Another week of sales has just ended for me and I’m ready to treat myself.

My name’s Dyshawna Harper. I’m 32 and I work in sales; specifically in automobiles because I work at a car dealership. Plus, I’m one of the top salespeople at that dealership.

I have a sweet tooth, so I treated myself to ice cream at my favorite spot, The Cream De La Crème. Sometimes, I go to the nearest store to get my favorite flavors or other ice cream places when available. But with The Cream De La Crème, I can get customized flavors and pints of their flavors. Not only that, but they also use leftover desserts from the nearby dessert shop, which the shop owner brings and makes ice cream treats with them.

For instance, I’d get two of their chocolate flavors when that time of the month hits: Mocha Coffee Brownie (chocolate and coffee ice creams with fudge brownie chunks) and Chocolate Cookies N Cream Cheesecake (chocolate ice cream with chocolate sandwich cookies and chocolate cheesecake pieces). Or Mint Chocolate Mood (mint chocolate ice cream with fudge swirls, mint crème sandwich cookies, and chocolate flakes) when I get paid. Sometimes whenever I have a light food kind of day, I get myself Tropical Citrus (an orange sorbet with lemon and lime). I don’t always treat myself whenever my sweet tooth tingles; there was one time I bought myself a diamond necklace for my birthday last year, especially because my middle name’s Diamonique which means “precious gem” in Latin. That Saturday night, I stopped by The Cream De La Crème to pick up a few pints for my personal ice cream stash after picking up a to-go order from the local bar & grill. I picked out my favorite flavors, a pint of vanilla and a pint of Dulce de leche.

Other than delicious ice cream flavors, there’s another reason for me to visit The Cream De La Crème: a 24-year-old Korean American man who works there. I remembered the first time I met him; he was a new employee when the ice cream parlor had just opened; he suggested I try the Caramel Apple à la mode (Dulce de leche ice cream with apple pie pieces and salted caramel swirls), and it has since become my first favorite flavor. It had been two years since we met, and he still works there. His name’s Jeremy, and he now works at the front counter, which was a long way from passing out flyers and coupons in an ice cream cone costume when he first started.

Jeremy and I mostly made small talk while making my order. I also purchased some dessert toppings and a few cans of whipped cream. After I had paid for my purchases, I told him I looked forward to seeing him again soon. I put up my ice cream when I got home, took a shower, changed into my pajamas, and warmed up my dinner in the toaster oven. I ate my dinner, had my dessert, and called up my two best friends, Naeva and Tamesha, for some girl talk.

Sunday afternoon, I met up with Naeva and Tamesha for Sunday brunch at our favorite spot over on Main Street. While we dined on chicken and waffles and got brunch girl wasted on mimosas, we discussed the upcoming weekend and girls’ night out plans. Tamesha works as a bank teller at the bank on Main Street because she has her mind on the money and money on her mind every week. “Would you girls like to go with me to this new club that just opened downtown?” Naeva asked the both of us.

“What’s the club called?” Tamesha asked.

“The Sugar Walls Lounge, I hear that club has a grown and sexy vibe like the club I work for except my club is in another part of town,” Naeva replied.

Naeva works as a hostess/club promoter over at Club Bliss and her side hustle is her nightlife and dining blog, doing reviews. Club Bliss is this grown and sexy nightclub she works over in midtown, both Club Bliss and The Sugar Walls Lounge have a grown and sexy vibe, which is perfect for singles, hookups, and dates.

“Do they have theme nights like Club Bliss?” I asked Naeva.

“I’m not sure since the lounge just opened two weeks ago, I signed up for the mailing list, so I should hear about the first theme night. In the meantime, Club Bliss is hosting a lace and leather night next Saturday night.” Naeva said as she gave me Tamesha event cards for the upcoming event. “I had fun at Bad & Boujee night a few months ago, got to be a rich girl for the night! Plus, I got to wear my diamond necklace.” I replied.

“So did I, at least I got to look like money with my green mermaid-style dress and channel my inner Real Housewife that night! I may work at a bank, but I got accounts at the credit union.” Tamesha said with a bit of a laugh.

“Let’s not forget your hostess Naeva with her turquoise, black, and white outfit, giving Tiffany & Co. realness!” I commented to her.

“I read your review on Club Sapphire on your WordPress page, Naeva. That club sounds very elegant.” I had said.

“I’d love to go to that one, especially since it’s a jazz club with live music every night,” Tamesha replied.

Both Tamesha and I love going to Club Bliss not only to have a good time but to also support our friend Naeva; all that and serving looks too! For instance, Club Bliss had an after-hours theme night where everyone was dressed as CEOs, secretaries, and office workers; some of the clubgoers (including me and Tamesha) came to the club in our work clothes. That event was a major success because it doubled as a networking event where most of them passed out their business cards, which helped Tamesha and me get a few more customers.

After brunch and a Sunday shopping spree, I invited the girls to The Cream De La Creme and treated them to an ice cream social. I ordered a banana split, Tamesha had a hot fudge sundae, and Naeva had a butterscotch sundae; all that plus water for each of us. I got to flirt with Jeremy while my friends went to the restroom and I watched over their bags. Tamesha and Naeva came back a few minutes later and continued our girl talk before getting ready to go. On Monday, I had a busy start to my work week at the dealership, landing a few sales this morning. I then noticed Jeremy entering the dealership and decided to make my move. “Welcome and good morning. Are you looking for a new car today? We have a great selection of sedans, convertibles, and coupes.” I said to him.

