I drove directly to PanStar, like the zo reken was on autopilot.
“Hopeton!” I shouted as soon as I entered the store.
“Pierre, I take it your date has arrived?” Hopeton responded in his inside voice.
“You busy?” I asked. “Can we go in back?” I held up a six-pack of Guinness. “I come bearing gifts.”
Hopeton rolled his eyes and punched the code to the door leading to the backroom.
I threw myself on the couch.
Hopeton picked up the iPod and selected an old Lovers Rock compilation. Sugar Minott started crooning.
We're both together in this love affair. You and me, baby.
My phone pinged.
A text from Mistou.
A photo of her standing in her hotel room, in front of the window. Holding a glass of wine. A radiant smile on her beautiful face.
We love it!
So glad you do! Enjoy yourselves. Text me whenever you want!
I showed her photo to Hopeton.
“Bwoyyyyyyy, you in trouble!” he laughed.
“It’s crazy, right?” I had to hear from someone else that this was insane and that I needed to chill. What was I doing?
“Alright, grab me a Guinness then tell me about her,” Hopeton directed.
I took two huge gulps of my Guinness then dove in.
She’s 29 years old
Her parents are from Cap Haitien. They came to the States when they were in their 20s and settled in Florida. They raised her and her younger sister in Pembroke Pines
She grew up spending almost every summer and most Christmases in Haiti
She lives by herself in an apartment in Miami
She’s a Senior Brand Partnerships Manager for the new Viceroy Hotel in South Beach
Never been married, no kids, doesn’t smoke, can hold her liquor but isn’t a lush, loves to dance, swears she’s a killer at dominoes
“So, in other words, the girl of your dreams- aside from the ‘loves to dance’ part,” Hopeton deadpanned.
“I need to chill,” I said out loud.
“You’re acting like you’ve never had a girlfriend before, Pierre,” Hopeton said.
“Well, I’ve only had one. Back in college in the D.R. My Sophomore and Junior years. And she dumped me once she figured out I wasn’t planning on staying in Santo Domingo for the long haul.”
“So, you’re green when it comes to relationships.”
“Pretty much,” I admitted.
“That explains a lot,” Hopeton said and then fell quiet.
I waited for him to add onto that thought, but no further assassination of my character was forthcoming.
To break the silence between us I asked, “You wanna play a couple of games of dominoes before I head out?”
Hopeton said yes- he could never resist a game or two of dominoes.
After that, we barely mentioned Mistou or the upcoming Mundo-mandated wives and girlfriends dinner.
And I allowed the steady slap of dominoes against the hardwood table to soothe my racing mind.
