heard it all. It doesn't matter to me though because i'm the same "stuck up ass" girl you were trying to talk to a few seconds ago.

For him to still be trying to talk to me, and remaining calm after I've rudely walked away from him, I decided he was worth a couple seconds of my time.

When I finally turned back around, he was so close to me, I could hear him breathing. & He smelled so good. His eyes & eyelashes were beautiful and full. He had an amazing set of stunningly white teeth.

"I thought you were going to leave me standing here."

He grinned.

".....So what was it that you wanted to ask me?"

I said while smirking, thinking of how I was indeed going to leave him standing there.

"Oh uhh... I seem to have forgotten my name. Can I have yours?"

I cracked a smile. He was so corny, yet so cute.

"It's Camelia. Camelia Wright."

"What a lovely name. It's a little girly but I can manage."

He said. Pretending to be in deep thought.

"Well good luck with that."

"Anyway, Ms.Camelia Wright, I was wondering if you knew how to repair cell phones?"

I looked at him in bewilderment. He couldn't be serious. We just left out of a mall & I know he saw the cell phone repair kiosk just like I did.

Sensing my misunderstanding, he started again.

"See my phone, it's been acting a little weird in the past couple of minutes. So I just needed to know if you could fix it because I think the problem is that your number isn't in it."

He said seriously, while handing me his phone.

I wouldn't have believed that this man with these elementary pick up lines would end up becoming the love of my life 3 months later.

I smiled at the thought as I was forced back into reality by someone saying my name repeatedly in an annoyed tone.

"Hello! Camelia! Camelia, I can hear you breathing!"

I had forgot that I was waiting for Kinsley to answer the phone.

"Oh! Hello? I'm sorry babe. I was lost in space. Anyway, how's everything?"

"It's good. I'm good. Why?"

He dryly spat back at me.

"I was just worried. I haven't spoken to you all day & I just wanted to hear your voice & make sure you were safe. But I see that's a problem, so i'll just talk to you whenever."

I replied before hanging up.

It's amazing how a couple of months ago, Kinsley & I couldn't go 5 minutes without speaking to each other. Now, we barely ever talk. & When he's not in town, like now, he always seems to have an attitude or tries to rush me off of the phone. I'm guessing it's work that stresses him out on these business trips, but I wouldn't know because he never talks to me.

I got up from my station & began to close & lock down the windows & the back door. I hadn't even noticed when my client had left, but i'm happy she did. Finally, after I cleaned up my station and grabbed my money my client left on my sink, I was making my way out of the door. Then my phone started ringing.

"You are my friend

(Love of my life)

I can depend

(Love of my life)"

Love of my Life by Erykah Badu was playing. I quickly turned the ringer off automatically knowing it was Kinsley because that was his ringtone. I had no more words for him. At this point, I was tired. Mentally and physically. I just wanted to get something to eat, shower, and lie down.