Keyshia and Clyde by Treasure E. Blue Page B

above her knees, complemented by a pair of high-heeled boots in a matching color. Her makeup made her look totally ravishing and sexy, and her hair gave her that Halle Berry look. Clyde was speechless.
    â€œWell,” Keyshia said, arms spread out, mouth smiling widely. “How do I look?”
    Clyde still couldn’t find the words as he shook his head and blinked rapidly. Finally he stuttered, “You look . . . you look beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.”
    Keyshia was taken aback for a moment, because she’d just realized that was the first time in her life someone had ever told her that. Even more, she saw it in his eyes and believed him. She looked down and smiled and asked, “I do?”
    He shook his head and said, “Yo, you look like a dime, and that’s real talk! When you first came out, I had to look twice ’cause I didn’t know that was you, for real.” Clyde, now feeling underdressed, looked at himself and said, “I don’t think I look good enough to go with you now. ”
    Keyshia walked toward him. She was inches from his face and licked her lips and said, “I’m glad you said that.” She walked toward where all the shopping bags were kept and picked up two of them, one small and one larger bag. She set both bags on the bed and reached in the big one first and pulled out a stylish blue suit jacket. She undid the buttons and put it on Clyde. He looked into the mirror and nodded. Next Keyshia reached inside the smaller bag and pulled out what appeared to Clyde to be a glass case that read FENDI on the front. Clyde opened it up, more excited than he wanted to be, and a fresh pair of black Fendi shades were inside.
    He looked at Keyshia and said, “You crazy.”
    She smiled even brighter and said, “Go ’head, put ’em on, and let me see how you look.”
    â€œNot bad, not bad,” Clyde said as he profiled in the mirror. “I’ve got that Jay-Z, Usher thing going on. I can live with this.”
    She reached into the smaller bag and pulled out a brand-new box of cologne and handed it to him. Excitedly he smiled and said, “You got me some cologne, too?” He looked closely at the brand and said, “Sean John, eighty-five dollars. Damn, girl, you ain’t have to buy me some expensive stuff like this, I would’ve—”
    Keyshia stopped him and simply said, “You only live once.” He smiled and thanked her. She shrugged and said, “Hell, the glasses cost me two hundred fifty, but you worth it, right?”
    Clyde had never met anyone like her before. He was excited that someone had thought about him enough to buy him something. She urged him to put on the cologne.
    He opened up the box and sprayed some of the expensive cologne in his hand like it was going out of style. Keyshia stopped him. “No, Clyde, you don’t put this shit on your body like that shit from the ninety-nine-cent store. This is that good shit; you don’t need a lot to smell it.” She took the bottle and told him to extend his hands with the palms up so she could show him how to apply it. She then sprayed his wrists, his jugular, and behind his neck. She said, “And that’s it. You good for the rest of the night and then some.”
    Clyde smiled at her and asked, “How old are you?”
    She looked at him. “Why you wanna know?”
    â€œ ’Cause you seem so smart, like you been around for years, and got mad wisdom.”
    Keyshia wanted to cry right there on the spot. Never in her life had anyone called her smart, only dumb. Clyde watched her put her head down. He took his hand and lifted her chin softly and asked, “What’s the matter, I said something to offend you? If I did, I ain’t mean to.”
    She said quietly, “You really think I’m smart?”
    â€œSmartest girl I ever met.” Clyde frowned. “You ain’t ever know that?”
    She gave him