32 - galentine's day

Amina

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I hated Valentine's Day.

And with everything going on the last thing I wanted to be reminded of was that other people are in love. I was grateful I was working from home this week and didn't have to go out and expose myself to the horrors of this monstrous holiday.

"Ami!" I heard Kendra's voice call out from the living room as I worked on a report at my desk.

"Working!" I call back to her from my room.

"Okay! I got you something when you're done!" She calls back. I sighed, now I was curious and had to find out what it was.

I got up from my desk, exiting my bedroom to enter the living room space where Kendra sat excitedly on the couch with a red box in her hand. She slides it across the coffee table toward me. "What's this?" I ask in surprise.

"Happy Galentines Day! Open it!"

I gasped, "But I didn't get you anything."

She shakes her head, "Open it!" She repeats.

I pick up the box and open it to reveal a silver bracelet with a small letter A charm. I pout, "Kendra you shouldn't have."

She smiles, holding up her wrist to reveal her matching bracelet with a K charm. "I gave one to Bianca too. I know a lot has been going on and I just wanted to give you both something positive."

I smile at her before embracing her in a hug. "Thank you." I say before pulling away. "When I said I didn't get you anything, I meant it's not ready yet. I have to pick it up after work. Because as you can see I'm still on the clock." I ramble making her chuckle.

"You don't need to get me anything."

"Well, that's too bad because it's already been ordered and purchased!" I assure her.

She laughs again, "Okay Ami. Get back to work before they fire you."

"I'm serious, you're getting something today."

She nods, "Okay."

I head back to my room shutting the door behind me. I needed to get her something before the day ended, but what? I thought about it as I worked, up until I was allowed to officially log out at 3 pm.

As soon as I logged out of my computer I got up and got dressed to go to the store. I made my way down the steps and to the parking lot as I ordered an Uber.

"Hey Amina." Dominic says from behind me.

I turn around with a smile, "Hey, what are you up to?"

He points to his car down the road, "Heading out. You going somewhere?"

I nod, "Just the store. I'm calling an Uber now."

"I can take you if you want. I'm going to Walmart." He offers.

I switch my phone off, "Perfect."

I followed him to his Corvette which was parked in the corner of the parking lot. I get inside and he follows after me before starting the car.

"So what're you getting?"

"It's Galentines Day, I need to get gifts for the girls."

He furrows his brows, "Galentines?"

"It's Valentine's Day but for friends. Kendra gave us friendship bracelets and I'm the horrible friend who's empty-handed."

He chuckles, "Ah I see. What do you plan to get her?"

I shrug, "I don't know. Flowers? Chocolate?"

"How do you not know? Shouldn't this be easy? You're a girl, she's a girl, what would you want to get?" He asks.

I shrug again, "I've never really thought about it."

"You've never gotten a gift for Valentine's Day? I mean Galentines Day?" He asks.

"Well no, I didn't have that many friends. And the one friend I had we just didn't do that."

"And nothing from past boyfriends?"

I raise a brow, "Am I being interrogated right now?"

He chuckles as he pulls into the Walmart parking lot. "I'm just trying to get to know you better."

"If you must know, my one relationship didn't make it to Valentine's Day okay?" I reply looking out of the window. "Good we're here, let's go." I say opening the car door and stepping out.

I hear Dominic sigh before also stepping out of the car, and shutting the door behind him. "I didn't mean to make you upset." He says following behind me as I head toward the entrance.

"I'm not upset at you. The question just made me realize that before today I had never gotten anything on Valentine's Day. I guess that's why I hate it." I admit.

"You hate Valentine's Day?" He asks in surprise.

"You like it?" I ask in return.

"No, but I'm surprised that you of all people don't like the day of love. You're the biggest lover girl I know. With all the romance movies you constantly talk about."

I chuckle, "Rub salt in the wound why don't you? I just told you why." I say as I enter the gift aisle. The aisle was filled with men trying to get last-minute gifts for their special someone. "These are all too cheesy, let's go to the makeup aisle." I say putting down the stuffed teddy bear that said 'hugs and kisses' on it.

He nods, following me to the cosmetic aisle as I pick up a few of Kendra's favorite products. "You're buying makeup for her?" He asks in surprise.

I nod, "These are her favorite products. I think I'll put them in a basket with some other stuff she likes."

He nods surveying the items in my hand. "If these are her favorite products, what are yours?" He asks.

I quirk my brow before turning to look at him. "Why?"

"Like I said before, just trying to get to know you." He says nonchalantly with a shrug.

I chuckle, "Nothing here really. I'm more of a high-end makeup kind of girl. Like Fenty and Huda beauty." He looks at me clearly confused, making me laugh again. "These are more drug store brands. For drug stores I like this brand I guess." I say holding up a NXY lip gloss and lip liner that I got for Kendra. "What about you? You've ever gotten a gift on Valentine's Day?"

He chuckles, "My mom used to give Andre and me goody bags every Valentine's Day, no matter how old we got."

I smile softly at him as he reminisces on time with his mother. "She sounds like a wonderful woman."

"She was." He says with a small smile.

We continue walking down the aisles as I put together my basket for Kendra and grab a gift for Bianca. "What's your favorite candy?" I ask him as I grab KitKat bars for Kendra, remembering they are her favorite.

He shakes his head, "I'm not big on sweets."

I scoff, "Oh come on. There's not one you like?"

"I didn't say that. I like sour candy, warheads, sour Patch Kids, sour Skittles, all that."

I grimace, "Warheads? I always knew you were sick."

