You Needed Me A Love Story by Shvonne Latrice

my thighs while sliding in so that it wouldn’t rise up. I low-key checked my appearance in his side mirror to make sure my low curly ponytail was still slicked down and intact.
    “You good shorty, chill out,” Lendsey chuckled before peeling down the street. I guess I wasn’t too low-key.
    His windows were all the way down, and he was driving so damn fast that the wind was stopping me from breathing. He dipped through the streets of Mattapan, until we were out of the neighborhood. I glanced over at him every now and then, admiring how fine he was. Because we weren’t talking, I pulled my phone out and began to scroll on Instagram, hoping I would see a post from Kimberlyn. Nothing.
    Finally, we pulled up to a condo on Colborne Street in Brighton. It was pretty nice, but not what I expected from someone like Lendsey. I thought he would have some huge mansion with naked hoes walking all around it and carrying silver trays.
    “This is your home? Or is this just where you’re taking me?” I looked over at him as he pulled into his parking space.
    “Both,” he replied before slipping out.
    He came around to open my door, and then we went inside his condo. Now the inside was more of what I expected. Everything was furnished beautifully, and looked just like those houses in the Home magazines. The air was even fresher and much cooler than it was outside. Boston was usually windy, but this summer it was scorching, so feeling this air against my skin was a blessing right now.
    “Sit down, ma, you hungry or thirsty?”
    “What, you were gonna cook me some food?” I raised a brow before sitting down on his L-shaped gray couch. It was so soft that I thought I was gonna sink into it.
    “No, have you ever heard of take out? Or are you too busy in the library studying?” he grinned as we both laughed.
    “Fuck you, what, you trying to call me a square, nigga?”
    “Nah, I’m not, actually. I can tell you’re a good girl though, am I right?”
    “Maybe, but I will take some water please, I’m dehydrated from it being so hot outside.”
    “Got you.”
    He went into his kitchen and returned a few moments later with some water. I cracked it open and then downed it for longer than I’d intended. He stared at me for a couple moments, and then set his water on the coffee table in front of us before speaking.
    “So tell me why my texts went ignored?”
    “Do you want me to be honest?”
    “That’s preferred.”
    “Because I know what you’re like and I want no parts of it.” I gulped some more water, trying to calm my unexpected nervousness.
    “Word? I don’t know you, so I’m not sure how you know me. But please, inform me, Matikah.” He draped one of his arms across the back of the couch, hitting me with a whiff of his cologne.
    “Well, you’re a player and you have no idea what fidelity is,” I said and looked into his eyes. I could tell by how big his perfect smile was that I was right. His bluish gray eyes were like pretty pools of water as he searched my face with them, trying to think of something clever to sway me. “See, I knew I was right.” We chuckled in unison.
    “I mean, so what. Yeah, I get around, but I’m newly twenty-four and I don’t have a girl. Why should I not enjoy myself with the many beautiful women who throw themselves at me?”
    “Because it’s disgusting. I hope you wear condoms.”
    “Aye, I like to fuck, but I ain’t no nasty nigga. Bitches are just as promiscuous as niggas, and I would never slide up in them easies with no cap.”
    “I’m glad you’re smart about it,” I smiled.
    “So what’s your story? Are you some man-eater or what? You look like you fuck with niggas heads, I think that’s what made me like your ass.”
    “I’m no man eater. I’ve had a couple almost boyfriends, but it just didn’t work out. I ain’t really looking for anyone.”
    “What if someone is looking for you?” He tilted his head to the side, as his eyes took in my body. His bottom