14. I love you damn it!

I gosh I'm so exhausted. El came to my room early in the morning to drag me out bed to town. She was talking non stop about the dinner with Andre tonight and that I should get ready to look my best . I don't get why she's so hyped about it. We're just friends! I kept chanting to her but she just brushed me off, she told me she won't hear more of it.

We went to a nail salon and I got my nails done, ombré acrylic ones. We also bought dresses , one for me and one for El who's also going on a date with Darrel tonight . It wasn't a double date , we're going out separate ways. I didn't bother fixing my hair, imma go with my Afro wig cap.

I dumped myself on my bed to get the sleep El deprived me off in the morning. I took off all my clothes and wore a robe to bed. I was almost in dream land when my phone buzzed . I groaned who is it ! I unlocked the screen and saw it was the devil himself , Drey.

Drey🤤❤️

Love , how you feeling? Can you make it tonight ?

Me

I'm fiiine! for the millionth time today😂 and yes I can make it 😌.

Drey

I'll see you in four ish

Me

Okayyy

I shut my screen and silenced it before going back to sleep. If I don't get this sleep , I'll be dozing off during the dinner and I do not want that.

I stirred in my sleep facing the door, I wasn't able to drift back when Chloe barged into the room noisy as ever!

She plumped her body on my bed almost on my body if I didn't shift backwards. "Wakey wakey baby, it's time to go meet daddy!"

"What time is it ?" I asked sitting on bed, it feels like I slept an hour ago.

"6:40pm , you slept for 3 damn hours."

"Really and no one woke me up ?"

"Girl look on your phone, tons of missed calls from El and I , you weren't picking so I decided to come wake you up myself."

"Gosh sorry I silenced it." I got up from bed and headed into the bathroom for a quick bath.

I rinsed the chocolate scented lather off me and hopped out of the bath , drying myself quickly before brushing my teeth and going back to the room.

Chloe was at it again , combining clothing together to make the perfect outfit. She had the velvet dress which was an off shoulder at one side with a slit that El bought for me earlier, beige heels and purse.

I threw a pantie and bra and wore the dress, it was okay , I loved it . I wore the Afro wig cap , gold loop earrings and sat down for Chloe to do her magic one more time.

She was done in minutes and swiveled my chair so I faced the vanity mirror. My reaction was just like the Thanksgiving dinner, "Thank you so much Chloe I love it. It's perfect!"

"Now if you're done gushing , can you wear your heels and grab your purse, daddy's here!" She said smiling down at me.

"Okay mama." I slide my feet into the heels and grabbed my purse . I found a ring at the vanity table and put it on.

"Now go, I'm so happy you've got a man now!" She shooed me out of my own room laughing at me.

"He's my friend not my man!" I rolled my eyes. It's getting out of hand.

"It's not what it seems!" She yelled after me. El came out of her room and together with Chloe walked me downstairs to the living room where Aunt Bertha and Carmen were talking to Andre.

They gave my hand to Andre like how Fathers do to their daughters on their wedding days.

Andre blushed profusely smiling, he didn't take his eyes off me.

Aunt Bertha and Carmen chuckled, "You two look perfect together!."

"You're looking divine honey." Aunt Bertha chirped in, "You two should get going before you get late ."

"Uh I'll bring her back before you know it." Andre addressed Aunt Bertha who only smiled and nodded looking at us both adoringly.

Andre walked us out of the door but stopped when Chloe and El followed and whispered somethings into his ear. He looked at me swiftly before turning back to them and nodded. I heard him mutter something like thank you.

What's this secret meeting without me? A secret meeting between two friends of mine and my sister without me obviously means I'm the topic under discussion. What are they talking about ? I wondered.

Drey came back and opened my side of the door of his gold Lamborghini Urus. He got into his side and turned on the ignition. "You look flawless love."

"Thank you , you're also looking smashing."

He wiggles his brows at me amused, "so you would want that after dinner ?"

What is he talking about ? I chuckled and smacked his hand when I caught onto what he meant , "no thank you! I don't find you attractive enough to smash on you ."

He feigned hurt outing his lips but became serious, "you don't find me attractive enough?"

"Yes!" Lies. I'm not feeding his ego tonight.

He became silent for a while before he spoke up, "buckle your seatbelt love, I wanna get us back home safe."

His compliment distracted me from putting it on when I got into the car. I buckled it, "what was that meeting about ?"

He gave me a quick glance and went back to focusing on the road, "what meeting ?."

"The meeting of the trio in front our home with hushed tones and whispers"

"Oh that , it's nothing to worry about." He hesitated for minutes before he finally entwined our fingers and put them on his lap.

It felt good, my heart swelling. I didn't want to think deep into it like I did with the saliva sharing moment.

"If you say so, where are we going ?"

"It's a surprise." He winked at me.

"Okayyy mr surprises." I wasn't okay , I was itching to know where we were going . I kept mute and enjoyed the ride with our entwined fingers.

