I can't stop thinking about that hot guy we saw before," Lamont said.
Tina frowned, raising her head from her phone. She needed the subject of Trevor to wrap up soon, because what the hell? She'd been trying not to think about the man for a while and here this guy was, bothering her about him.
"What?" Lamont asked, pouting when he caught her expression. "You used to like my appreciation for hot men, what changed?"
"You're talking too much about him."
Way too much.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd assume you knew him," her assistant grumbled, relaxing his back on a chair.
Tina just sighed.
They didn't necessarily share a room, but it was connected by a door, to which Lamont was excited by. He wasn't a fan of solitude and wanted to be around his friend and boss as much as possible.
"Alright, since you don't want to hear about him. Before we have a wonderful night rest, let's talk about the wedding that I missed. Who you saw and didn't. Whatever gossip you heard," Lamont said, a bright smile back on his face.
Tina silently thanked god for his easygoing nature because she sure wasn't ready to start telling him her history with her ex.
So she told him about the wedding, what she experienced and didn't. Told him about her cousin's wife too.
"Ooh, I think I'll like her."
Tina didn't protest because she had a feeling that he was right.
While still comfortably laying on the bed with a glass of wine in hand, Tina shifted her attention from her phone to her friend occasionally. And while they were talking about some business investors, she abruptly paused.
"What the fuck?"
"Tina? Is something wrong?" her friend asked in concern.
"I don't know," she said as she read the message that just came in.
Hi Tina.
It's me, Enna.
Told you we'll talk more later :)
***
Trevor never thought a time would come where his younger brother would be giving him advice on dating.
"Aren't you supposed to be out to see your Coco?" he asked after serving his brother a hefty brunch.
"I'll see her soon, don't worry," Sam said, mouth filled with food.
Trevor sat down in front of him, taking his time with his leftover rice.
"Anyway, like as I was saying. You should start dating again."
"And I told you that I don't need your opinion."
Sam placed a hand on his chest, feigning hurt. "I'm just trying to help. You haven't been the same since- " he broke off after seeing the look on his brother's face. "You haven't been the same since her. I think everyone can tell, from the way you look, to how your house looks... The way you eat is even weird. You need to find someone to get your mind off of her. Maybe not for a serious relationship, something like-"
"Something like what you're doing?" Trevor interrupted.
Sam brightened. "Yeah."
"No, thanks."
"Ugh. Just gimme your phone let me open a dating profile for you on one those apps."
Trevor wasn't in the mood to have an argument with his annoying brother, so he unlocked his phone and gave it to him. He just wanted to eat in peace.
"When you're done, you can leave," he said, back to eating.
"How mean."
He didn't raise his head to look at the expression on his brother's face. He wasn't letting the man spend more time than he should at his place. Like he said, he didn't like surprises. And Sam knew that.
"There. I'm done."
Trevor took his phone back with a frown. "What'd you do?"
Sam was the one to get back to eating now. "I set up an account for you. For dating."
"Oh," he said, no trace of excitement on his face.
"You better go on one date and tell me how it went."
Trevor raised a brow. "I'm busy."
"I'm sure you could find time to talk to a new person," Sam said dismissively. "You own your own restaurant anyway."
Trevor looked down at his phone in surprise and mild interest as he realized he'd already started getting some matches.
"I'm glad you didn't put that I was looking for a serious relationship," he said, momentarily forgetting what else he was about to say.
Sam grinned. "You don't look like you'd want one. This is your 'back in the streets' profile. I'm sure you must be rusty now."
"Hm."
"Pick a girl and go on a date with her," his brother instructed. "Pick the most convenient place to meet and see how it goes. I know you're not necessarily looking for sex, but just see if you'd like her."
"Okay," Trevor said after some contemplation.
Maybe he should've just said no and deleted his account.
Because a few days later, he went on a date with a lady he was chatting with. And regretted it.
He picked up his call from a familiar number the moment he got into his house at later hours of the day.
"So how was it?"
"A waste of my damn time," Trevor groaned. "She just couldn't keep up with the conversation and keep giving me these sexy eyes." He sighed. "I thought men were the ones who usually did shit like that to women."
Sam let out a loud laugh. "This shit is so funny, can't lie. I kind of wish I was there."
Trevor took his time making his banana juice and took out one of the cookies he got gifted by an acquaintance recently.
"How about you try again? You don't just get a good person in one try. Use one week to try and if it doesn't work out, then maybe you're just meant to be alone, thinking about what you and Tina could've been till you die."
That sounded sad. But if being alone was the result of not entertaining those women online, then he'd take that.
But still...
"They can't all be that bad," he muttered.
"Of course they're not," his younger brother protested. "I mean, you've seen my Coco."
After his juice was done and his cookies were hot, he carefully took them on a tray and relaxed on his dining table.
"She's not going to be yours in a few weeks from now though," he said.
"I know that."
Sam left his house the day he said he would and left for Coco's place. From what he'd explained, she was happy to see him and had been treating him like a guest. He said they 'hadn't done anything yet' because she's busy for now, but he was cool with it. Things were good between them. And Sam couldn't stop gushing about how gorgeous and tall she was in real life. He'd never felt the urge to look up to a woman so it was new for him.
Trevor was happy his brother was happy and doing well, but he was curious.
"Does she know that though?"
"Um... Not yet."
Trevor sighed, biting into his cookie. "Don't be a dick, Sam and tell her everything. You're leading the poor woman on. I don't like it when you do that."
"Alright, alright," his brother said, sounding defeated. "I'll tell her tomorrow. I promise."
"Good. And I expect an update soon."
"So bossy," Sam mumbled, to which Trevor pretended he didn't hear.
"Goodnight then."
"Goodnight, bro."
He returned his attention to his food after the call ended.
He wouldn't exactly call cookies and juice food, but it was something to put in his belly. If others could see him, they'd be mind blown by the emptiness of his pots. If anyone would check his fridge and pantry, they'd see different food stuffs that could probably last for a whole year. The thing was that he just never cooked as much as he used to.
He loved cooking for others, but not necessarily for himself. He had his reasons. Or should he say, reason?