Open Opportunities

Chapter III

BRIA

I woke up excited as hell because it was my day off and my first payday. I am also spending the day with Ariela and I got a blind date in the evening. I usually don't go on dates at all, but I figured I should get back out there.

I went into Ariela's room to wake her up, before going to make a small breakfast of eggs, sausage, and waffles.

After we ate, I got dressed in a casual pair of jeans, a white tank top, and a brown cardigan. I dressed Ariela and put on my brown moccasins.

"Where do you wanna go, baby?" I asked as we got into the car.

"Can we go to Trampoline World?"

"Anything you want honey." I made sure she was strapped into her booster seat before we took off. I drove to retrieve my check before we headed towards Trampoline World.

We arrived twenty minutes later and it was packed. I paid the toll of twenty dollars per person, and we got our bracelets and headed to the trampolines.

"C'mon mommy," Ariela said pulling me towards the big trampoline. I helped her on and we jumped and jumped until she got tired. We fell onto the mat together and laughed.

"Can we play laser tag now?"

"Sure." We checked out things in the locker, before locking it up again and heading to laser tag.

It was a little set for kids and it wasn't that dark, so we could all see each other. It was parents and their children running around everywhere. I was getting everyone until I heard Ariela yell. I immediately spotted her and ran to her side.

"Mama my leg."

"Baby what's wrong wit-." Before I could finish, I looked down at the red laser on my target.

"Gotchu mama!" I smiled and wondered how my child was so clever.

"Yes, you did Ari. Are you ready to go?"

" Noo mommy can we play some games?"

"Whatever you want honey." We took the gear off when the game was finished. I ended up winning of course with Fifty-two shots.

I got forty dollars in tokens because I know she'll only want to play a few games.

"Can we play mini-golf first?"

"Of course." I gave the lady the thirty tokens and we both got our clubs and we went out into the course. It was really fun, but by the ninth hole, she got bored and asked to do something else.

"Bowling please."

"You're not tired baby?"

She shook her head "no" and I chuckled putting the tokens into the game.

I gave her the smaller balls, while I grabbed the larger ones. I paid ten tokens in each slot and we got playing. She ended up beating me 178 to 156, she had a hand on her.

At this place, you could use coins to pay for food. We had 110 left so we bought two slices of pizza and two small drinks. That left us with 60, so I got her a small ice cream cone and we redeemed the last 40 coins for her to get a big purple bear and some candy.

When we left it was around 6:00 P.M. and she was worn out and sleep by the time I strapped her in. I called Melissa and let her know I was gonna need her tonight since my date was at 7:30.

When we got home I gave her a bath, put her in bed, and turned on her night light.

When I made sure she was alright I took a long shower and got dressed. I wanted casual, while still being dressy on my low budget. I think I did a good job. I straightened my hair and reached a little past my shoulders and I parted it down the middle. I don't usually wear makeup, but I decided to add a light pink blush to my cheeks and a light pink lip butter. I checked myself in the mirror and I was satisfied, I saw Melissa pull up just in time. I let her in and made sure she knew Ari was sleep before I drove to the restaurant.

MORRIS 

It was around 9:00 and I was stuck. I looked everywhere for the Carson file, but I couldn't find it. Ok had no choice but to call Tameka.

"Hello."

"Bria I need your help."

"Well, I can't help now."

"Why not? I need the Carson file." I stressed.

"I have it on the flash drive you made me carry. Why can't I just give it to you tomorrow? I'm on a date."

I felt a pang of jealousy run through me.

Jealousy? Over a woman, I just met a week ago?

This was not like me and it was tripping me out.

"The date or your job? You choose." I said hanging up the phone. I know I was putting her in an awkward position but I needed that file tonight.

Ten minutes later she came strolling in with an angry scowl on her face, looking sexy as ever.

"I had to be at work in eleven hours and you couldn't wait? I have other things to do rather than just catering to your needs." She said throwing the flash drive on my desk.

I got up and stood so close to her face, that I could smell the margarita on her breath.

"I don't know who the hell you think you are, but I'm your boss and you will respect me! You're doing this all over a f*****g date? You'll survive." I said waving her off.

"Respect you? You can't even respect me. You interrupted my da-." I did the most unexpected thing, I kissed her.