Shawnie's POV

It was three weeks later since our first date and about three months since I had officially met him at the spa. I think it safe to say I liked Marcel a lot. I know I've said it plenty of times before but I really did. Everything about him just made me smile. At that point, I didn't find one thing I didn't like about him yet. He was just so perfect to me. I knew that there was something I was going to dislike, I just haven't found it yet.

As I said, it's been three weeks since our first date and things for me have been tight schedule wise. My schedule has pretty much been normal. It's just that I've been trying to free up a little time for him. If we're going to go on the second date, I have to skip one of my study sessions. He wants to go this Friday and he wants to pick me up after I get out of school, which is one o'clock. He hasn't told me what we're doing yet, he says it's a surprise.

Today was Thursday. It was one of the times that I have scheduled for my friends. My best friend Cassidy,

and my cousin, Mercedes, was over. When they come over, we cook together and just have girl time. Sometimes we'll watch a movie, sometimes we'll just gossip and drink and sometimes we'll just do nothing. Just us being around each other through whatever we're going through is enough.

Currently, we were sitting in my living room just talking and having a glass of Prosecco. Cassidy was telling me about the drama going on in her life, while I was listening and occasionally texting Marcel. I haven't told anyone about him yet, but I was planning on doing it tonight.

"You've been so into your phone today..." Mercedes said

"I've noticed that too." Cassidy added, pls I have her hand on her hip.

"Who are you texting?" Mercedes said, then looked at my phone.

"So I wasn't gonna say anything because I didn't really feel that I needed to but now I feel like I need to." I admitted.

"Awe shit!" Mercedes said, rolling her eyes.

"So, I've met someone." I said

"Oh!" Cassidy said then she smiled. "Tell me more!!"

"And how long have you known this person?" Mercedes asked.

"I've known him for about three months now." I answered

"What's his name, where did you meet him?" Mercedes asked, pulling out her phone.

"His name is Marcel Davis and I highly doubt you're gonna find anything on him, Mercedes. He works in advertising."

"No. I know a Marcel Davis. I've heard that name before." She said tapping her chin, trying to think. Then she got back on her phone. "I know that name."

"I have no idea where you would've heard his name from because he does not seem like someone you would know. No offense." I said

"Anyway, tell us more about him." Cassidy said

"So one day I was getting my nails done and he sat down next to me. He was being pretty loud on his phone call and I asked him to step outside, which he did. We had small talk and then he left. When I went to pay, I found out that he had paid for everything. I didn't see him until like two months later and I asked him about it and he said because I was cute and he wanted to apologize for ruining my night. So we talked. I got his name and number and everything but when I left that day he also paid for everything I had done. Long story short, we went on a date and he definitely seems too good to be true but I really like him and I'm kind of scared because I don't wanna stop talking to him but I feel like I'm gonna have to because I don't have a lot of time during my week."

"First of all, just like you do with everyone else in your life you make time for them, so if you like him that much you're gonna make time. Second of all, how cute is that? He paid for your nails and stuff." Cassidy smiled, placing both hands over her heart. "That's so sweet of him."

"Yeah, I thought it was nice too. So I was talking to the receptionist and she told me that he drives a white Maserati and she thinks that he has a lot of money because he always tips the employees very well. And I have to agree with that now that we've gone on our first date because he is always in a pair of Louboutin's and he wears Tom Ford suits. You can't be a regular person wearing Tom Ford suits everyday."

"True, or he can be a very expensive and very successful drug dealer." My cousins said with a serious face.

"Mercedes, you would say some shit like that." I laughed.

"It's so true. He could be." She said

"Well he's not a drug dealer. He told me he's in advertising."

"Yeah, advertising drugs." She joked and we all laughed.

"I understand what you're saying Mercedes but I highly doubt that's his career path. He coaches little league. That's so cute. My heart literally melted when he told me that."

