Phate's Mate by A.M. Griffin

Author:A.M. Griffin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, sci-fi, black heroine, african american, series, alien, romance
Publisher: Three Twenty-One, LLC
Published: 2023-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

A fine bead of sweat dropped down the back of Tasha’s neck, leaving a tickle in its wake. She fought against the urge to wipe it away. She was sweating but she didn’t want her date to know she was sweating. She also didn’t want him to know she was nervous. Both of which he would have to be blind not to notice.

This was the first date she’d been on since...how many months? Who was she kidding? She hadn’t been on a date in years. Two years and four months to be specific.

That’s when Leonard had broken up with her. She didn’t hold any ill will towards him. He’d wanted something more than she could give. Her time.

She’d been working long hours, trying to get the boutique together and he’d wanted nights cuddled in front of the television watching re-runs of his favorite shows and ice-skating competitions.

They’d parted ways on good terms, and she still spoke to him every now and again. His mother still invited her to cookouts, but she never went. Leonard had a new girlfriend he seemed to really care for and she didn’t want to be the ex who kept coming around.

Now here she was, sitting across from a lawyer she’d matched with on a dating app, desperately trying not to appear scared out of her mind. She didn’t know why she’d finally relented and let Nisha talk her into joining an app.

Oh right, because I was obsessed and needed to get my mind off Phate.

She’d thought dating someone would preoccupy her mind and stop her from watching the comings and goings of her next-door neighbor.

She was still the workaholic who cared more about her business than a relationship, but she was also lonely and in need of some company. It had taken Phate moving next door to make her realize that. And here she was, now thinking about it 24/7.

“I’ve walked past that little shop quite a few times.”

If he calls my boutique a little shop one more time...

Tasha gnashed her teeth together. Her jaw hurt from restraining the retort on her tongue.

Her date was a handsome man. Tall, but not as tall as Phate. He was also skinnier than Phate. He had on a light blue suit and buttoned-down shirt underneath. He didn’t wear a tie and the buttons were open until the third one. His whole look was appealing.

He smiled at her and picked up a spoonful of his dinner salad. “I never went in because I saw all the girl stuff in the windows,” he continued.

She used her tongue to force her teeth apart. “I only carry women’s clothing, so unless you were shopping for one, you wouldn’t have found anything interesting in there.”

He danced in his seat a little, obviously happy with the way the conversation was going. All the while she was cringing in her head.

“My sister’s birthday is coming up.”

She used her fork to push her salad around her plate. “I’m sure you can find something she’ll like in my boutique.

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