Try a Little Tenderness Page 11

  Admittedly, Mateo looked like the kind of men she used to attract. She could sense in her spirit that he was the type of man who had experience with the streets, but she also reasoned that if he hadn’t made some changes in his life, he wouldn’t be on His-Love.com. Plus, after she met him in person and got to know him better, if he wasn’t the kind of godly man that she knew she needed in her life, she trusted the Lord would give her the discernment to leave him alone—and that this time, she would listen.

  She was excited when she heard back from him hours later. In her mind, as she spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on her honey wheat bread and carefully folded the sliced turkey breast over the tomato and lettuce she’d already placed on the other slice of bread, he would reveal his true colors.

  I work for a motel and I’m hoping to start a job part-time at a fast food restaurant.

  Amirah didn’t know if that was what she was supposed to expect or not. She had heard whispers in her church group that she was expected to marry a professional like herself. Asheville was a tourist town, a large one at that. Chances were, SenorCristoAmor probably made good money offering well-to-do travelers a quality service and clean places to rest their heads as they traveled from one place to another. Those types of concierges were tipped well for their knowledge and their professionalism when it came to pitching the best that Asheville had to offer. Amirah figured that he probably worked in a fast food restaurant in the winter months to pay the bills from December to April.

  “If he works two jobs, he doesn’t have time to be in these streets,” Amirah told herself as she finished her plate and went back to the dining table.

  Would you like to get up somewhere? Mateo quickly responded, not giving her time to respond. She was surprised at how blunt he was.

  Was it too early to meet him? She asked herself. Amirah wasn’t sure whether Mateo was trying to be blunt or aggressive, but even though they knew each other in passing, she didn’t want to come off easy since they just started communicating through His-Love.com. She heard of some of the things people did when they met someone online, and when Amirah was out in the world, she was guilty of some of those things too. She knew the reputations girls had from meeting men from Facebook, MySpace or BlackPlanet. She wasn’t a ho and not into doing some ho-ish activity either; yet she knew that at some time, they would have to spend time together in order for her to decide whether to take their relationship to the next level.

  She needed to find out what Mateo’s true intentions were. If this was a booty call, he definitely could forget it. The question was how could she tell? Of course, she expected His-Love.com to be different and not be a breeding ground for such behavior. Then again, Amirah was trying to live the simple Christian lifestyle. She wasn’t about to give it up.

  Where do you want to meet at? she typed. In Amirah’s mind, if Mateo suggested a motel, then she knew that all he wanted was the precious jewel between her legs. She wouldn’t dignify that with a response, and not only would she block him, but she would report him to the administrator of the site so that his profile would be removed.

  If he suggested somewhere scandalous like a parking lot or at some vacant park, then she knew he wasn’t just any kind of freak, but one of those super freaks that Rick James sang about.

  She didn’t get down like that.

  Why don’t we meet at Barnes & Noble at the Asheville Mall? Mateo suggested. And bring your laptop. You do have one, don’t you?

  Amirah could rock with that. She hoped that he really had an interest in reading and didn’t suggest the bookstore because he thought that would be the best way to get into her pants. If nothing else, Amirah at least knew she could stick to literary questions when she first met him, and if the conversation steered toward certain erotic or sex-related books, she could leave him there and be safe.

  Yes, I have a laptop, she typed, and I’ll bring it with me. When do you want to meet?

  Let’s try tomorrow? Mateo quickly responded.

  Tomorrow sounds perfect, she typed.

  She looked over his pictures again. One thing she didn’t like about His-Love.com was that they didn’t ask personal features like height, weight, smoking or non-smoking status, or other physical questions. Fortunately for Amirah, she already knew he was shorter than her and had a respectable build, and as far as she knew, he didn’t smoke. At least, he didn’t smoke cigarettes.

  I’ve decided to meet him one-on-one, she thought as she continued eating her meal. I hope this isn’t a mistake.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Making Moves

  “Ay, Sonic, you still got that laptop you trying to sell?” Mateo barged into Sonic’s room.

  “Yeah, man. I hope you not asking me to borrow it. I’m still trying to get a couple of bucks off it.”

  Mateo nodded his head. He knew that Sonic had been selling some of the more expensive gifts Turner had given him during their courtship. Sonic and Mateo had a system. Every so often, Sonic would list an expensive item on Craigslist, eBay, Half.com, or Amazon, or he would post the item in one of the local online papers. Potential buyers would speak with Sonic on one of the prepaid phones he had, and once it was agreed to make the transaction, Sonic would wait in a nearby gas station, convenience store, or at a church, while Mateo would exchange the products.

  Turner knew that Sonic and Mateo were pawning off his love gifts, sometimes for pennies on the dollar. He’d sent his boys a couple of times to retrieve the items, but each time, a police officer would intervene. Even though both of them had restraining orders against Turner, the hood rat still found a way to come after them.

  Sonic used the money from the sales to get rid of the tramp stamp tattoo that still haunted him. He’d already told Mateo he’d keep the other tattoos that decorated his skinny frame.

  “I know you need the money. Look, I’m meeting Amirah at Barnes & Noble tomorrow,” Mateo said.

