Chapter 13: The Goddess

Lila stared at Eric's lunch date from head to toe. He was tall- but she was taller. She was- there were no other words to describe her- gorgeous and statuesque. She had Aisha's warm, deep rich complexion, with light brown eyes and braids pulled up in a bun in top of her head.

Her cheek bones were to die for.

She was dressed in a tight dark blue off-the-shoulder dress that came to her knees and matching flats.

Lila was wearing a tight, sleeveless red dress that barely covered her ass and stilettos, wearing her hair loose- she thought she looked good when she walked out of her door, but standing next to Eric's date, Lila felt like a rough draft that needed revisions.

"Lila?" Eric broke through her thoughts.

She startled. "Hi." She turned to look at him.

"Great seeing you again," he said as they walked around her.

She stared back, looking at the woman with a smidge of jealousy. Even her walk was perfect, she thought fighting the feelings of inadequacy feeling her.

Lila sighed and continued her trek to the restrooms, suddenly feeling as if she lost her memory of coordination.

When she stepped through the private woman's haven, she leaned against the door. The room was a fair size. the walls were pink with two large circle-mirrors hung above each white sink. The fixtures were golden colored, as were the paper towel dispensers.

Lila walked to the first sink and stared at herself in the mirror, hoping she could give Eric's date a run for her money in the looks department; only she accepted that she didn't.

She cursed herself for wanting to use natural shades of make-up, today of all days.

She shook her head and walked into a stall.

She was flushing the toilet when she heard someone else walk in. Lila adjusted her dress and walked out, purposefully keeping her head down.

She hated awkward powder-room-small-talk with other women. They went in there for a single purpose. Get in, get out, no need to make a new friend for fuck's sake.

Lila headed straight to the sink and began washing her hands. The person next to her remained still.

Probably wanted a little privacy, she figured. Not she blamed her. She hated the thought of her bladder relaxing, making piddle sounds in the toilet while others listened in. She tried to hurry up in silent courtesy.

"Lila," she heard a masculine voice. Her eyes and her body instinctively dashed to the other occupant in the room, inadvertently splashing his black slacks with water

She gasped at the sound of her name. The abrupt movements sending a splash of water to the front of his trousers.

"Fuck!" He jumped back.

It took Lila a moment to realize what had happened, when she finally snapped out of it, she began grabbing bulks of paper towels and handing them to him. "What the hell are you doing in here?" She asked.

He grabbed them, and abruptly began wiping. "I just wanted to clear the air."

Lila flinched. "Clear the air?"

"Fuck, I have to get back out there before Ada gets suspicious." He looked up at her briefly. "Can I call you later?" He asked.

She frowned, nodding.

He was about to walk out, when he stopped, peering into the restroom from the outside. "Actually, can you meet me at the house?" He asked. "I have something to show you."

"You couldn't just call me?" She asked.

He sighed. "I deleted your number after our last meeting." He confessed.

"Oh," was all she said. "Fine. I'll meet you there." She leaned her hip against the sink, crossing her arms. "What time do you think you'll be home?"

He ran a hand through his hair, sighing out loud. "I'll drop off Ada after lunch and head home. Two hours okay for you?" He asked.

Lila shrugged. "Fine."

When he left, she remained with her eyes fixated on the closed door.

She sighed.

Well, he deleted her phone number after their tryst. Good thing she couldn't impregnate him or else, she likely never would have found out if she had a little Lila or a little Eric out in the world. A sudden, inexplicable sense of emptiness began to fill her chest and she began to hyperventilate.