IMADE

I took a sip of my wine and asked myself why I even agreed to go to 'lunch' with him.

I couldn't lie, he looked much better than he did the other day.

Much much much better.

There was no exaggeration. He looked like one of those male models that I stalked on Instagram.

I'm not ashamed to say that.

Silver eyes that I wouldn't have noticed if he didn't take those glasses off, long lashes, brown hair in a loose bun and a beard that made his jawline even more prominent.

His beard had been trimmed since the last time I saw him.

His frame was wide and he easily towered over me. Twice as tall as I was. I could only imagine how he'd look underneath those clothes. He was practically a large bear...a very sexy one.

He was handsome. Sexy in a conservative way.

The restaurant was pretty.

With glass walls that permitted us see the people outside. I asked Theodore to order something for me and we both got some chicken Alfredo. It tasted amazing and I made a mental note to come here some other day to treat myself -if I didn't spend all of my money ordering things off Amazon.

The silence at the table stretched and he cleared his throat. We had both finished our food and we sipped on wine in the awkward silence.

Was this a date? It couldn't be. Could it? Nothing wrong with it being a date. Or was there? Nah...its was a date...was it? Was I over thinking this?

"So you've been teaching for how long?" I asked, turning towards him and his eyes met mine, causing me to grow nervous a bit. He had really beautiful eyes.

I was never nervous! Never!

"Uh...a long time" he nodded and I hummed, the awkwardness in the air just grew.

Way to keep the conversation going, Professor Stephen. What was I supposed to say to that? 'Oh that's cool'?

My phone rang from my bag and I let out a sigh of relief, placing my glass of wine on the table.

"Excuse me" I mumbled and unzipped my bag, pulling my phone out of it. Of course, it was Aunty Shade.

"Oh it's fine" he replied and bit down on his lower lip, stealing my attention at the simple action for a couple of seconds until my phone rang again.

I answered it and pressed the phone against my ear.

"Ma?" I asked turning away from him but I could feel the heat of his gaze. It was scorching hot.

"Imade! I'm going to send you some money to buy somethings for me because Kolade's sister is coming to California and I would've asked her to buy it o! But ole ni. She'll steal all my money and buy inferior products. So, when she gets there, you'll pack them up and give them to her. She'll bring it to Nigeria on her way back. Anyways, I just wanted to inform you. How are you?" She rattled off about her sister-in-law and there was no lie there.

Gloria was a thief...I wasn't sure if she was a kleptomaniac but she had her own money and stole from other people -things she didn't need to steal.

"I'm fine. I'm just having lunch. When do you need me to buy them?" I tapped my nails against the table.

I knew it could only be beauty products that she wanted me to buy or maybe even chocolates. Once in a year, she often travelled out of the country with her husband and when she cane back, she brought me enough chocolates to last a year.

"I sent a list to your WhatsApp but she'll be coming over tomorrow and she'll leave in five days. Buy them tomorrow and take a picture before you buy it!" I hummed in understanding, still feeling his eyes on me.

"Okay, Aunty Shade. I go call you when I reach house. I even bought you jewelry but I'll send a picture when I get home."

"Aww! I trust you na! Alright. Love you!"

"Love you too" I hung up and turned to him, his eyes seemed darker and I wondered if this was even proper.

"You're beautiful" he whispered softly and my lips parted. The sincerity in his words made me blush under my dark skin. Thankfully, he couldn't see it.

"Thank you" I smiled at him and the corner of his lips lifted at the corners but that was all. It made me laugh lightly before I picked up the glass of wine, bringing it up to my lips.

"You're trying so hard not to smile. I noticed that with you" I wiggled my finger at him and he shrugged.

If that wasn't sexy. Nothing in this world could ever be.

"I'm not sure I know how to" he said in that soft voice and I shook my head, placing my glass on the table.

"Everyone can smile. Just...smile?" I shrugged and he did the same thing, like he was stopping himself from smiling.

"But you laugh?" I pointed out playfully and he tilted his head at me.

"Haven't been given a reason to in the past couple of years" his jaws clenched and I feeling that I had stepped into uncharted territory.

"Tell me about you, Imade" The rumble in his voice made me shiver and I shrugged, my mind blank.

"Uh...I love photography and makeup. I'm actually a registered makeup artist um...I love food?" I glanced at in and let out a small laugh when I noticed he was doing that thing again. A small smile. The corners of his lips finally raised into a smile as he stared at me.