  “And you lied and told her you had a laptop?” Sonic cut him off.

  Mateo scrunched his mouth and shook his head. “Give me more credit than that player. I asked her to bring hers. Besides, while we’re talking, I’m going to fill out some job applications and stuff.”

  “Wait a minute.” Sonic got on the floor and pulled out the metallic MacBook that he was selling.

  “I’ll give you five hundred for it.” Mateo dug into his pockets and pulled out three Ben Franklins. “But I can only give you three hundred now. I just paid Hammer rent, and it will be the end of next month before I can give you the balance.”

  Mateo saw that Sonic was contemplating the offer. Then he reached out and took the money. “I’ll let you have it for the three hundred. You do help me out without taking a dime, and if this is your best offer, then I’m not going to milk you.”

  Mateo gave Sonic a hug. Sonic was the closest thing to a best friend that Mateo had, and he looked at the taller man like the younger brother he never had. The gesture proved that their bond was becoming as thick as blood.

  “So you and Amirah finally gonna have a sit-down?” Sonic sat back on his bed and pulled off the black-and-silver Burgers & Fries T-shirt. The shirts were very popular for their Christ-centered messages and grunge rock designs. Mateo realized that Marvel had a similar shirt as well. “I’m gonna wear that shirt Doug gave me a few days ago. I can’t believe we gotta pay fifteen bones a piece for these jokers.”

  “Aw, don’t be like that.” Sonic changed into a red-and-white basketball jersey and some matching New Balance sneakers. “We gotta support the ministry that the owners of Burgers & Fries are trying to spread to the masses. A lot of people who wouldn’t get the message otherwise hear it when they come to the restaurant. They get it when they listen to the Christian rock and the gospel rap that is rotated on the XM stations at each of the sit-down location, the T-shirts they sell, and the devotions they give away at the top of the month.”

  When the first Burgers & Fries opened in Asheville, Mateo had no idea that the chain restaurant was part of a minist
ry. He just went there for the grilled chicken sandwiches, the curly fries, and the frothy shakes that came in many fruit flavors. That was another guilty pleasure he gave into while on his self-imposed diet. It wasn’t until he started working at Burgers & Fries that he realized the company really took the ministry seriously. Mateo was familiar with how many major companies claimed to have Christian principles and had seen a lot of local business owners advertise that their businesses were owned by Christians. He figured that was more a selling point to get into the older church ladies’ pockets.

  “Besides, we get the hottest black-and-silver shirts because those are only available to the employees. Everyone else can get their shirts in any color they want except black and silver.”

  Mateo thought about his last work day at the restaurant and saw how it made sense. He could wear any blue or black jeans he wanted, but he had to have on one of the Black and Silvers, as they called it. The alternative was to wear a solid black shirt and apron, which meant the employee worked in the back and cleaned the restaurant. Not wearing the Black and Silver could also cause the employee to get sent home early.

  “Well, that’s what’s up. I appreciate you looking out with the laptop,” Mateo said as he got up and headed to his room. “We got any sales lined up today?”

  “Naw, but I got enough money saved up to get the U and the R off my back. Thanks, brother.” Sonic was excited.

  “No worries, brother. No worries. That’s what we are here for, to look out for one another.”

  Mateo excitedly exited the room and headed down to his own room. He was beginning to like the idea of having his own laptop and not having to use the public ones in the business room. He’d played with it before when he was in Sonic’s room last week, so he was already familiar with all the features. He’d been toying with the idea of getting an iPad, and that was what the money he’d given Sonic was saved for. With the laptop, he could do more.

  Mateo realized that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to be mobile. A part of him had a desire to start his own business, but he had no idea what kind of business he’d start. With his criminal record, he knew it would take forever for these unforgiving folks in the Blue Ridge Mountains to extend him a hand. He thought being fluent in Spanish, he’d be able to get a job easily, but that was not the case.

  With the MacBook, Mateo got on the Web and downloaded the Kindle app from Amazon. He logged into his account and made sure he could see all of the books he “1-clicked” that were free or ninety-nine cents. He wanted to catch up on some of the Christian fiction books he’d started to get into, but he’d be lying if he were to say that he didn’t read a little street lit or some suspense novels every now and then.

  Mateo looked at the time at the bottom of the screen and knew he needed to be heading out the door. After making sure his book needs were taken care of, he turned off the MacBook and headed to his destination.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The “First” Night . . .

  Amirah was pleased that the Barnes & Noble at the Asheville Mall had a moderate amount of business. The two-story store was exciting with Nook demonstrations and other electronics and gadgets on the first floor, as well as the entrance from the mall. The fiction novels and children’s sections were an escalator ride away on the top floor.

  She could smell the fresh coffee brewing and specialty sandwiches being made in the café near the entrance. Before she could look in that direction to see if a seat was available for her and Mateo, Amirah was captivated by the display that featured one of her favorite authors’ new books. She quickly grabbed a copy and continued in the store.

  She readjusted the computer bag and quickly scanned the area to see if Mateo was snooping around, looking for a book or a magazine. She was definitely interested in finding out what the brother liked to read, and she knew that in a matter of minutes, she would get to find out.

