Lookin' For Luv by Carl Weber

for him now. She had shown him a little bit of her soul, and he didn’t want to use her.
    “Sylvia you’re a beautiful, intelligent woman whose had some really bad experiences with love. You don’t need to sleep with me for revenge.”
    “But, Tyrone., I want—” He put his finger to her lips to hush her.
    “I do too. But that’s not what you need. You need someone to make love to you, to treat you the way you deserve to be treated. Most of all, you need a friend.”
    Sylvia sat in silence as a single tear slid down her cheek. She tried to wipe it off, but his words stopped her.
    “I don’t know who your husband is, but he’s a fool, and I honestly feel sorry for him. If he could see you the way I see you now, he would hold you and never let you go.”
    Sylvia couldn’t help it now. The tears were streaming down her face.
    “I’m about to ask you something that I really have no right to ask, especially since you’re married.” He walked around to her side of the table, and she stood up so that they were face-to-face. “Let me show you how fun life is again, Sylvia. I don’t want you to give in right away. I want to earn the privilege of making love with you.”
    They embraced delicately. After a long pause she leaned forward and whispered to him.
    “Tyrone, what you just said has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever heard from a man in my life. I want to thank you for not letting me make a foolish mistake. It’s good to know someone who can be honest.”
    “I’ll always be there for you.” He slowly began to kiss away her tears until his lips found hers. Sylvia sighed. In her twenty years of marriage she had never felt a kiss so tender and caring.

10
     
    KEVIN
     
    Kevin was happy to find a parking space in front of his house but not surprised. He had taken Antoine’s advice on how to solve his personal New York City parking crisis. He made an anonymous call to the city parking violations bureau. Looking around, he saw that the old junkers his landlord seemed to collect were no longer taking up all the available parking around the building. They were all gone, probably towed by the city. He was sure he was not the only tenant who would be happy. This parking solution was like a bonus at the end of an already wonderful day.
    Shutting off the car’s engine, he closed his eyes and replayed the day’s events. He had been nervous for his date with Alicia, unlike their previous eight. After two months together Alicia had decided it was time for him to meet her son, Michael, and Kevin was not quite sure he was ready. Fortunately his worry had been unnecessary. Michael was a nice, respectful kid and they had gotten along well. The three of them went to church, then went to see Wild Wild West, the adventure movie starring Will Smith.
    Kevin realized he was happy for the first time since he’d left basketball behind. He had a job that he was starting to enjoy and a beautiful woman he planned on spending a lot of time with. As he placed the key in the lock, he heard the phone ringing inside his apartment. He glanced at his watch and knew exactly who was calling. He raced inside and grabbed the receiver.
    “Hi, Mama. Sorry I didn’t call you earlier,” he panted.
    “How’d you know it was me? And why you so out of breath, boy? You got some woman over there?”
    “No, Mama. There’s no one here but me. But I did go on a date with my new girlfriend.” Kevin laughed, feeling like a teenager again.
    “You got yourself a new girlfriend? Thank you, Jesus. What’s she like, Kevin? She ain’t one of them easy girls like you used to go with, is she?”
    “No, Mama, she’s not fast.” He couldn’t help but add, “Actually Alicia’s a nice, churchgoin’ girl. We went to church together this morning before we went out.”
    “Hallelujah! That girl done got my boy back in church? I like her already,” Mama said seriously. “Now, baby, you better be careful, ’cause even those church girls can be