He laughs, pushing me jokingly. "Warheads are good. You need to try them again."

I shake my head, "You would have to strap me down and force-feed me."

"That can be arranged." He says with a mischievous smile, making me laugh.

After a while, we had finished all of our shopping, or rather my shopping because Dominic walked out empty-handed. "I thought you were coming to shop?"

He shakes his head, "Never said that."

"Why else would you come to Walmart?" I ask as we get into the car. He doesn't respond to my question as he turns on the engine and pulls out of the parking lot. "You're so weird." I mumble, relaxing into the seat as he drives us home.

When we got home, I thanked Dominic for the ride and for accompanying me before heading up to my room to assemble the baskets.

"Kendra!" I call out when it's done.

"What!" She calls back.

"I have something for you!" I hear shuffling before she enters my bedroom. "Happy Galentines Day!" I exclaim presenting her with the gift basket I put together.

She gasps as she surveys it. "Ami you didn't have to do all this!"

I smile proudly, "I did because you have been a great friend to me this year and I appreciate you."

She smiles, "Thank you, I love it. Love you girl." She says pulling me into a hug.

"Love you too." I respond. "Where's Bianca?" I ask as we pull away.

"I have no idea, lately she's never home."

"Right? What's going on with her?" I ask.

She takes a seat on the bed, "You know, I think she's seeing someone."

My eyes widen, "Really? Who?"

She shrugs, "That part I don't know. But she's always happy, never home, what other reason could there be? She's finally getting dicked down!"

I laugh taking a seat beside her, "You know she does seem to be more comfortable around Caleb. You think it could be him?"

She gasps, "Caleb and Bianca? How could we have missed that?"

I shrug, "Like I said it's just an observation, we don't know anything for sure."

She sighs, resting against my headboard. "Lord when will my time come!" She asks staring up at the ceiling.

"There's always Isaiah." I hint with a wink, making her hit me.

"I already told you that was a one-time thing!"

I shake my head not believing her. "Talk to me seriously Ken. You've been friends for so long and now you've crossed a line, you don't feel any differently?"

She sighs, "Well, if I'm being honest I did enjoy it. But it's complicated. I don't know how I feel after the kiss to be honest. Like you said, we've been friends for so long and now I can't tell if I like him more or not after the kiss. I mean I've always liked him, we're friends. So now I just can't tell what kind of like it is after that." She tucks one of her curls behind her ear nervously, "Does that make sense? I'm just rambling."

I shake my head, "That makes perfect sense. Physical intimacy can complicate a lot of things. I feel like it makes you think you like someone when that might not be the case. For Isaiah, let me ask you a few simple questions."

"Okay shoot."

"Do you find Isaiah attractive?"

She chuckles, "Well yeah I'm not blind."

"Could you see yourself being intimate in other ways with him? Not sex, but cuddling, hugging, kissing, etc."

She hesitates as I watch her go off into thought. "I think I could, yeah."

"Okay, and could you see a future with him? Does he fit your standards on that way?"

She giggles, before catching herself. "Damn it! Did you just trick me into liking Isaiah?"

I laugh, "I did not trick you! You like him, it's okay."

She shakes her head, "It's not okay. Do you want to know why? Because I know he doesn't like me."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do. He's the one who said we should forget about the kiss, he does not like me."

I frown, "I'll ask him."

Her eyes widen, "Ami you better not. I will find you and rip you limb from limb if you talk to him about this."

I laugh again, raising my hand in defense. "Okay, okay. I won't ask him if he likes you. But don't you want to know?" She gives me a warning glare making me sigh, "Okay fine."

"Glad we have an understanding." She says standing up from her seat. "Wanna order pizza and watch a movie? I have wine."

I smile, "I would be delighted."

-

Kendra and I spent hours binging romance movies on the couch and gossiping while we enjoyed our pizza and wine. By the time it neared 10 pm, we decided to call it a night and made our way to our bedrooms.

As I began removing my makeup and getting ready for bed, my phone started to ring. Dominic's contact flashed across the screen catching my attention.

"Hello?" I ask in surprise.

"Come outside."

I frown, "Dominic it's late, I'm tired."

"It will be quick, just come out."

I sigh, hanging up the phone and fixing myself before making my way outside. When I came out Dominic was standing outside with a bouquet of roses and a small basket.

"I hope you're not mad I copied your idea." He says with a small smile.

My eyes widened as I looked at him and down at the things he was holding. I was speechless as I observed in amazement. Red roses and a basket that contained a few of my favorite items. Huda Beauty powder, Fenty Beauty lip gloss, NYX lip pencils, and my two favorite candies.

"How did you...when did you...Dominic!" I gush rushing over to hug him.

He chuckles, "I wanted the honor of being your first Valentine. If you'll have me?"

I smile looking up at him. "Honor granted." I take the flowers from him, admiring them. "Thank you, this means a lot. When did you find time to do all this?"

"Well, I was actually going to get your stuff when I ran into you. But I couldn't buy it while you were with me so I went back to the store after dropping you off at home. But after our conversation, I realized my original gift was going to suck."

I chuckle at him, "Any gift would've made me just as happy. Thank you Dominic." I sigh, "Unfortunately I don't have anything for you."

"You don't need to get me anything." He assured me. I smirk at him before stepping closer. He raises a brow at me as I pull him closer to my level, bringing his lips to mine. On instinct his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me to him to deepen the kiss. It was slow, sweet, but passionate.

I pulled away slowly, leaving him longing for more.

"Happy Valentine's Day Dominic." I say softly before making my way back to my apartment, leaving him dumbfounded.

———

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