Chapter 7
“The man is fine, Sis. I’m talking drop-dead gorgeous.”
“I don’t see what the problem is,” Naomi responded.
We’d just arrived at Arcade Universe, and Keelan walked a few feet ahead of us as we looked for the room reserved for Trey’s party.
“That’s the problem. Fine niggas bring drama, and you know that’s the last thing I need.”
“Not always, but Victor has tainted your perception.”
“Nay, I told him I wasn’t interested in dating and why, and that nigga told me he didn’t give a fuck about nothing I said.”
“Damn. And you didn’t immediately sit on his face?”
“Oh my God, Sis. If Keelan hadn’t been there, we would’ve christened his patio furniture.”
She high-fived me as we laughed.
“What about the kiss?”
“What about it? He only did that to piss Victor off.”
“You think so?”
“I’m pretty sure.”
“Y’all didn’t talk about it?”
“I pretended like it never happened, even though it’s been several days, and I swear I can still feel his lips on mine.”
“Now that’s serious. I’ve never—oh shit, who the fuck is that and why ain’t he in my thong?”
I followed her line of vision, and my eyes landed on Graham. When our eyes connected, his lips curled into a smile that reached his eyes. He licked his lips as he headed toward us with Trey by his side.
“Mom, there’s Trey and Mr. Graham.”
Before I could respond, Keelan took off in their direction. When he reached them, he shook Graham’s hand and fell in line next to Trey. Graham kept his eyes on me the whole time.
“Naryah Monique Tate, if that fine ass man coming toward us is the man you’ve been talking about, I’m gon’ slap some sense into you.”
I couldn’t respond, because by the time Naomi finished threatening me, Graham was barely a foot away.
“Hey, beautiful. I’m glad you and Keelan made it,” Graham said, his eyes penetrating my soul.
“Keelan would never let me hear the end of it if we didn’t come. Graham, Trey, this is my sister, Naomi. Sis, this is Graham and his nephew, Trey.”
They exchanged greetings, and Trey tried to pull Keelan away.
“Hold on, Nephew. We need to take Keelan to the party room to check in with your mother and pick up his game card before y’all run off.”
“Okay.”
Graham let the boys lead us to the party room, and he walked a few steps back with Naomi and me.
“So, Naomi, did your sister tell you I’m completely smitten with her, and she won’t give me the time of day?”
I gasped and playfully punched him on the shoulder.
“What was that for? Is that not the truth?”
“Graham, she might have mentioned something about your interest in her.”
“You think you can convince her to give me a shot?’
“Possibly, but she’s very stubborn. Plus—”
“Excuse me. Why are y’all talking about me like I’m not here?”
“Why are you eavesdropping on our conversation?” Naomi questioned.
The conversation was cut short because we’d arrived at the party room.
“Naryah! I’m so glad you could make it. This is my husband, DJ. Baby, this is Keelan’s mom, Trey’s friend from camp.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” DJ said.
Finally? Was he waiting to meet me?
“Thank you. This is my sister, Naomi. Sis, this is Kindra and DJ, Trey’s parents.”
After greetings were exchanged, Kindra checked Keelan in and went over the rules.
Before he left the party room, I reiterated what Kindra had said and reviewed my own set of rules.
A few other kids arrived before they left, and after a few minutes, they were off to have a good time, with DJ right behind them.
“Would you mind if I steal your sister for a minute?” Graham asked Naomi.
“Only a minute? I thought you were applying the rest of her life type of energy.”
“Nay, have you no chill?” I pleaded.
She grinned while shaking her head, taunting me just a little. I followed Graham to a corner of the room and leaned against the wall. It probably wasn’t a good idea, but it was too late. Graham already had me trapped with one arm on the wall above my head and the other holding my waist.
“How was the rest of your week?” he asked.
“Fine.”
“Any more problems with your ex?”
“No.”
“I saw you on your porch a few nights, but I didn’t want to assume I was welcome.”
“I wouldn’t have turned you away.”
“Can I take you to dinner tonight?”
“Graham—”
“It’s just dinner, baby. I didn’t ask you to marry me . . . yet.”
“As friends?”
“As whatever you want, but my intention will always be to make you mine.”
“Fine. We can go to dinner as friends if my sister watches Keelan.”
“Bet. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
He kissed my forehead, sending chills through my body, and left me where I stood, only to slide into the seat next to my sister. I watched as they conversed, looking back at me a few times.
