“Girl, just get on one of those dating apps and find you a boo,” said Kia.
Destiny sighs and sucks her teeth. “I guess I have gotten to this point to do so. I really did not want to go this route Kia!” Destiny replied.
“How else are you going to meet anyone? I say give it a try. I’ve heard there’s some good men on those apps,” Kia said.
“Which one should I download?”
“Um..someone told me ConnectedBLK was good. Gone head and meet you your tall, dark and handsome,” Kia answered jokingly.
“I’ll think about it,” Destiny replied un-enthusiastically.
“Lawd, you are going to be single forever with this attitude,” Kia replied.
Single Forever. That statement made Destiny’s heart race with anxiety. She was a 38 year old single mother who hadn’t been on a date in two years. The thought of meeting someone new was not an easy task for her. All she would ever do is fall in love like a hopeless romantic, only to get her heart broken. It’s happened too many times to count and too many times her heart could bear. The last relationship resulted in her seeking counseling. His name was Raheem, blessed with a gift for charm and a big dick. He was a manipulator who continuously cheated with no remorse. Whenever he got caught, he begged for her forgiveness on hands and knees; only to cheat again within months of reconciliation. Dating sucked but being lonely topped the cake.
“Kia, let me call you back. I’m about to start dinner for Jacob,” Destiny said.
“Alright girl, and don’t forget to downlo..”
Destiny hung up on Kia before she could even get it out. She knew that her friends were tired of seeing her sulk in depression, but she just didn't know if she could fathom another no good man who would talk the panties off her, sex her lies, and have her 13 year old son witness his mother’s downfall all over again. She was damaged goods.
Later that night, Destiny poured a glass of wine and sat on the couch. She turned to Lifetime where she started tuning into a movie that had already started. A very attractive couple was tonguing each other down against a wall in full blown lust. She sighed heavily and looked at her cell phone that was laid on the table. She picked it up and went to her text messages. The last text she received was from her Mom 6 hours ago, asking her what size her son wore.
She shook her head. “Damn, my phone is dry as hell. Is this really my life right now?” Destiny asked herself.
There was not a “Have a good night”, “I miss you”, or “I want to see you” text message in sight. She opened up her app store and searched “Dating Apps”. Upon scrolling, she found ConnectedBLK that Kia suggested. She proceeded to create a profile, contemplating using her real name and picture, but she did not want to get catfished herself. Instead, she let her guard down and was truthful. After 20 minutes of setting up a bio and uploading a sexy picture, she hit “complete” and closed out of the app. It was official, she was back on the dating scene.
Two days later, Destiny was typing at her desk at work. Her phone lit up with a notification. It was from the dating app. It read, “You have a connection.” Her heart fluttered with both anticipation and fear. She opened her phone up to see a handsome, professional looking man in the profile pic. She had swiped right on him yesterday. His name was Lenny. His pics were very stunning; Clean cut gentleman like. He mentioned in his bio that he had a young daughter and had attended a HBCU.
“A Capricorn….” she said to herself while studying his profile. She sat and read his profile again, stunned that someone actually had interest in her. A notification alerted her again. She opened it up and read….
“Hey Beautiful, it’s nice to connect with you,” he wrote.
Destiny’s heart fluttered and she smiled. Could this really be the one? Was Kia right after all? He sure did look like her Prince Charming.
“Hi Lenny, nice to meet you,” she wrote back.
She put down her phone and tried to get back to the email she was previously typing up, but she couldn’t concentrate. Within 5 minutes, she prematurely thought of marrying this man and having his babies. She shook her head to get refocused. She got another notification.
“Let’s go out for a drink tonight if you’re not busy,” Lenny wrote.
Destiny closed out the app and texted Kia.
“I got a date! You’re on auntie duty.”
Destiny examined herself in the mirror. Her makeup was on point and her butt looked great in her high waisted jeans. She wore a crop top and big gold earrings to compliment them. She was able to get her son to Kia to babysit for the night at the last minute for her date with Lenny. He wanted to meet her uptown at “The Zoo”, a popular bar.