"I have to admit that's kind of cute. Well that definitely means he likes kids. Does he have any?" Cassidy asked

"I don't know. I didn't ask, I just assumed he didn't." I said.

"You might want to find out. Because if he has a kid, or five, that means he has a baby mama, or five, and we don't deal with baby mamas." Mercedes said

"True." Cassidy said, sipping her wine.

"Cassidy, what are you talking about Leland has a daughter." I said

"Yeah, I know. And I don't like her mother."

We all laughed.

There was a knock on the door and I was a little confused because I didn't have anyone else coming over. My parents were at home and Marcel doesn't know where I live.

"Oh my gosh, that has to be Christian." I said, getting up and rushing over to the door. "He's supposed to be at the hospital right now doing observations."

I look through the peephole and I don't see anything but red roses. I open the door and there's a guy standing there that I don't know.

"Hello, how can I help you?" I said

"I have a delivery for Ms. Roberts?"

"That's me." I said taking the flowers. I motion for Mercedes to come over and I hand them to her.

I held my hand out for the pen that I was gonna sign with but the guy then bent down and got two shopping bags. One said Christian Louboutin and the other said Valentino. He also handed me a black garment bag.

"Wait..." I said as the guy handed me the bags. Cassidy came to the door and she took the garment bag from the guy and he just walked off.

I closed the door behind me and I stood there for a second and looked at the items.

"When have you ever been able to afford Louboutin? You do have a couple of Valentino pieces, but Louboutins? Is there something you're not telling me?" Mercedes asked

"Can I open it?" Cassidy said excitedly jumping up and down and clapping her hands like a child on Christmas.

"Damn bitch, you act like this shit is for you." Mercedes said, rolling her eyes. "Calm the fuck down."

"Let me read the card first. Is there a card on the flowers?" I asked Mercedes who was still standing next to the flowers.

She pulled the card out and read it.

           Valentino because it's your favorite. Tom Ford because it's mine. And every woman should own a pair of Louboutins.

            The three dozen roses are just because you're cute.

"This is from Marcel." I told the girls. "I forgot. We talked about a dress. He wanted to pick out what I wore on our second date. He didn't go further into details, so I didn't think he was serious."

"If every woman should own a pair of Christian Louboutin's? Ask him where are mine." Cassidy says

I laugh

"So he bought you a Tom Ford dress just because it's his favorite and Valentino because it's yours? If you don't want him anymore, I will gladly take him off of your hands." Cassidy said

"Don't forget the Louboutins." Mercedes adds

"Go ahead, unzip it Cassidy."

Cassidy smiled super big as she unzipped the garment bag. She pulls out an all black dress. First thing she did was look at the tag.

"Shawnie, the dress was $1,990."

"And the shoes were $1,195." Mercedes' said, pulling them out of the box.

"Bitch! This motherfucker just spent $3000 on you, easily. Are you fucking him?" Cassidy said, shocked.

"No."

"Let's see what's in that Valentino bag." Mercedes said

I went into the Valentino bag and instead of boxes there were two things, wrapped in red tissue paper. I pulled both out and unraveled the tissue.

"Not one, but two handbags? Are you sure your aren't having sex with him?" Cassidy said, laughing.

"I promise I'm not."

"One was $3,300 and the other was.... Almost $1500 more. I'm almost positive there's something you're not telling us." Mercedes claimed

"There's nothing I'm not telling you guys. I literally told you everything. I don't know why he is spending this type of money on me. I don't know how to feel about it and honestly I'm probably gonna give it back." I said

"Bitch are you crazy? Those are Louboutins. If you don't want them and if you don't want him I'll take both. Don't give this shit back." Cassidy said

"But...."

"Call him and let him know that you received his gifts and thank him over the phone and when you see him thank him by sucking his dick." Cassidy said, with a super serious face.

