There was a slight chill in the air as the sun set on the city. A beautiful backdrop for what hoped to be a beautiful night. Wearing a shade of marigold yellow that made my skin glow, I sat at the rooftop bar of the busy restaurant, Koi, waiting for my date. I stared at my reflection in the mirror behind the rows of alcohol bottles and rolled my bare shoulders backward.

Just a few more minutes.

It was the first week of September and still very warm on most days. I brought a cute black jacket with me just in case the temperature dropped unexpectedly like it had the day before. But my dress was hot and needed to be shown off. I’d waited all summer for a reason to wear it and thought my date with Niles was the reason I was waiting for.

The sweetheart neckline was both sexy and sweet and the fitted material showcased the width of my hips and the roundness of my ass. My dark, tightly coiled hair was brushed into a high ponytail that sat on top of my head like a crown. My gold hoops and bracelet sparkled in the sunlight as I slipped off my gold rimmed sunglasses. I completed my look with sexy heels that hurt my pinky toe, but made my legs look fantastic. Smiling at my reflection, I was pleased. I hadn’t been on a date in months and I wanted to bring my A-game.

Two minutes after Niles gets here, the jacket is going on. But he has to see the full effect—oh! I love this song.

Moving in my seat, I rocked to the music, watching myself in the mirror.

“Hi, I’m Brad. Would you like to dance?” A man asked as he slipped onto the barstool next to me. He looked like one of those good-looking frat boys you’d see in an R-rated comedy about nothing.

“Oh, no thank you…” I flashed him a smile. “I’m waiting for someone.”

“Well, why don’t you let me buy you a drink while you wait for whoever was stupid enough to leave you unattended at the bar?”

“I’m actually here on a date,” I replied, my lips still turned upward. “But thank you for the offer.”

“Come on… Anything you want, I got you covered.” His eyes slid down my face, lingering on my breasts for a second before he leaned a little closer. “You know I own this place, right?”

“No, I didn’t. But that doesn’t change anything.”

He silently stared at me for a second before standing up and straightening his tie. “No need to be stuck-up about it,” he responded, sneering. Turning to the bartender, he barked out a drink order.

My jaw dropped. “I’m stuck-up because I said thank you and turned down your offer?”

“You didn’t have to be a bitch about it.”

I recoiled, my lip curled in disgust. “Who are you calling a bitch?”

“I didn’t call you a bitch. I said you were acting like one.”

“Honestly, the only person at this bar acting like a bitch is you,” I snapped.

“You’re not even that cute anyway.”

Shrugging, I smirked. “I was cute enough for you to ask me to dance and to buy me a drink.” I rolled my eyes dramatically. “And my eyes are up here.”

“You have your fun bags out so clearly you wanted me to stare at them. You got them out for me to look, so I’m looking.” He made a point to look at my cleavage even harder and with even more intensity.

Did this asshole say fun bags? That’s that same lame shit The Lost Boys said.

“Who taught you that lie? The Lost Boys? Because let me tell you something… I can wear whatever I want and that doesn’t give you a right to objectify me.”

Ignoring me, he continued. “And if I wanted them, I’d have them in my hands. If I wanted you, I’d have you in my bed.”

“Come on, let’s not fool ourselves… you couldn’t have had this on your best day.”

“You’d be lucky to suck my dick.”

“You’d be lucky if I could find it.”

Tossing money at the bartender and snatching his drink from the bar, he muttered something under his breath and stormed off.

“You are such a badass,” the bartender commented as she gathered the dollar bills that he threw at her. “That prick comes here all the time, and he’s an asshole.”

“Why hasn’t he been kicked out and banned from this place?”

“He’s the owner’s son.”

I rolled my eyes. “Of course, he is.”

“He’s disgusting and rude. He’s used to picking up any girl he wants. And when you said no, it was probably the first time he’d heard that in a long time. I wanted to laugh out loud.” Her blue eyes danced gleefully as she made a drink. “Let me get you another mojito.”

I waved her off. “Oh no, I’m fine.”

She walked down the bar and handed a man his order and then made her way back to me, grabbing things to make the minty concoction. “I insist. As a thank you for putting a chauvinistic pig in his place, it’s on me.”

I smiled appreciatively. “Thank you.”

A hand settled on my shoulder and my eyes darted to the mirror behind the bar. Smiling, I turned to the man I’d met at a writing retreat a couple of months prior.

“The beautiful Akila,” he greeted me.

“Niles!” Standing, I embraced him. “It’s so good to see you.”

“It’s always good to see you.” He backed away and whistled appreciatively. “And you look even better than I remember.”

Grinning, I spun in a circle, so he could get the full effect. “Thank you! How are you? You look great!”

He ran his hand down the front of his black button-up shirt. “My dad-bod is still holding strong.”

As I sat back down on my stool, I lifted my newly refreshed glass. “The dad-bod is sexy.”

“Between that and the new beard craze, I’m in high demand,” Niles joked.

