Merlot's better on the Levee

Chapter 1: The gift

“Girl with a booty like that you could get whoever you want!”

China rolls her eyes at her best friend's remark while trying on her new stretchy bell bottoms jeans. China has the build of a commercial model, tall and fit. Janee on the other hand is built like a Fashionova model, average in height, slim, and super curvy at the same time.

“Shut up Janee, you’re the real thick one,” China laughs and walks to the full sized mirror on the purple closet door. “These jeans do make me look nice though. ” China turns around and shifts her weight on one leg as she looks back in the mirror. After a few moments of watching China appreciate her figure, Janee pops the question. “But do you think you look nice enough to go on a date with D?” China smacks her teeth and begins frustratedly digging through her amazon prime box full of new clothes.

D or D Guapo was the talk of the town. He grew up in a wealthy family and always had the newest clothes, cars, and shoes. In highschool, he developed a false hood persona and made everybody call him D guapo, but after college and grad school he became more refined. Now he goes by Darold, owns a multi-million dollar crypto business, and wears suits all the time.

“Janee, why do you keep asking me to date his lame ass?”

“Because he told Byron that he wanted you”

“Oh, so now you and your boyfriend are in Kahoots over my dating life.” China snapped.

“Sis, you've been single for forever and three days. At least date a dude with some money”, Janee pleads. “You might get some.”

“No, Janee”

“China! Please? Just one date, you have to. Plus we already told Darold that you’d be ready tonight”

China glares at Janee through the mirror for what seemed to be ten minutes. “So you’re telling me this was not just a gift? You planned for 2-day shipping so I'd have a date outfit, huh?”

China turns her head staring directly at Janee. “If I didn’t love my new clothes, I’d tell you I hate you to your face.” China pulls out a fitted purple cocktail dress and some silver heel sandals from the box and sets them on her bed. “Alright, what time do I need to be ready for?”

Chapter 2: Black and Bourgeoisie

A black 2022 Mercedes-Benz G Class pulls up in the driveway and Darold hops out of the suv with a bouquet of red roses. He’s caramel complexioned, tall and slender, with the perfect fade and line up. He’s wearing a tan polo sweater, a dark blue blazer, a brown tie, fitted blue trousers with a crease running directly down the middle, and brown dress shoes. He pulls out his iphone 12 and sends China a text. “China, I’m here love. Why don’t you come out?”

China had just finished adding baby oil gel to her legs when she got the message. Wearing her new dress and heels, she walks to the mirror to look at herself one more time. “Here goes nothing” she sighs, fixing her freshly twisted locs into a neat ponytail. She grabs her purse and keys and heads down the stairs and out the door to meet with Darold.

Darold hands China the roses and opens the car door to help her get in, then walks around to the driver seat. He turns the ignition and starts driving. “ Hey China, I'm glad you came, but if you were going to dress like a crayon box, you should have said that. I would’ve sent you over a stylist.”

Caught off guard, China’s mouth drops.” Well actually, Janee got this outfit for me, I think it looks nice.”

Darold laughs and murmurs under his breath, “makes sense now.”

China looks out the window and decides to keep her thoughts to herself for the rest of the ride. Inside, she wanted to curse him out, but she knew she promised Janee she’d behave.

The two pull up to the five -star restaurant right outside of the mall. “Aww man, my favorite parking spot is gone. If you moved faster when I picked you up, maybe we’d be parked by now.” Darold finds a new parking spot and pulls in. He steps out of the car and opens China’s door. “Let’s go, I called in the food order ahead of time so it would be ready when we’re seated, Byron said you like seafood so we’re eating only the finest this evening.”

China and Darold walk straight to his designated VIP area and have a seat. The bartender comes from around the bar and greets them at the table. “ Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’ll take a glass of merlot,” China replies as she fiddles with her napkin. Darold interjects, “She means riesling, she’ll take a riesling.” China begins to rebuttal “ No I want...”, but before she finishes, Darolds piercing eyes correct her. “I’ll take a reisling, Thank you” The bartender nods and leaves to gather a new bottle of wine and glasses.