He maneuvered his way through the busy streets and out of Montclair. I hadn't been to these parts so I looked out the window admiring the passing buildings and streets.

The ride lasted for an hour , Andre parked and got out, opened my door and took my hand in his as he led the way to what looked like an outdoor even , sea breeze hitting us instantly.

There were lots of booths and makeshift restaurants. We approached one with huge neon sign un rendez-vous romantique !

The makeshift restaurant had tables arranged apart from each other giving enough privacy to occupants of each table.

A waiter recognized Andre and ushered us out of the restaurant through a door which led to a romantic setting on a beach shore. It was a table with two chairs enclosed with fairly light arches, mistletoes hanging around and roses spread out and formed into a big heart shape around the setting and candle lights.

"You look very beautiful today" Drey whispered into my ears. We sat down and he addressed us , "Bien accueillir Monsieur et Mme Archambeau, que voudriez-vous pour commencer?

I didn't understand a word in the French he just rattled so Andre spoke for us , "Chateau Julien French Kiss."

"D'accord Monsieur, Je reviens mal." He gave us a kind smile and left through the door.

"What was all that about , I had a feeling you two were planning on murdering me and dumping my body in the sea right over there."

Andre gazed at me trying to suppress a laugh but failed, "How is your mind working tonight? Kill you and dump you here when people saw us come in together ?"

"You can never underestimate criminals you know." I said chuckling too.

"I'm no criminal and you know it." The waiter form before came back carrying wine on a tray and set it on the table.

"Thank you sir." I acknowledged him with a smile. He smiled back and excused himself but not before Andrew ordered our food from the gold plated menu on the table.

"Please bring mashed potatoes and beef bourguinon for two." He said this time around in English.

"Okay sir ." The waiter left leaving us alone.

The setting screams romantic , hasn't Drey gone over board with just a dinner ? I want to ask yet I don't wanna look like I'm getting ideas into my head considering he says he can't love.

Andre opened the bottle of wine and  filled our glasses. He keeps staring at me but looks away when I meet his gaze. He run his fingers through his hair , I want to smack his hand away.

I got up from my seat and hit his hand from his hair, he was surprised, "why do you hate me doing this ?"

"You have such a beautiful hair to lose it Drey, running your fingers through them causes them to break bit by bit and soon you'll be left bald." He has lots of hair to be rendered bald very soon, I just want him to stop.

He raised his hands in surrender, "Okay okay love , I won't do it anymore ."

I smirked , "great." And took a sip of my wine which tastes great.

The waiter arrived with our hot plate of food and set them on the table , one in front of me and the other for Drey.

"Merci Jean."

"De rien Monsieur Archambeau."

The food looks delicious and smells divine. I'm only hoping it's taste will be the same as it's aroma.  "What's this?"

"Mashed potatoes and beef bourguignon." Oh yeah I heard the name when he was ordering it.

I say a silent prayer and take a spoonful and yass! It's aroma is it's taste , it's heaven , "mmmmmmh." I moaned.

Andre stared at me laughing hard, "I'm sorry love, it's cute seeing you moan over food and funny too."

I take another spoonful, I had to take it easy in chewing it , it was too good and I can't risk biting my lips. "What's it made of?"

"It's made of beef braised in red wine and seasoned with garlic , pearl onions, fresh herbs and mushrooms."   He took at a spoonful of his but doesn't moan like I do . He's French so I guess he's used to it's taste by now .

"Can you prepare it ?" I've never heard him talk about he cooking before.

"Yes I can and many more French dishes you might like." He winked at me and took a sip of his wine.

"I'll love you to prepare some for me soon." I go back to eating it.

We sat relishing our food and company. We made little conversation as we ate. I put my spoon down when I was full and drank water.

Andre was long done, he sat there waiting for me to finish.

He looked like he wanted to say something but doesn't know how to say it . He's nervous from the way he darts his eyes back and forth. He resisted the urge to run his fingers through his hair and he keeps staring at me.

"What Drey ?" I got up from my seat and stood beside him, my hand on his shoulder , "you can talk to me and tell me anything , you know I'm here for you." I smiled coaxing him.

He relaxed under my touch and turned to face.

He opened and closed his mouth yet no words came out . He turned away from me took off his shoes and walked towards the shore , the maximum point of where the sea can reach.

I was frustrated, why can't he just say what's eating him up . Doesn't he trust me enough ?

I walked closer to him and yanked his shoulder to face me, "don't you trust me enough to share what's worrying you with me? You always coax me into telling you my fears and worries yet you don't do same , there's no point in being friends with you if you can't trust me , you know where to find me if you need me."

I turned away to leave, he held my hands drawing me closer to him, "please don't go , it's not easy for me telling you ."

"Let go off me ! Nothing's easy yet I tell you what eats me up!" I took my hands away from his hold , backing away.

He run his fingers through his hair repeatedly before raising his voice , "I love you damn it !"

I froze and blinked twice , "what!"

Finally😫 Andre has said the L word💃🏽💃🏽!!

What do you think is gonna be Ann's response ?

Find out in the next!