“I believe it. I’m glad you were able to squeeze me into your busy schedule.”

He chuckled, sitting on the bar stool next to me. “Speaking of which… what made you decide to take me up on my offer? I believe I asked you in April if you wanted to get a drink…”

I cocked my head to the side. “You know…” I took a long sip of my drink. “You questioning my being here makes me question my being here.”

Holding his hands up in surrender, he grinned. “Akila Bishara, you are something else.”

“Can I get you something to drink?” the bartender asked as she handed a drink to a woman on the other side of Niles.

“Whiskey, neat, please,” he answered immediately. “And a refill for the lady.”

I stared at his profile and smiled.

Niles was handsome, funny, and a talented writer. We got along well and when he first asked me out, I considered it. But as much as I wanted to feel something with Niles, I just didn’t. He was a good guy. We exchanged emails regularly and proofread each other’s work. I’d hoped not seeing him for a few months would make the heart grow fonder, so I sent him a response to his unanswered question out of the blue. He quickly jumped on the opportunity, and I found myself looking forward to the night. But as I sat beside the handsome, intelligent man who made me laugh, I didn’t feel anything.

We talked nonstop for an hour and a half about the most random topics. I laughed hard and often. He was so funny. Wiping the tear that had welled in the corner of my eye, I sighed with contented amusement. I wanted to feel something other than friendship for him. On paper, we worked. We had a ton in common and we were a lot alike.

“Now, be honest… career wise, what are you scared of?” Niles asked, wiping his mouth. “Your website should’ve been up and running by now.”

I whistled, finishing with a good-natured smile. “You’re asking the heavy hitting questions, aren’t you?” I took a swig of my drink and then sighed. “Honestly, I’m scared of failure. You know how it is… freelancing can be hit or miss. I’m trying to upgrade my photography skills so I can make my website standout, and maybe that’ll also make my writing standout.”

He nodded. “I understand.”

I gave him the short version, but it was more than that. I wasn’t just scared of failure. I was scared of failing the thing I wanted most. The Re-Mix opportunity was a much bigger deal than I let on. It wasn’t just a good career move, it was the career move. The series writer position was more than just a job for me. Working for Luna Daniels would be a dream come true. I knew my loved ones were aware that I wanted the job. But I didn’t want to tell my parents or Alex or even Meghan that I was scared I wasn’t going to get it. I didn’t want to speak that into existence, but I’d subconsciously pinned my hopes and dreams on the Re-Mix opportunity.

“Freelancing isn’t easy. Not many people get that.” He paused. “Not many people get the newspaper either so…” He made a face, cracking me up.

“I haven’t laughed like that in a long time,” I acknowledged, sipping my water.

“Well, now that I’m going to be around here more often, maybe we should make this a regular thing…?”

“Oh, so you were holding out on the real news, I see! If you’re going to be here more often, I take it that your editor liked your opinion piece on the football scandal?” I asked, changing the subject.

His eyes lit up. “He loved it! I was offered the permanent position.”

Squealing, I clapped excitedly. “I’m so happy for you. You’re a damn good writer, and you absolutely deserve this! That’s awesome!”

He took a swig of his brown liquor. “You’re just saying that because you like me.”

“I’m saying it because it’s true. And because you’re my friend.”

Shaking his head, he chuckled to himself. “Friend, huh?”

I gave him a tight smile as I nodded. “Yeah.”

He dropped his head for a second before giving me a boyish grin. “You realize I asked you on a date tonight, right?”

Cringing on the inside, I took a sip of water and braced myself. “Let me pay.”

His smile dimmed. “I can pay for our meal, Akila.”

“I wasn’t implying that you couldn’t. I just didn’t want you to feel like you had to since—”

“Since it wasn’t a real date?” Annoyance dripped from his words and turned down his lips.

Not shying away from his eye contact, I wanted to be clear, firm, and kind. “Like I said, I’ll pay. I have no problem paying.”

“I asked you on the date, so I’ll pay for it. I’m just wondering why you accepted knowing I was asking you on a date.”

“I said yes to drinks and dinner because I knew we would have a nice time,” I answered honestly.

“We could’ve just hung out as friends and had a nice time.” He poured the rest of the contents of his glass into his mouth and then sat back, eyeing me. “Why did you wear that and agree to go on this date?”

I sighed. “Niles…”

“No, I want to know. I’m curious.”

“Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

I sat back in my chair and looked at him. “I’ve always thought you were attractive. And on paper, you and I make sense.”

He smiled but said nothing.

I cleared my throat. “After a dateless summer, I thought maybe I wasn’t feeling that vibe with anyone because I wasn’t making good dating decisions. So, I thought about what I wanted in a man, and I thought about the conversation we’d had about your article…which made me think about the fact that you asked me out.” I shrugged. “So… I accepted.”

He squinted his eyes as though he was trying to make sense of what I was saying. “So, I’m what you’re looking for in a man, but…”

Tilting my head to the side, I gave him a look. “I don’t feel it.”