"First of all Cassidy, you and my cousin are complete opposites when it comes to things like this. You know she is not having any type of sexual contact with him. She's saving herself for Christian. With Marcel doing all this, clearly he wants it. I'm with Shawnie, I don't think you should keep this stuff. He is trying to buy you."

"I don't think he's trying to buy me, I just think that... You know what, I'm gonna call him and I'm going to thank him and I'm gonna see what he says. If I don't like the things that comes out of his mouth, then I'll give them back. He doesn't seem like that type and based on some of the conversations that we've had I think he's really just trying to be nice." I explained

"Okay. You know him, we don't. But you do know if he tries some fuck shit I'm gonna break his fucking legs." Mercedes says

"Yes, I know. Miss mob boss." I joked

We laughed as I picked up my phone and I dialed his number and put it on speaker. Mercedes and Cassidy remained quiet during my conversation.

"What's up, Gorgeous!" He answered

As soon as I heard his voice my face just automatically smiled. "Hey!"

"Did you get my gifts?"

"Yes. That was so sweet of you, but—."

"I know what you're gonna say, you have to give them back, but I'm not gonna accept them back. I asked you about the dress and I think it is up to your standards. The shoes go with the outfit." He said

"But the Valentino handbags? I appreciate it, Marcel but they cost so much..."

"It's okay. It's just a little gift from me thanking you for taking time away from your busy schedule to see me. I couldn't decide which one, so I just got both of them, and you told me emerald green was your favorite color. That's the closest I could get."

"You're so sweet." I said, blushing.

"Are you ready for our date tomorrow?" He asked

"I guess I am. I don't have to find anything to wear." I glanced at Mercedes and Cassidy, and Mercedes just shook her head.

"I can't wait to see you in that dress and those shoes. Pair gold accessories with it. You deserve to dress this way every day. And just so there's no surprises, I will be sending you some more pieces."

"You do not have to do that, this is enough. I appreciate what you've already done."

"I'll pick you up from your place around 430." He said, ignoring my comment.

"Okay, how did you get my address anyway?"

"I have my ways." He laughed

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. He couldn't see me but Cassidy and Mercedes could.

"I'll be ready at 4:30 tomorrow." I said

There was no point in me going back-and-forth with him. He pretty much had his mind made up on what he wanted to do and how he wanted to do it.

"Okay. Bye Gorgeous." He said, then ended the call.

We hung up the phone and they just looked at me. Cassidy had the biggest smile on her face and Mercedes was just shaking her head at me. She thought he was full of shit.

"So, what do you think?" I asked Mercedes.

"I think he's full of shit. I'm not gonna say 100% but probably about 75%. I think he likes you but he's just trying to impress you. I need to meet him." She said

"Just be here when he picks me up tomorrow."

"We will." Cassidy said, cutting in. "He needs to have our approval anyway." She added

"I agree, But y'all, I like him so much. Mercedes please don't mess this up and scare him off."

"What about Christian?" Mercedes asked

"What about him? I haven't spoken to him in a while. He's been busy." I answered

"But I thought you guys were trying to make something happen."

"We were but—."

"You met Marcel?" She said finishing my sentence.

"...Yeah. He's been putting in so much effort ever since he met me and I really like him."

"So no more Christian?" Cassidy asked

"No. We're friends. That's all." I said with a smile on my face but I do kind of feel bad that it didn't work out.

I really did like Christian, it's just that neither one of us had time for each other. Even if I did make time for him that doesn't mean his time will be free. Christian was stubborn and a little bit selfish sometimes. He had shit planned out and he didn't want to stray to away from his plans. That was a good thing, but it wasn't so much good when it came to our relationship.

It seemed like with Marcel, he's busy but was always available to me. He could be at work but he would take time out to talk to me, or he'd send me texts throughout the day to let me links he was thinking about me. I thought he was putting in way more effort than Christian at that point. I thought it was simple. Why couldn't Christian do the same?

But, it's only been three months. I don't know why I am thinking so hard about this. It's not like this shit can't go south super quick.

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