She arrived there just at 9pm sharp to see Lenny waiting for her at the front entrance. He was fine and early. He embraced her with a warm hug.
“I didn’t think you would meet me last minute, but I’m glad you did,” he said, admiring her.
“No problem,” Destiny replied with a smile.
His smell was intoxicating, like warm vanilla and cedarwood. He was clean cut from his hair cut to his fingernails. He wore a crispy white collar shirt and denim jeans, with a perfect smile to compliment the outfit.
“You look beautiful,” he said smiling.
“Thank you,” Destiny replied with a blush.
He moved out of the way for her to walk inside. “Ladies first,” he said.
They found seats at the bar. She could feel his eyes burning in admiration of her slim waist down to her pretty pink toes.
“What are you drinking tonight Miss Lady?” He asked.
“Um...I’ll take a Tequila Sunrise.”
“Top Shelf?” He insisted.
Destiny was taken back. She was impressed by his manners and his exquisite taste. “Yeah sure.” Destiny replied.
He flagged down a petite, light skinned bartender. “Excuse me. We’ll take two Tequila Sunrises, top shelf please,” he ordered. He put a visa card down and said, “I’ll start a tab as well.”
Once the drinks were ordered, he brought his glass up towards Destiny.
“Cheers to a memorable night,” he said.
Destiny hits her glass on his. “Cheers,” she replied seductively looking into his big, puppy dog eyes.
Destiny was feeling more relaxed and a bit tipsy. “So I asked, do you really think black women have a chip on their shoulder all the time? I mean, what he was saying was so one-sided,” Destiny said enthusiastically.
“I can’t believe that man. Black women are Goddesses. You all have been through enough, it’s not a man’s place to cause more stress,” Lenny replied.
“Right!” Destiny paused for a minute. She admired his face and she suddenly felt a hot flash all over her body. She was flustered. His whole personality had her hot.
“What’s the matter?” Lenny asked while lightly touching her thigh. The touch sent a sensation straight to her vagina. She hadn’t been touched in so long. She closed her eyes for a quick 10 seconds and looked down to the ground. She couldn’t believe this was even happening.
“Uh...nothing’s wrong Lenny. It’s just….you’re so…..”
Lenny lifted up her chin towards him and kissed her lips. It felt like they were the only two people in the bar. She no longer heard the music, only her heart beating so fast and strong through her chest.
“I’m so what?” he asked with a smirk on his face.
“You are just perfect.” Destiny chuckled a little. “It’s hard to believe that you are single,” she replied.
Lenny takes a deep sigh. “Yeah well, I’m picky. I want to make sure that the woman I date next is my future wife.”
“Well we are definitely on the same page,” replied Destiny.
Lenny looks down at her drink. “Another one?”
“Uhhhh…” Destiny was already feeling tipsy and knew she had to pick up her son in a few and work in the morning. She wasn’t a spring chicken anymore and knew another drink would cause a “sunshades and advil” type of morning the next day. Before she could answer him, he called on the bartender.
“Excuse me, she’ll take another Tequila Sunrise,” he said.
Destiny wasn’t 100% sure if that was a good move for her, but she figured she’d drink it and be done for the rest of the evening. The bartender was in the middle of making a big drink order for a group of people at the bar already. She nodded her head to acknowledge the order. Destiny figured she could make a quick run to the bathroom to freshen up and possibly splash a little water on her face to cool off before the drink was made.
“I’m headed to the bathroom real quick.”
Lenny licked his lips and stared at hers. “Take your time beautiful,” he replied.
Destiny got down from the high barstool and carefully made her way to the ladies room. She looked back and caught Lenny watching her backside as she walked away. She turned around and smirked. She made sure to give him a show and switched her hips to the beat of the music loudly playing.
When she came back to Lenny, he already had her drink waiting on her with a napkin underneath. She looked at his drink and saw that he barely touched the second one.
“I see you are babysitting,” she said jokingly.
He chuckled. “Nah, I have been just admiring you all night. Been too busy staring at those luscious lips.”
