"Hope you don't mind… I'm trying to go vegan…" he told her.
"Really?" Mia couldn't hide her surprise. In a million years she wouldn't have guessed.
"You're surprised?" He asked taking a seat across from her.
"You just don't strike me as…"
"I know someone who would actually care about the things he eat."
"Among other things… You look more like a meat and potatoes man" She said thinking that he was probably the biggest whore she had ever met. He scooped up some wild rice with humus sauce and sliced baked eggplants with Swiss cheese on top onto her plate and then passed it to her.
"Mm, this is delicious…" she said finding the taste different but to her liking.
"Yea, I used to be a big meat eater. I decided to get serious this time; you know on again and off again. It's hard giving up on eating pork chops and steaks. Avery always complains now that there's nothing to eat here. He stopped coming over." He laughed as he thought about his friend.
"Then I guess you're not going to their cookout next month?" She questioned.
"Why you want me to?" He teased.
"There goes that ego of yours again…Guess the world revolves around Jayden." She teased while rolling her eyes and looking heavenward.
"Is that a yes…" he laughed and then she smiled.
Before they knew it they were in his living room sitting and talking. Hours had gone by unnoticed and Mia found that Jayden had a deeper and more philosophical approach to life. He actually was well-rounded, upon current events, news and politics. He could be considered politically and socially conscious man. He surprised her once more when he shared with her his volunteer work at the community center. She would have never guessed this side of him. Seeing him like this changed her opinion of him. It was just as Nita and her father had said; Jayden had some issues he had to deal with; after that he would be alright for a woman.
"What time is it?" She suddenly asked remembering that she had to open up the shop in the morning.
"Hmm… It's after two in the morning…" he said looking at the clock in the dining room.
"Two o'clock in the morning. Crap dad's going to kill me!" She said jumping up and running around gathering up her things and rushing for the door. Jayden immediately jumped up grabbing and holding her.