"There you go. A smile" I mumbled, entranced by how beautiful his smile was. There was a deep dimple on his left cheek -just his left cheek and the sight made me laugh.

We talked for a little more and I didn't realized how much time had passed. Heaven knew that I was going to order takeout or pizza tonight. I hadn't found an African store so, I could ask Aunty Shade to send me a couple of things through Gloria.

"Oh. I have to go now. It's getting quite late" I told him even if it was the last thing I wanted.

I had an amazing day with him. He was funny -even if he didn't realize it. Sometimes he said things and I'd just laugh and he'd look at me like I'd lost my mind.

He'd stare at me anyways.

"I-I could drop you off at home If that's okay?" He offered politely and stood up after paying. He held his hand out and I wondered if he remembered what he said to me. Was this still 'just lunch' because it sure didn't feel like just lunch to me.

I placed my smaller hand in his, trying to ignore the mind blowing warmth and the way his calloused fingers held mine like he was scared I'd pull my hand out of his. We stepped out of the restaurant and approached his pickup truck that looked quite expensive but what did I know? All matte black cars looked expensive to me.

He pulled the passenger door open for me and I ran my tongue over my lower lip as I climbed in struggling a little as it was a tad bit high, telling myself that there was nothing wrong with getting into a professor's car -a very sexy and handsome professor who made my body tingle.

Nothing wrong with it.

"Comfortable?" He asked before he had to crouch down till he was on the same eye level as me, and I nodded, feeling shy from the impact of his gaze.

"Yeah. Thank you" I smiled at him and he tilted his head at me, saying nothing before he returned the smile slowly. The car smelled like him.

He shut the door and walked around the car, climbing in through the other side before he shut the door and drove off.

I told him I stayed at the student estate while soft classical music filled the car. I hated classical music.

I was more for songs with jamming beats. Not those sad piano sounds.

We got to the student estate and he parked right in front of my house. I was about to open the door when he stopped me and climbed out, making my cheeks warm.

He pulled the door open and helped me get down. He shut the door and I stood between the car and Theodore. He was staring at me like he was trying to memorize my features.

Didn't he realize that there were students around?

"I hope you had an amazing day?" He asked and I smiled, trying to hide my smile as I remembered how I had spend part of my day.

His hand moved up and he ran a knuckle along my cheek. Back and forth, softly like I would break. I leaned in and my eyes fluttered close at the comfort his body brought to me.

"Thank you. I had the most amazing day" I managed to speak out without stumbling on my words.

"That's good. Maybe we can do this sometime again. If you want" he offered and I was quick to nod. He smiled again and I just wanted to stare at that smile all day.

"Phone number?" He held out a flip phone and I raised my brows, wondering if he was joking.

"You're joking?" I took the red phone from him and he frowned, clearly confused as to why I'd ask him if he was joking.

"Where's your phone, Theo?" I eyed the 'phone' and looked up at him. He looked so cute when he was confused. His brows were pinched together and I pointed at the phone in my hand.

"No. No. Your smartphone?" I raised a brow and he pursed his lips before he shook his head.

"Don't have one" he grumbled like a child and I laughed before flipping the phone open.

"You should get one. It makes everything easier" I mumbled distractedly, trying to press the digits correctly with my long ass nails.

Even my mama would never use a flip phone at this day and age. How old was he? Thirty seven? Thirty five?

I pressed my phone number into his phone and he smiled at me, this time showing off his pearly whites.

"Thank you. I'll call you" he whispered, leaning in and my heart began to skip. My heart jumped when his beard rubbed against the side of my head. It was soft.

He kissed the side of my head before he pulled back and took my hand, leading me to my door.

"Have a night as beautiful as you, baby girl. Sweet dreams. Go in" he waited and I was still stunned by the kiss to the side of my head.

Now, he goes and calls me baby girl?!

I raised my hand up to where he had kissed, leaving an invisible imprint there. I opened the door and by the time I turned to him, he had walked to his truck, waiting for me to walk in.

I stepped into my apartment and shut the door behind me, leaning against it while my heart raced.

Was it still just lunch?

I couldn't have a crush on a professor? Could I?

"Why does he had to be so hot? Why am I such a hoe?" I groaned, rolling around on the floor and kicking my feet in frustration.

I sighed and stared at the ceiling, pursing my lips, trying not to smile.

'I mean...he is very hot'