Destiny blushed and looked at her drink again.
“I won’t keep you out long Love. I know it’s a weekday,” he said reassuringly.
Destiny nodded her head and took a sip.
30 minutes later, Destiny was starting to feel the effects of drinking too much. She was half way finished with her drink. “Whew! I feel so good,” she said with a laugh and her body swayed.
“Do you now?” Lenny asked in amusement.
“Yes, I should have not gotten this tipsy on the first date Lenny. I am sorry. I don’t normally drink alcohol. I’m a wine type of chick.”
“It’s all good. Let me walk you to your car then,” he said.
Destiny grabbed her purse and suddenly the room started spinning. She sat there on the bar stool for a second to gain her composure. Lenny got down and grabbed her hand. It felt like her legs were rubber bands and she couldn't feel her face. He basically held her up to walk out of the bar. A man standing outside yelled at them.
“Aye, is she ok bruh?!” He asked concerned.
Lenny kept walking with Destiny’s arm on his shoulder. “Yeah man, she just drank too much tonight.”
“I hope she’s not driving,” the man said sternly.
Lenny walked them both to his car. “No, we drove together man, thanks.”
They arrived at his shiny black BMW in the gravel parking lot of the bar. Destiny could hear the conversation between Lenny and the random man outside but couldn’t respond much. She felt horrible, almost like she could collapse right there outside of the car. Lenny opened up his passenger door where she plopped down on his leather seat. He got inside and monitored her a bit.
“You shouldn’t drive sweetie. I’m going to take you back to my place so you can sleep this off.”
Destiny mumbled “ok” and closed her eyes. That was the last thing she remembered.
Destiny awoke to a sore vagina and naked in a dark room. She jumped up and gasped in shock. She turned to her left and Lenny was asleep next to her.
“OMG!” She yelled startling Lenny to wake up beside her.
He slowly put his arm around her lower waist and kissed her back. He then attempted to penetrate her again from the side. Destiny jumped up out of the bed in the still dark room.
“Where are my clothes?” She demanded with a shaky voice. Lenny was still laying in bed calmly.
Destiny asked again, this time raising her voice. “Where are my clothes!!”
Lenny sat up in bed and cut on a lamp sitting on his nightstand. He looked at her in disgust.
Destiny didn’t answer. She spotted her entire outfit in a pile on the floor in front of the bed and proceeded to put them on.
“You wanted to come over to sleep off your drunkenness and that’s what you did after we had sex,” he said reassuringly.
“I did not want to have sex with you like this Lenny and you know it. Something doesn’t feel right about this,” she replied back while searching for her phone.
“You wanted to sleep with me, don’t front,” he said.
Destiny looked at him in disgust. The Prince Charming that she connected with at the bar was no longer present, it was a mask he wore. He never had her best interest at hand. He had an agenda, and he conquered it and in return destroyed her. She glanced around his room. It was well kept, like the energy he gave off. High end furniture and expensive art graced his bedroom. His King sized bed was fitted in Egyptian sheets and quality throw pillows. She knew he was a powerful man, one who had a corporate job, a fancy car, and an immaculate house, but what he didn’t have was true authenticity, so he had to drug her. His ego wouldn’t allow him to watch her get in her car and go home after their date. His eagerness to have her most prized possession made him disregard the classy, respectable Queen she was. She felt defeated, dirty, and powerless. His abuse changed her forever, with an eternity of regret and anger to follow.
Lenny got out of bed and walked naked and confidently to the bathroom as if he were a Lion in the jungle who just caught his prey. “I’ll call you a Lyft,” he said nonchalantly.
This story is dedicated to all of the victims of Bill Cosby, who had to watch their predator be released from prison on drug facilitated sexual assault, rape and sexual battery. This is also dedicated to all those who are victims of anyone who has taken your prized possession from you. Noone deserves to be raped, sexually assaulted, abused, molested, and/or inappropriately touched in any manner. The stigma of powerful people being the abuser and this being ok is sickening. I pray all victims find healing and strength, one day at a time, we can change this narrative.