“You know better than to make me look like a peasant.” Darold exclaims. “You said you wanted seafood, so you’re going to drink riesling with your food. I know your ghetto friend drinks the same thing every time she eats, but act like you’re worth something when I take you out, you hear me?” Darolds tone was stern and frightening. “Plus, you know what? I don’t like your attitude today, China. Most women would love to be on a date with me.” China glued her eyes to the floor, refusing to say a word.

Chapter 3: Raw

China hops out of her 2017 Jeep Compass and starts walking towards the grocery store when her phone rings.

“Incoming Facetime from My better Half”

China presses the green facetime button and answers reluctantly.

“Chinaaa , its bout time you answered me! It’s been a week! You can’t still be mad at me”

“No Janee, I’m still mad at you, but we’re friends so I’ll get over it eventually. Just stop tryna match me with people.”

Janee rolls her eyes. “I guess so, what you doing?”

“Just tryna get some RAW cones and some snacks,” China answers. “I’m off today so I’m just gonna go for a walk by the levee and write.”

“You so boring bro, but live your life” Janee teases.

Suddenly a deep and familiar voice speaks from the aisle. It’s a man dressed in a black fitted t-shirt and black jeans with a gold cuban link necklace. He’s tall and muscular with a full beard and short locs.

“Don’t I know you from somewhere?”

Janee screeches from facetime, “Ooh girl that’s a man? He tryna Holler? “EXCUSE me sir she single AF!”

“Janee Shut up”, China whispers, then turns to the man “No, I don’t think so. You do look familiar. “

“Well excuse me if I’m wrong, but weren’t you at the Sirens Dock restaurant the other day?”

“Ooh you got a stalker!!” Janee screams.

The man laughs. “Tell your friend I can hear her. I’m not a stalker. I was the bartender at the restaurant. My name is Rock. I just wanted to tell you that the man you were with was a butthole.”

“Oh….Darold,” China sighs.

“Yeah Darold, Donald Duck, doofus, whatever his name is, he doesn’t deserve you.”

China chuckles. “That was a first date, I’d never actually be with someone like that.”

“Good!,” Rock exclaims. “ I was starting to wonder what was wrong with you?”

“Good one good one,” China responds as she awkwardly picks up a can from the shelf and reads the back.

“Well Do you smoke?” Rock questions, “Maybe we could just vibe out and talk sometime”

Janee interrupts again “ Y'all should just go hang out now. She sing..”

China pressed the red end call button quicker than Janee could put the -le on sing. She was in such a daze that she’d forgotten she was on facetime.

“I’m actually off today.” China says to Rock. “I literally was picking up some RAW cones and snacks to bring with me for my writing session on the levee. Feel free to join me.”

Rock ponders for a moment then responds. “Look I just got off. Ima drop my groceries off. Send me your location when you get there and I’ll meet you at whichever spot you pick whenever you’re ready. No pressure I got all day. I just airdropped my contact to your phone”

As soon as Rock walks away, China rushes to purchase her snacks and heads to the levee as quickly as she can. She finds a bench and sets up her snacks and sends the location. Moments after she finishes grinding her herbs for her raw cones, she feels a tap on her shoulder and jumps.

“Oh hey, Rock! You startled me. Is this purple rose for me?

“Yeah, I noticed that your outfit was purple at the restaurant, and your hair tie is purple today, so I figured I’d get you a purple flower to compliment you. I also brought you some merlot. I hope you don’t mind drinking out of plastic cups on our first date.”

Date?” China blurted out before thinking. She had gone to the grocery store for some self care time and now she is on a whole date. No makeup, no fancy clothes, just two people enjoying themselves.

“I mean, yeah, sorry. I can call it something else. “ He said.

“No, Rock. It’s cool. I like it. You got a lighter?”

“Yeah, here. So you know I’m a bartender, what do you do?”

China sparks her herb-filled raw cones. “I’m a model, a singer, a dancer, a community advocate, a whole lot.”

“Wow, you got a lot going on,” Rock says as he pours a fresh bottle of merlot into red solo cups. “ I mean, if I may add, you’re also beautiful, and I love your style. Don’t change it.”

China blushed as the sun kissed her skin, the wind brushed her arms, and the water waved salutations. Could this be love? Raw, unfiltered, unexpected. Neither of the two knew the answer, but for some reason, merlot tasted so much better on the levee.