“I’m currently looking for a truck.” Jeremy replied.

“A truck you say, we have plenty of trucks: pick-up trucks, two-door, four-door, mid-size, full-size, etc. We have a shipment of new models that just came in recently.” I responded.

“I’m interested in a used truck that I want to make into a food truck. Do you have anything like that?” He asked me.

“Why yes, we have new, used, and refurbished automobiles here at the dealership, trucks especially.” I replied as I guided him to the used and refurbished section.

While conducting business, I got to know a little more about Jeremy; his last name is Dong-Sun, and he’s in college majoring in business, researching permits and licenses to run an ice cream truck business all while working at The Cream De La Creme. Not only that, he has plans to go to culinary school to study food entrepreneurship. One of the used vans I showed him was a white Sprinter van, which was one of the most common vehicles used for food trucks. We then looked at a few more used trucks and vans before we stepped into the office where we discussed finance options, he was interested in buying one of the used trucks, just not right away. I wrote my cell phone number on the back of my business card and gave it to him. He in return gave me a card with his name, home address, and cell phone number written on a 3 x 5 index card. I have this feeling that I’m going to see him again real soon.

The following Saturday night, I had just got off work and ended another work week at the dealership. I went home to my loft-style apartment downtown and got myself ready for a night out at Club Bliss. The club’s hosting a leather and lace night, so I went with a black lace bodysuit, red lace balconette bra and panty set, a black leather pleated miniskirt, a pair of black leather knee-length boots, and a cropped leather jacket. I met up with Navea and Tamesha at the club and it was the start of our girls’ night out; Club Bliss had a dancefloor and bar packed with leather and lace-clad clubgoers and the DJ played a mix of dance jams. Tamesha and I danced the night away while Naeva was on her host duties, yet we all looked like baddies in our leather and lace outfits. Tamesha and I went to the bar because all that dancing made us thirsty. We each got ourselves a cocktail with a glass of water to keep hydrated; my cocktail was a rum and Diet Coke and she had herself a tequila sunrise.

“I saw that guy from the ice cream shop at the dealership this week.” I said to Tamesha.

“Who? That guy from the ice cream place you took us to?” She asked.

“Yes, his name is Jeremy and he works at The Cream De La Creme. He came because he was looking for a truck.” I replied as I sipped my cocktail.

“You mean like a pickup truck?” Tamesha said.

“He was looking for a truck for a food-based business, he wants to operate and own an ice cream truck business.” I said to her.

“You know, I have been seeing a few food truck owners coming into the bank and applying for business loans. I hear there are plans for a food truck park to open in town.” Tamesha told me.

“I love and support anything related to food trucks. If I could, I would check out as many food trucks as possible over in Portland, Oregon. But till then, I’ll look forward to food trucks here in my neighborhood.” I replied.

After my night out with the girls, Naveah dropped me off at my house and then took Tamesha home. I wanted to change into my pajamas, but then I decided to give Jeremy a call.

“Hey Dyshawna, I’m so happy to hear your voice.” Jeremy said.

“Likewise, sorry I didn’t get the chance to see you at the ice cream parlor tonight, I was out with the girls. I just wanted to call you.” I said to him.

“Can I ask you a question? In fact, I actually have two questions: Are you free next Saturday night and would you like to go to dinner with me?”

I smiled as I had a brief moment of thought and responded, “I’m free next Saturday after work and yes I’d like to go out to dinner with you.”

“Great, I’ll pick you up at your place next Saturday night.” He replied.

“It’s a date I’ll see you on Saturday night, Jeremy.” I happily said.

That Saturday night ... I went straight home after work and got myself ready for my date with Jeremy, I went with a body-hugging contour black dress and pumps for my date night outfit; I styled my black hair with tight, candy curls. As soon as I got ready, the doorbell rang and there was Jeremy in a three-piece suit with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

“Jeremy, you clean up real nice!” I said to him.

“You look very gorgeous, Dyshawna.” Jeremy replied as he gave me the bouquet of flowers.

For our date, we went out to dinner at an Asian buffet place downtown that serves Chinese, Korean, and Japanese food; we made small talk while we feasted on Asian cuisine. After getting our dinner to go, we went to a frozen yogurt shop that Jeremy likes to go to when he gets a sweet tooth. I had a pineapple frozen yogurt with fresh pineapple chunks and Jeremy had a peanut butter banana frozen yogurt with chocolate dipped strawberries and bananas.

“So Jeremy, do you have a favorite ice cream flavor?” I asked him.

“If I have to pick a favorite flavor, I’d go with mint chocolate chip.” He replied.

“How about you, Dyshawna?” He asked me.

“To be honest, I can’t decide which flavor I like the most because there are so many when it comes to ice cream. I would go with the Neapolitan flavor because of the three different flavors especially when they’re mixed.” I responded.

We then fed each other our frozen yogurts; I fed him a spoonful of mine and he fed me a spoonful of his. I watched as he playfully licked the frozen yogurt off of his lips and I thought of how cute his smile is, especially with dimples that appear on his handsome face.

“Let’s go to my place and I can give you the tour.” Jeremy said.