  As she got closer to the café, she found a corner table toward the back. It had two vacant electrical outlets nearby, meaning she wouldn’t have to use the extension cord she carried with her.

  God is good, she thought as she set up the laptop and within seconds, accessed Barnes & Noble’s WiFi connection. Once she pulled up the His-Love.com profile, that’s when she saw him.

  Mateo’s goatee was razor sharp. She could tell he’d just freshened it up, and his tapered haircut highlighted the slim shape of his head. He was wearing a red “Jesus is Lord” T-shirt with baggy black pants and some black work boots. As Mateo walked toward her, she could see he was hiking his pants up every so often.

  Not a thug, Lord. Please, not a thug. I can’t do another wannabe gangster, her mind pleaded as he finally made his way to the table. She noticed the MacBook that looked like it had just come off the shelf at Best Buy. She looked closer and noticed he didn’t have any jewelry on, but the cocoa butter lotion had a thick but pleasant scent that worked well with the pastries in the café.

  “Amirah.” Mateo’s thick Spanish accent was noticed and caused a few heads to turn.

  Amirah stood up to shake his hand. She was used to taller men. The height requirement used to be at the top of the impossible list of standards she used to judge whether a man was good enough to be with her. Admittedly, most of the “ideas and standards” were superficial and had nothing to do with qualities that made for a good husband.

  Mateo didn’t work a professional job—strike two.

  Mateo wasn’t one hundred percent black—strike three.

  Mateo looked and acted like the thugs she despised—strike four, five, six, and so on.

  “Yes, Mateo, good to see you,” Amirah responded as they shook hands.

  Mateo put his MacBook down and quickly walked around to pull out the chair for Amirah and help her get comfortable at the table.

  “Thank you.” She showed her gratitude. It had been a minute since Amirah had been shown an act of chivalry, and she didn’t know how to take it. He’s not getting in my panties just because he pulled out a chair, she promised herself as he walked around to his seat.

  “You’re welcome.” Mateo hiked up his pants one more time and sat down. “And God is good, because even though I couldn’t find my belt, He made sure I was on time for you anyway.”

  Mateo was a Christian—check.

  As Amirah matured, she found this quality becoming more important. As she reflected on his mannerisms, she realized she’d never been with a Christian man before. Mateo may have presented himself as a dope man, but she could tell the only drug he was pushing was the Word of Christ.

  “Can I get you something to eat or some coffee?” Mateo offered.

  Amirah smiled. “No, thank you.”

  Mateo was a gentleman—check.

  He not only offered to get her some nourishment, but she didn’t have to pay for it. Amirah didn’t mind being with a man low on funds, but she avoided them at all costs. Last thing she wanted was a man who couldn’t take care of himself. The other piece to that was that he offered; he didn’t insist.

  “How were the students today?” Mateo started the conversation as he set up his MacBook.

  “They were good, actually,” Amirah answered. “I’m teaching some of them how to build spreadsheets and how to use them to maintain household budgets, track spending, and other real-life uses. I’m enjoying it because I know what they learn in my class they can use for a lifetime.”

  “That’s what’s up. I just got a second job so I can make some moves and improve my situation.” Mateo continued, “I just want my own space. It would be nice to own a house one day.”

  She liked that Mateo had goals—check, and check. Mateo worked an honest job—check. That meant no more looking over her shoulder or fighting random side chicks who thought her man was their man and everything he worked for came with a check stub.

  Amirah didn’t encounter many men who had goals beyond hustling in the hood or trying to take something from someone that they didn’t work for. She could work with ambition, even if it was taki
ng baby steps. At least she had something to look forward to.

  Mateo eyed the book she had just gotten from the front of the store. “Is this the new Victoria Christopher Murray book?” Mateo asked. “I thought it wasn’t coming out until next week.”

  Mateo read fiction—check, check, check.

  The last man Amirah had only knew how to read the statements on his bank accounts or the stock quotes in the business section.

  “No, it came out this week.” Amirah handed her copy to him. Mateo read the back cover and smiled.

  “My mentor has a few copies of her books on his bookshelf in his office.” Mateo handed the book back to her. “You remember Minister Stan Hammer?”

  “I have heard of him. He owns the Christian Cab Company, right?” Amirah asked.

  “Yeah, I work for its sister company, Heaven’s Inn,” Mateo confirmed with pride. “I just started working at Burgers & Fries, too, but only part time. I appreciate all Hammer is doing for me, but eventually, I want to be independent. It’s not like I freeload off of him, because he charges for the room. I help Hammer with Heaven’s Inn as well, and he helps keep me on the right path. I’m trying to talk him into letting me drive one of the cabs, but that’s a never-ending conversation. Anyway, you should come and hear him speak at Guiding Light Ministries.”

  Mateo not only attended a Bible-based church, but he was under the leadership of an incredible man of God and was making strides to getting his life with Christ right—check, check, check, check, check.

  Hammer’s reputation for working with guys from the streets preceded him, and wherever Mateo was at under his leadership, Amirah was willing to compromise to see if he was truly the one.