“Wear something sexy. I’ll pick you up at seven. Keelan is spending the night with his aunt,” he told me when he returned.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. DJ is with the boys, and I’ve been summoned. I’ll see you after we beat their asses in a few games.”
“You’re awfully sure of yourself. Didn’t your nephew just—”
“Let’s not bring up old stuff. Today is a new day.”
He applied another kiss to my forehead, letting his lips linger a little longer than before, then rushed out the door. I remained against the wall, lost in my thoughts until I heard my name.
“Earth to Naryah. Earth to Naryah,” Naomi teased, snapping me out of my daze.
“Whatever, girl. I’m leaving your ass at home next time.”
I sat next to her, and Kindra joined us.
“Can I be transparent with you?” Kindra asked.
Naomi and I looked at each other, then back at Kindra. The way she asked the question made me a little wary of her intent.
“Sure,” I responded cautiously.
“Once a Diggs man decides he wants you, it doesn’t matter how much of a fight you put up, you’ll give in eventually.”
“That may be true for other women, but when I left my ex-husband two years ago, I decided I’m better off alone, and I’ve been ten toes down about my decision.”
“I don’t know what you experienced with your ex, but you’re about to let it make you miss out on an amazing man, and I’m not saying it because he’s my brother-in-law.”
“Listen to her, Sis,” Naomi encouraged.
“I got trust issues. My ex was an amazing man at first, and—”
“No, he wasn’t. You just couldn’t see or chose to ignore the red flags because he was fine and could fuck.”
“Oop!” Kindra blurted out.
“Okay. Maybe I was a little blinded by his looks and his dick, but Victor was also very charming and charismatic.”
“Most narcissists are until they get you right where they want you,” Naomi said.
“Ugh. He was one of them? I’m so sorry, girl. My ex before DJ was borderline and whew . . . dating DJ was a breath of fresh air.”
“I agreed to go to dinner with him as friends. I can already tell he had high hopes, but that’s all I have to offer.”
“I understand, and I’d never try to pressure you into something you’re not ready for.
I wish my in-laws weren’t at a funeral. Once you meet them, you’d know Graham ain’t on bullshit.
I commend them on how they raised their sons, and Papa Diggs set a dope ass example on how to love your wife.
Mama Diggs was living a soft life well before that term was coined. She could be a poster girl.”
“Shit, do they have another brother?” Naomi asked.
“Unfortunately, no. They do have a few male cousins, but they are either married or some trash ass niggas.”
“Damn. That’s just my luck. Sis, if you don’t want Graham, I’ll take him.”
I knew she was joking, but I still became very annoyed, considering my former best friends had slept with Victor. I didn’t verbally respond, but my expression must have said it all.
“My bad, Sis. I’m just kidding. You must like him a tiny bit because if looks could kill, you’d be an only child.”
“I never said I didn’t like him. The man is beautiful, gives off big dick energy, has his shit together, and gets along with my son and my dog.”
“Hold up. Que likes him?”
“Tuh. Girl, Que loves him and has since the day we met. Kindra, Que is my German shepherd. I bought him for protection when I left my ex two years ago. Whatever people say about German shepherds being protective, loyal, and wary of strangers is true. If he don’t know you, he don’t fuck with you, at all.
Graham came along, and they were damn near best friends after their first encounter. ”
“Interesting,” Kindra said.
“Why?” I asked.
“I’m not trying to compare my husband and brother-in-law to a dog, but DJ and Graham were raised to be protective and loyal.
They’ve always kept their circles small because of their strong discernment.
Mama Diggs always says, ‘Everyone ain’t worthy of being in your world.
Listen to your gut, and it’ll tell you everything you need to know.
’ You don’t trust your gut because of your past decisions, so your dog is doing the work for you, and he approves. That should say a lot about Graham.”
“It sure as hell should. That damn dog still don’t fuck with me and Mama, and we’re family.”
“He likes y’all. He just knows y’all don’t like him, so he gives you space and grace.”
We laughed at my comment, but it was true.
“Y’all are too funny. Is it selfish to hope things work out between you and Graham so we can be friends?”
“We can be friends either way, but yeah, that’s kinda selfish.”
We shared another laugh just before the pizza arrived, and Kindra began preparing the room for the kids to come and eat. Naomi and I helped her get things in order, and we continued our conversation while doing so.
“You know, Graham calls you his future wife,” Kindra shared.
“What do you mean?”
“He refers to you as his future wife,” she clarified.
“Is that why you said that the day we met?”