“What’s it?”

I paused for a second, trying to put it into words. “Magic. Chemistry.” I lifted my shoulders innocently. “Anything.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Well, damn.”

“I know.”

Shaking his head with a smile, he flagged down the bartender. “You are cold-blooded.”

“I know.”

Before the bartender reached us, Niles had already started speaking. “I just got friend zoned, so that’ll be two checks please.”

My jaw dropped as a shocked laugh fell from my lips.

The bartender looked back and forth at us in shock. “Oh, okay, okay…?” She looked at me as if she were waiting for permission to bring two checks.

I was at a loss for words, but I was also deeply amused. Holding in my laughter, I nodded my approval.

“I’m kidding,” he assured us as he started to chuckle. “But the next round of drinks is on her because she really did friend zone me.”

The bartender laughed uncertainly, but she printed only one check and handed it to Niles tentatively.

“Are you sure?” I asked, slowly reaching for the check.

Slapping my hand away lightly, he pointed at me. “Stop!”

After Niles paid, he turned to look at me. “Do you want to know what I think?”

“What’s that?”

He chuckled to himself. “I think that you are holding out for something that doesn’t exist.”

I groaned and playfully rolled my eyes. “Here we go.”

“Now hear me out…”

Smiling, I rolled my eyes. “Mm hmm.”

“You said it yourself, we work on paper.”

I nodded.

“But somehow you don’t feel any chemistry between us.”

“Correct,” I murmured, unsure of his point.

“You know most marriages fail, right? Lasting relationships are built on compatibility.” He leaned closer to me, searching my eyes. “Compatibility. Not chemistry.”

“I agree. But mutual chemistry and interest are necessary.” I paused, cocking my head to the side. “You’ve been thinking about marrying me, huh?”

Running his hand down his face, he tried to cover his amusement. “You wish.” He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. A smirk graced his handsome face. “I just wanted to ask your overdramatic ass on a date and of course, you blow it out of proportion.”

“Blow it out of proportion?” I giggled. “You went from compatibility to marriage real quick!”

With a laugh, he countered, “I brought up marriage as a standard and comparison, not as a proposition and an offer!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I teased, bumping my knee against his as I turned in my chair. “Man, Niles… I forgot how hard you can make me laugh.”

The genuine smile on his face spoke volumes. “And I forgot how easy it is to be around you.”

“If only we had that spark, that chemistry, that pull…”

He rose from the barstool. “I never pegged you for the romantic type. Usually you’re a little cynical—”

“Hey!” I interjected, glaring at him. “I’m not cynical!”

“The last couple of articles you sent me weren’t at all…romantic.”

“They weren’t supposed to be!”

Niles took my hand and helped me off my barstool. “Uh… they were about dating.” He made a face. “You didn’t even try to be optimistic.”

“They were about the culture of dating!”

His eyes widened comically. “Yeah, okay.”

“And it’s journalism, not my diary,” I argued. “If a man wrote those same articles, you wouldn’t have thought anything of it. I can’t believe you of all people would—”

He put his hands on my shoulders and forced his face close to mine. “You are a fantastic writer. Look at me! You are an excellent journalist.”

I tried to turn my head, but his whiskey-soaked breath and pleading eyes held my attention. Rolling my eyes, I relented and looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

“You know me, and you know I’m not saying, ‘because you’re a woman, your article should’ve been frilly and romanticized’ or any sexist shit like that.” He seemed to realize that I wasn’t going to turn away from him anymore, so he dropped his hands from my shoulders. “All I’m saying is that your work, even in its early drafts, never really gave me the impression that you were the type to value feelings over facts. I’ve never known you to value emotions over practical considerations.”

I was quiet for a second. “Isn’t that the markings of a great journalist?”

He smirked. “Yes. But you told me your goal is to do more opinion pieces on the dynamics between men and women and how it plays in heterosexual relationships and dating culture. Earlier tonight you said you wanted to create your own brand with your blog. With your blog you have to bring a little more of who you really are into it.”

I nodded. “I want my website to have links to articles that I enjoy as well as my original content and think pieces. I want to create a dialogue,” I affirmed passionately.

“I know. And I know you’re going to do excellent work. All I was saying is that with your writing and your attitude about dating, I would’ve never guessed you were a romantic.”

I shrugged. “I just don’t wear my heart on my sleeve.”

“And you don’t have to. But you have a voice, and on your platform, you are free to use it. Never forget that.”

“You’re great, you know that?” I gazed up at Niles. His earnest eyes and encouraging tone filled me with appreciation. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being my friend.”

Niles looked around, cupping his ear. “Did you hear that?”

I shook my head. “Hear what?”

“That was you locking the friendzone door with a damn deadbolt.” He held his hands up in surrender. “I mean damn, I get it. We’re friends. Just friends. Nothing more.”

I tossed my head back and laughed.